December 23, 2025 | By Waterbury Roundabout

*Mrs. Claus (a.k.a. Elizabeth Danyew) delights a young audience at the Waterbury Area Senior Center. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Sunday, December 14, was a convergence of sorts in Waterbury of a multitude of visitors in both real fur and fur-trimmed red suits, spreading holiday cheer.

Two reindeer from the Vermont Reindeer Farm in West Charleston, Vermont, arrived by vehicle—it was not the day for a flying sled. They and their human handlers visited with passersby along Stowe Street between Bridgeside Books and Stowe Street Emporium. The bookstore hosted a timely guest — children’s book author-illustrator Matt Tavares whose latest book is “Dasher and the Polar Bear.” Tavares visited with the reindeer and with young readers inside the book shop.

Next door at Stowe Street Cafe, Santa Fin stopped by for his annual holiday visit. A regular holiday visitor in Waterbury, Santa Fin is a professional special needs Santa in Central Vermont who uses his iPad to communicate.

Across the street at the Waterbury Area Senior Center, Mrs. Claus—who would visit the former Tiny Acorn toy store in town—attracted a young crowd for stories. Kids and their families worked on holiday crafts to take home, too.

Later in the afternoon, Waterbury Rotary welcomed Santa Claus at Rusty Parker Memorial Park with Waterbury Fire Department providing Santa an official escort. At the park, elves from Harwood Union High School’s Rotary Interact Club were ready with a stash of small gifts to hand out to all of the youngsters who chatted with Santa. The event was all about the photo ops for kids and even some canines on Santa’s good list.

As the afternoon sunshine began to fade, the final event of the day took place at the front of Rusty Parker Park, where members of the Chabad of Waterbury-Stowe congregation gathered to light a giant menorah to celebrate the first night of Chanukah.

Click the photos below to enlarge and see captions. In addition to Waterbury Rotary photographer Gordon Miller, Debbie Bard and Ron Gulyas shared some of their photos from the day.