Shando was on the front page of the Vallejo Times-Herald! This is at least the second time Shando’s been photographed in that paper. Other friends, including Santa, were in the picture too, of course, I’m a little shocked that the headline says “several hundred” when the crowd looked like THOUSANDS to me.
Shando and I combined our footage from our perspective of this year’s Madhatter Holiday parade. We handed out candy as elves with Santa’s sleigh again, which is a major joy, making our way down to the Vallejo Ferry Building area for the official Vallejo xmas tree lighting. I was disheartened by how the rain started (while not even forecast) on our way to the event, but for the most part it held back and we were able to enjoy a relatively warm and eventually dry night for the majority of the evening.
Obligatory pre-parade group shot
Our friend Lisa can be a real Grinch!
Lots of our same friends from last year were on hand to be elves again. Shando was a lot more prepared with his costume, although there were plenty of Caucasian elf earpieces at our disposal and some other extraneous accessories we could have borrowed.
We helped load the candy for handing out in the back of the sleigh even with some of the volunteers from earlier today with the HSNB event, not to mention Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Shando and I struggled to make use of his elf shoe coverings, but they were not conducive to being easily slipped on. I had a brainstorm to put them over my socks and then use these sandals so that I could sort of simulate them and at least get the bells to work. I eventually took out the red pointy trim over my white jeans so it looked a bit better, but I’m proud we got to use this part of his costume in at least this way:
Shando and I are also visible in this video, together with a bunch of the other elves:
Thanks to the volunteers who helped out and donated their time, including my husband, Shando. He brought Snoopy and Peaches in the morning.
This video also gives some perspective of the fabulous space we were graciously permitted to use for our event, Tony’s Cakes is going to move to 418 Georgia Street, Vallejo from their current location on Springs Road. This is all of course for the benefit of HSNB.
I’m grateful that every year we have at least one family bring cats for HSNB’s Photos with Santa. This year was no exception. Santa was absolutely fawning over this kitten and another cat that this family brought.
Santa almost made Mrs. Claus jealous when he danced with his neighbor. Uh oh! Drama!
I stole this idea from Mrs. Claus and Trundy, but the Santas gave me a chance to do a cute ELF MOMENT with my husband.
Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell, adorned in his Madhatter Parade garb, joined the Santas for some photos.
This is a group of photos with some of the kids and families I photographed myself. Some of these kids start as super shy, so we try to bring them casually up to the Santas to meet them, offering to allow them to remain with their parents if they prefer. Meanwhile, other kids run over and immediately reach out to hug the Santas, which just “sleighs” me. I have so many good memories from these events. I just wished I could capture more of these moments, but we were very busy on a good day to raise funds for homeless cats and dogs in our area.
Here are some of the other precious dog pictures from yesterday with the Santas for HSNB in Vallejo. The grey Pit, Misty, was adopted from HSNB when she was 4 months old. She’s now 11!
What a sweet exchange that I was so happy to facilitate!
Knowing I know the REAL Santa, my cousin’s daughters practiced in Italian AND English to record a lovely message to them. Clearly, they are stars and wanted to hear from Santa and Mrs. Santa (whom they refer to as Mother Christmas), so I’ll make sure they respond tomorrow when we do the second Photos with Santa as a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the North Bay.
This next video (short as it is) is also special to me. To my amazement, they did this in ONE TAKE, wishing a merry xmas to my cousin’s daughters by name and then mentioning that they would see them in Catanzaro someday, which gave them an extra thrill for the message being so personal and specific.
We did the xmas tree lighting in downtown Benicia for the first time, but before we hit the streets, we went to a chili dinner at the Episcopalian church on First Street which was led by the woman from whom Shando and I bought our house from. She retired and moved back to Canada. Many of the congregants, including our friends David and Yann, had been to her (now our) house for church events. She also happened to be a board member of the Glen Cove Community Association, which I’m currently president of.
It was a very busy evening and a lot of fun walking down the street with thousands of others, and running into some people we knew. It was festive, musical, and full of good smells from the restaurants and vendors.
Brenda, Tom, and I are quoted in the article on the front page of the Vallejo Times Herald for the Photos with Santa event yesterday. Precious baby Rowan on the cover (with the pumpkin hat) is the child of a wonderful female couple who are both trained as vet techs and have a grown child. I told them about how I’m a gay dad myself. The article content is below with appropriate credits for photos and story:
Three-month-old Rowan takes a snooze as she gets her picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus in downtown Vallejo during a Humane Society fundraiser on Saturday. Santa will return for a second visit on Dec. 2. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
By Thomas Gase | tgase@timesheraldonline.com | Vallejo Times Herald November 25, 2023 at 3:18 p.m.
Just two days past Thanksgiving, Saturday was officially the time to get that picture with Santa and break out that list: A new toy truck, doll, video game, book …Or a new pet, suggests the Humane Society.
Downtown Vallejo and Tony’s Cakes was the site for the annual Humane Society of the North Bay photos with Santa event, a major fundraiser for the organization to help spread awareness while also adding holiday cheer.
Vallejoan Olivia Lizotte showed up to have her picture taken as a walk-in appointment.
“It’s a nice event and it’s important to have our picture taken but it’s also important for the Humane Society, which I hear needs some help,” Lizotte said. “So it feels good to help out.”
Sarah Rojas was there with 4-year-old a clearly delighted Angelica Martinez, who was constantly jumping up and down with a huge grin after getting her picture taken.
The organization was asking for a suggested $25 donation for any pictures. Board president Brenda Mooney said that the group made approximately $800 last year in donations.
“I love being able to come her and see the folks of the community,” Mooney said. “We had nine reservations but much more drop-ins. It’s nice that Tony’s Cakes is allowing us to use their space and we have a ton of volunteers helping out. It’s a fun event and it all goes to benefit the animals and the shelter. We also have some books available at the tent that tell people about the animals we have ready for adoption.”
Mooney said that there are approximately 25 cats, 20 small dogs and 40 large dogs ready to be adopted.
While the organization has its share of walk-ins, treasurer Joseph A. Hayden said the event also has its regulars. “There was someone here at 9 a.m. this morning that said they had their picture taken on the cover of a Times-Herald newspaper last year, so they wanted to come again,” Hayden said. Hayden said that some people stop by and want to have their picture taken, but aren’t sure how their pet will respond to Santa.
A dog named Cow nervously sits with Santa and Mrs. Claus to get their picture taken as part of a fundraiser for the Humane Society of the North Bay on Saturday in downtown Vallejo. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
“All we ask them is to please try,” Hayden said. “There was one dog that did not want to come inside and they were afraid. But we came out to them and then the dog went right to Santa.”
Thomas Bilbo, who is playing Santa in Vallejo once again, said it’s important for the staff to serve the needs of the pets visiting —not the other way around.
“We go to them. There was one dog that wouldn’t come inside,” Bilbo said. “But we went out to the street. We go to where the dog is mentally and physically. Some dogs get scared and it’s important to realize that pets are important creatures that also have feelings and fears.”
Bilbo — who has six cats with his partner — has been dressing up as Santa since 1995, and for this event since 2015.
“I did it first in Mississippi, then San Francisco, and now Vallejo,” Bilbo said. “I have 16 gigs this year, and it’s all for charity. It helps organizations with their money. If I’m out there raising awareness for their [sic] organization if they need help, then that makes me feel great.
“But the best part of the day for me is seeing all the kids and parents enjoying the day,” Bilbo said. “That and the camaraderie that goes on between the staff. We’ve been working with each other for years, not only at this event but also at the Mad Hatter Parade. We all get into the Christmas spirit.”
The Humane Society will continue the pictures with pets and Santa next Saturday — once again at Tony’s Cakes, located at 418 Georgia St. Pictures are available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fundraiser for Humane Society of the North Bay.
The Haydens (Shando, Capulet, Polar, and Joe) are featured in this first set of photos:
Other photos from today’s event:
Great Thai food dinner with friends of Santa in Vallejo Friday night after setting up for Photos with Santa for Saturday morning.
Thanksgiving pies included key lime, sweet potato, and cherry apple. We joined Greg and Steve for dessert, together with Steve’s brother and girlfriend, Vince and Jillian, visiting from Vermont. We learned how to play an Uno-like game called Mexican Train.
