There were many Santa sightings by those attending the annual holiday festival in Alburtis Dec. 2.

Santa was seen very early in the community center visiting with children to hear what they wanted for Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were also spotted having breakfast in the early hours of the busy day.

Each child attending the event received a gift from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

This year was Mrs. Claus' first trip to meet the children of Alburtis. A record number of people came, so many in fact they actually ran out of food for the first time ever. The community center volunteers said they were glad so many attended the event and promised to have more supplies next year.

Vendors were set up to sell their wares in the community center while cartoon artist and painter Donna Haney, of Bethlehem, drew portraits of people.

Santa took time to visit with pets after he finished speaking with the delighted children. He mostly saw dogs but, to Santa's surprise, a little girl named Kaela brought her pet chicken. Pet photos with Santa were sponsored by the Cold Nose Lodge.

Around noon a fire truck, with its siren blasting and horn blowing, was heard here and there in Alburtis to let everyone know Santa would be riding by.

He was spotted all over Alburtis waiving at the youngsters and the young-at-heart. After returning to the firehouse, Santa visited with more children to hear what they wanted for Christmas and gave each of them a gift as they left. The firefighters had hot food available including hot dogs, burgers, barbeque and home-made soup and chili.

In the meantime, festivities were taking place at the Fitness Academy's open house on West Penn Avenue and shoppers were taking advantage of the clothing sale at the Consignment Shop open house on Main Street. At West Main and School streets, Alburtis Lockridge Historical Society was having their open house downstairs in the meeting room while upstairs they were hosting the annual cookie baking contest.

Chef Eric Wade judged the cookies this year. Wade is the owner of the Inn at Maple Grove at State and Fairchild streets in Alburtis. He is also a chef specializing in cooking steaks at the Grove. Twelve cookies made by six bakers entered the contest this year: Ashley Aleszczyk and her mom Angie Aleszczyk, Barbara Siegfried, Barbara Milbrodt, Holli Schoch and Crystal Romano.

Ashley Aleszczyk, of Alburtis, walked away with first place in three of the four categories.

Ashley's snickerdoodles won in easiest cookie category; her chocolate cookies won in the chocolate category and her decorated sugar cookies won in the decorated category.

That left the creative category won by Crystal Romano for her peanut butter and hot raspberry jelly cookie cups.

"The peanut butter and jelly cookie cups are my favorite," Wade admitted when pressed to name his favorite cookie.

People lined up in the parking lot at ESSA Bank & Trust by the railroad tracks on Main Street for a horse drawn surrey ride around the borough. While waiting, some people treated themselves to candy being sold by Alburtis Boy Scout Troop 86.

"We're selling candy bars to send three boys to National Youth Leadership training," Scoutmaster Steve Mehl said about the sale.

At dusk when the festival was drawing to a close, Christmas songs were heard from the pavilion in the park. It was Emmaus High School's all-male singing group Fermata Nowhere singing Christmas carols.

The firefighters had started fires in several huge barrels and spectators huddled around them to keep warm.

EHS's all-female AccaBella group also sang Christmas songs. When they finished, the men and women combined to make EHS's Select Choir. Following their last song, the winners of the cookie contest were announced.

The house decorating contest winners were also announced. This year's contest was judged by the Junior Firefighters Matt Trexler, Kevin Shoemaker, Amber Shook, Ben Farabaugh, Jesse Wieand, Kyle Hausman, Rachel Miller, Mollie Miller, Josh Hart and Justin Arndt. They drove all around town looking at homes and placing first was Mayor Kathleen Palmer, of 23 W. 2nd St.; second was Tom and Brenda Koch, of 44 W. 5th St.; third was Marisa Kosak, of 201 Lockridge Lane.

Following the presentations, everyone gathered around the borough's Christmas tree at the corner of the park. Shirley Mader was asked to light the tree this year in honor of her late husband and former Mayor and Fire Police Captain Robert Mader.

Following the lighting of the tree, the choir sang "Oh Christmas Tree" and ended the day with festive songs ringing through the air.

The festival was sponsored by Alburtis Animal Hospital, K.C. Stoves & Fireplaces, Barry Isett & Assoc., Inc., Atlas Minerals and Chemicals, Keystone Consulting Engineers and D.D. Heating & Cooling.