SINTERKLAAS’ NEW RIDE

Annual Christmas parade in city’s Rondout district delights young and old

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Gunnar Lemeke waited excitedly — a papier-mache fish hat on his head — for the procession that would see off Sinterklaas on his journey to “the Netherlands” to begin.

The 7-year-old son of Jennifer Lemeke admitted he really wanted to hold one of the poles that held the long sheets of blue silk intended to represent the ocean, but said he was happy just to be a part of the children’s maritime parade.

“We look forward to it all year, said Jennifer Lemeke, of Newburgh. “We’ve come four years in a row and this is the first time we’ve been in the parade.”

Hundreds of children and their parents descended on the Rondout on Saturday, Nov. 24, to take part in the daylong holiday celebration that culminated with Sinterklaas boarding a trolley from the nearby New York Trolley Museum on East Strand. The trolley was to take him to the boat that would carry him to Holland (otherwise known as Rhinebeck) for another celebration next week.

In anticipation of his arrival, children transformed themselves into the kings and queens, creating scepters and crowns at

workshops held throughout the Rondout district.

They donned those crowns and waived their scepters as Sinterklaas made his way down Broadway, greeting the squealing children with a handshake or a hug.

Six-year-old Atticus Weston beamed after Sinterklaas greeted him. He was at the event with his parents Mark and Maria, who came up from Brooklyn for the festivities.

After creating a crown and decorating a scepter, Easton Kesick, 7, of Saugerties, took the time to write Santa Claus a letter, telling him what he hoped to get for Christmas.

What did he ask for?

Six-year-old Atticus Weston beamed after Sinterklaas greeted him. He was at the event with his parents Mark and Maria, who came up from Brooklyn for the festivities.

A pigeon (last year, Santa brought the Saugerties resident a pot belly pig, his mom, Jamie, said) and “Alexis” the Amazon Echo.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, Sinterklaas will arrive in Rhinebeck for a larger daylong celebration.

PATRICIA R. DOXSEY — DAILY FREEMAN Sinterklaas, portrayed by former Kingston resident Hendrik Dijk, waves from the trolley that started him on his journey to “the Netherlands” during Saturday’s celebration on the Rondout in Kingston, N.Y.

PATRICIA R. DOXSEY — THE DAILY FREEMAN Gunnar Lemeke, of Newburgh, wears a papier-mache fish hat while waiting for the start of the children’s maritime parade at the Sinterklaas celebration in Kingston, N.Y.