Friday, December 19th, 2003.  Time for Nick to play Santa at friend and fellow Clamper Bob Horton's home for an onslaught of hundreds of children pouring in from the street from the moment evening set in and straight through towards midnight.  This sort of thing happens every year on this normally quiet North Highlands, California, neighborhood street, and every year it gets better.  90,000 Christmas lights strung every which way and towering over 40 feet high, garden pathways through a toy wonderland and working train, snowmen and a multitude of wooden cartoon characters, fog and bubble machines.....and Nick as Santa.  Hmmm.  How the hell did he get himself into this? 

Cheap disposable camera shot of street front view of house

Elves to help! 

Actually, it was all part of one of Sacramento's largest Christmas charity events for needy families.  We encouraged donations in canned goods or money, and had available literally thousands of free toys to give away to any child visitor.  FREE TOYS??!  Yes, and as usual every child in town lined up while Santa's elves distributed candy canes to the occupants of passing cars cruising slowly to take it all in and make donations.  

Toys to give away and fog to get out of!

Along the Christmas garden pathway

Another view

The front of the line!

Bob Horton, the mastermind of the event, with Diverse Media's own Mrs. Claus, Phyllis Haupert

Just another day in the life of our favorite macabre author, on one of his non-macabre days.  Then again, we hear some of the children were pretty horrifying.  We hope you all have a very happy holiday season, not just this year, but every year!

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