By Jake Palmateer
ONEONTA _ Santa Claus rapped his way into town Sunday aboard Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train of Lights.
In what has become an annual tradition in Oneonta, a bevy of Canadian musicians followed Santa's lead and performed holiday favorites and their own songs in a 30-minute free show at the Gas Avenue railroad crossing.
Two Holiday Trains _ one for the United States and one for Canada _ roll through the two nations at this time of year to collect donations for local food pantries.
Santa rapped for about 600 area residents at the brief concert and then mingled through the crowd, handing out candy canes and toy train whistles and posing for photographs with children.
Two dozen toddlers rode on the shoulders of adults amid the crowd as the brother and sister duo Prescott performed with Shaun Verreault and Adam Puddington
on a freight car converted into a stage.
It was the third Holiday Train for Wayne and Peggy Hymers of Oneonta, who brought their granddaughters, Kacie Hymers, 10, and Bailey Hymers, 13, to check out the show and donate food.
"I think it's an excellent idea," Peggy Hymers said.
Since its first year in 1999, the Holiday Trains have raised about $4 million and collected 2 million pounds of food for North American food banks, according to Canadian Pacific.
By the time the train departed bound for Cobleskill, donations of canned and dry goods filled blue collection bins set up near the show for Opportunities for Otsego's Community Connections food bank, which assists area food pantries with collection, distribution and storage.
A Canadian Pacific official presented a $1,000 check to OFO.
"It's a great way to kick off the season," said Oneonta Mayor John Nader, who watched the show with his family.
Nader said the strong turnout should bode well for Community Connections, which is expecting to distribute 800 holiday baskets to families in Otsego County.
Hats, mittens and even winter coats were in short supply for the late afternoon show held in 50-degree, clear weather.
"This is the warmest Holiday Train show ever," said singer Kelly Prescott as she and the rest of the performers launched into "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." The crowd later sang along to "Jingle Bells" with Prescott as she held out the microphone.
There appeared to be twice as many people as two years ago when the Holiday Train attracted a crowd of about 300 in snowy weather. A similar number attended the 2008 Holiday Train show.
Jestina and Ladd Dawson drove from Deposit with their three children, Madison, 6, Kenneth, 5, and Alexandra, 3.
Jestina Dawson said her family missed the train in Binghamton on Saturday and decided it was worth the trip to Oneonta to see it.
"We have never seen it before," Dawson said.
Nader said the event has become a popular one in Oneonta and said there were a few more people than last year.
"Last year it was arctic and there was a big turnout," Nader said.
The two Holiday Trains run by Canadian Pacific will visit 137 communities this year in the United States and Canada, travelling about 6,900 miles.
Verreault applauded the crowd for making donations during tough economic times.
"You really show your mettle, you really show your character when you come out when times are hard," Verreault said.
