By Liz Leamy
Last Saturday, Santa Claus and one of his chief elves helped ring in the 2024 holiday season in unforgettable style with a visit to Byram.
This lively event, which drew a crowd of more than two dozen people, most of who reside in that storied Greenwich area, took place at Craig Morrell’s beautifully decorated holiday home on Sherman Avenue near the Dorothy Hamill Rink.
Morrell, being the elf in residence at this event, welcomed visitors in tandem with his illustrious partner, Santa Claus, at his festive home that featured an explosion of colorful Christmas lights along with lighted candy canes, snowmen, reindeer and nutcrackers standing at full attention as well as Christmas music, much to the delight of everyone on hand there.
Throughout this ‘experience,’ all the kids, parents and everyone else there all appeared to be very much enjoying themselves as they milled about visiting and taking pictures with Santa Claus telling him their Christmas wishes and hopes and chatting with each other, among other pleasant things.
“Craig does such a great job and it’s been great to do this with him, especially in seeing the excitement on all the kid’s faces,” said Chris Jordan, Head Custodian of Greenwich High School who portrayed Santa at this event. “We started doing this last year thinking ‘wouldn’t it be nice if Santa and the elves stood outside greeting and spending time with the kids to help celebrate the season?’”
Meanwhile, Morrell also asked adults there to put their names in a hat, with one lucky person winning a 25 dollar gift certificate to Costantino’s Pizza & Ice Cream on West Putnam Avenue, courtesy of Morrell.
“We wanted to do what we could to bring the holiday season to the kids, parents and everyone there,” said Morrell, Head Custodian at Western Middle School whose father, along with Jordan’s, were longtime prominent Town of Greenwich firefighters. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s all worth it when everyone comes out and you see them having a good time.”
By all counts, Morrell and Jordan knocked the proverbial ball out of the park with both their presence as well as their efforts, as everyone there, including First Selectman Fred Camillo, seemed to be having a great all-around time.
“For many years, Chris has been providing wonderful memories and joy to countless kids and families here in Greenwich and every time I see him, I feel he is having as much fun as the children and everyone else. That’s what makes his dedication so special and why he is such a treasure,” said First Selectman Camillo, who has known Jordan and Morrell since they were all kids growing up in town and had also, at one point, played baseball with Morrell. “I also want to give a shout out to Craig Morrell for playing the elf and always doing these holiday decorations for the kids in Byram.”
At the same time, Jordan was adamant to give props to Morrell, his longtime childhood friend, citing his dedication and spirit to bringing so much holiday cheer to Greenwich through all of his Christmas house decorations and spirit.
“Craig is so dedicated to bringing the spirit of the season to everyone in town with what he does,” said Jordan, who first started portraying Santa Claus back in the 1990s when he had worked at Dorothy Hamill Rink, handing candy canes out to kids and their parents at public sessions skating there each holiday season. “The music, the candy canes, all the decorations Craig puts up really help make the season a great one. It really puts you right in the spirit of the season.”
For Morrell and Jordan, it’s all about spreading the goodwill through their experience together at the Sherman Avenue celebration.
“If you can do this once a year, spread a little joy, that’s what it’s all about,” said Jordan. “It takes a village.”
