Santa waves from the fire truck.

The village of Shorewood’s annual Winterfest event was a little different this year, thanks to COVID-19. “Whether it would happen or not was iffy,” said Shorewood branch manager Shannon Weber, a member of the Shorewood Business Improvement District’s board. “Santa was canceled at first, because we did not want kids sitting on his lap.”

But then Shannon offered an outside-the-box solution: What if Santa showed up in a fire truck, just to say hi? And that workaround was approved, much to the delight of the village’s children and parents.

Shorewood personal banker Laura De Bruin poses with the Winterfest tree.

“Attendance was a bit smaller this year, compared to years past, but it didn’t keep those who attended from enjoying a little holiday cheer,” Shannon reported. “I’m just so happy Winterfest happened!”