EASTHAMPTON — Local legend says that the city of Easthampton was Dr. Suess’ inspiration for the town of Whoville in his book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and now that Grinch will visit Easthampton. The 11th annual Easthampton Holiday Whobalation will happen at Millside Park on Dec. 1.
Attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped gift or stocking stuffer for the children in the Easthampton Community Center Toy Program which provides toys for children in Easthampton and surrounding towns.
“This year, we will have someone reading the Grinch book to the children as we await his arrival,” said Robin Bialecki, executive director of the Easthampton Community Center. “The Grinch and Santa will arrive on fire trucks and be escorted to the bandshell where they will greet each other, shake hands and exchange holiday gifts.”
The festivities will begin upon everyone’s arrival as they pass under the Whoville Arch, receive glow necklaces and place their unwrapped gift under the tree. After their arrival, the Grinch and Santa will greet and take photos with the children and their families. A DJ will play Christmas songs while the children will receive treat bags with cookies and cocoa. The evening will culminate with everyone singing the Whoville song around the tree.
“One of the things I love most about the evening is Santa and the Grinch, shaking hands and giving each other a gift for the holidays,” noted Bialecki. “They have become friends and the Grinch’s heart has truly grown 10 times its regular size.”
Whobalation began as a nod to Easthampton’s inspiration for the book. Residents Fahn Miner and Elaine Wood had the idea to get a few friends together at the Main Street rotary to celebrate Whoville.
“As more and more people heard about the gathering it quickly became a flash mob of good size and a sing-along for children of all ages — a great time to get your picture taken with the Grinch,” explained Bialecki. “Every year the crowd has increased in size and a few years ago when they stopped having a holiday stroll ending where Santa would greet children at the gazebo, we decided to ask Santa to make friends with the Grinch and come down to Millside Park to meet the children with the Grinch.”
Miner and Wood asked the Easthampton Community Center to join the celebration back in that first year as the beneficiary of donated toys.
“Watching the faces of the children and the hugs they give both the Grinch and Santa all along the walk is always so special,” recalled Bialecki. “We all know that the holidays are much brighter days when we work together to bring holiday cheer to the children.”
The event runs from 5:30-7 p.m., with the honored guests arriving at 5:45 p.m. Millside Park is located at 2 Ferry St. in Easthampton. While guests are welcome to dress as Who’s or Max the dog/reindeer, Bialecki and the organizers ask that nobody else dress as the Grinch or Santa.
