This year was a holiday first — the year without a tree lighting gala in Fair Haven.

Oh, Santa did his “Ho, Ho, Ho …” oooooliday drive-by on the fire truck, but there were no close encounters with the usual hordes of neighborhood kids, parents, officials and makers of embracing merriment.

And with the fire truck, even though Santa always seems to use that mode of transport around town, one has to wonder where or how the reindeer got ditched.

Well, here’s a thought …

He left them at Memorial Park back in 2015. It’s really just magic that propels the drivers into the star-lit Christmas sky. So we’re guessing that when Santa leaves the reindeer grounded, he also leaves them with their antlers and a strong sense of holiday spirit.

So, we look back at these little reindeer playing reindeer games they couldn’t play in the park this year. They are a reminder that the magic lies in the heart.

Rudolph and some friends seem to be missing from this innocent miscreant crew, but do you know who the others are?

What do you miss most about the tree lighting this year? Remember any mishaps of past celebrations?

• Prosecutor: 18-Year-Old Found Guilty of 2022 Murder
• Retro ‘Ho, No!’ Santa Time
• Prosecutor: Former Middletown Cop Indicted on 22 Counts of Official Misconduct, Illegal Firearms and Drug Charges
• Remembering Fair Haven’s Garry Allers: A Lifetime of Relative Kindness Passed On
• Scene Around: Cooper Ley’s Gift of Art Given by His Sister