“Ho no you don’t!”
That’s what little Fair Havenite Rafer Roberts was likely thinking after he was plopped on scary Santa’s lap for a minute of terrifying quality time and pics in 1978.
Continue reading Retro ‘Ho, No!’ Santa Time 
We’re bringing this scary Santa gem back from the 2018 archives. Originally posted on Dec. 12, 2018, this is the stuff priceless scary Santa pics are made of … This one was from 2010. We wish these older now twins a very happy holiday and thanks for the bowl full of jello belly laugh!
Sometimes you just win a trifecta when asking for a winning photo of children’s miserable experiences on the lap of Ol’ Saint Nick during the holidays.
Continue reading Retro ‘Ho No’ Santa Trauma
Because Santa Claus is everywhere these days … our annual reprise …
By Elaine Van Develde
It’s that time of the year when a longstanding Fair Haven tradition comes to mind and heart — those classic kid photos at the firehouse with Santa. There’s the park. Then there’s the firehouse. That’s Sunday.
I remember …
Continue reading A Tale of Firehouse Santa Tradition Santa Claus came to town in Fair Haven on Friday night. He left his reindeer at home to play their holiday games so he could get a ride in the firetruck.
Continue reading Scene Around: Santa Sleighs All in Firetruck Arrival The Christmas spirit is being awakened this weekend by lights, cameras and the sounds of sirens as Santa Claus comes to two towns via firetruck, townies get festive, trees are lit, holiday poses are struck, kid games are played and crafts are sold.
Continue reading The R-FH Area Weekend: Santa Visits, Canterbury Christmas Sale 
A classic reprise, just because … it’s Santa time!
Santa has begun making the rounds around the towns lately. You’ve likely seen him being whisked through the Rumson and Fair Haven neighborhoods on the firetruck over the weekend. It’s that time of the year.
Continue reading Retro Santa House Call
Rumson Department of Public Works’ 24th annual toy drive was a success.
“The Rumson DPW wants to Thank You for your support this Christmas Season. Hundreds of toys were collected and will be distributed to the Salvation Army and Child Family Services for this coming Holiday Season. THANK YOU!!” a social media by employee and Fair Havenite Nick Lenczyk said.
A reprise, just because … this solitary Santa trauma was just too classic not to repeat. ‘Tis the season, after all. And, with this reprise, we kick off our Santa trauma series … just for fun. Really. Send us your most classic “happy Santa/miserable child” pics. There’s one in every photo album! Email yours to [email protected] … We have mounted quite a collection, so don’t be left out!
Ho, ho, hoooooo and here we go again with a classic misery-doesn’t-love- Santa’s-company shot.
Continue reading Rewind: For Crying Out Santa!It’s Santa and stroll time tonight in Fair Haven.
Continue reading Getting Festive in Fair Haven: Lights, Stroll, Santa! 
Santa Claus is coming to downtown Fair Haven Friday night, and he’s gonna help light things up for the holiday season.
As it usually stands to reason for the season, families valiantly try to coordinate those classic photos for the ol’ memory album.
Though, it’s always fun to catch them trying to set up the pose with the typical snafus — cranky kids, losing a little balance and all saying “Cheese … and don’t drop the child!” for that camera at the same time, toothy grins intact.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors that time-honored moment of the pose set-up with a Fair Haven family at last year’s tree lighting.
Well, they still look pretty good … Cheese and Santa!
There’s a Santa in every crowd.
Well, there was at least an elf- or Santa-hatted, ugly sweatered, light and garland-draped bunch of festive fiends on a holiday cheer-missioned pub crawl on Thursday afternoon into the night.
Yes, the cheer-filled crew of revelers in all things holiday set out on a their 19-year traditional 12 Bars of Christmas crawl for a good cause — the sub-title, Caroling for Coats. Revelers were asked to bring a coat and join in. Christmas trees were donated to Lunch Break, too.
The crawling, though, that’s another Christmas story …
The crawl started and ended at Val’s in Rumson with a finale of song by Jerry Hat Trick and the Flatliners. All showed up with their selves, not halls, appropriately decked and hopped on the trolley from Val’s to the first stop at Bahr’s Landing in Highlands.
With an invite to all to catch up with them at whichever stop you wanted, the die hard crawlers went, after Bahr’s, to Chubby Pickle, Off the Hook, Rum Runner, Rory’s Pub, Woody’s, Ocean House, Tommy’s Tavern & Tap, Barnacle Bill’s, Victory Park Tavern, Salt Creek Grille, Murphy’s, and, again, Val’s.
We’re not sure exactly how many coats were collected this year, but the group boasts a 19-year tradition of “spreading Christmas cheer and the warmth of over 10,000 coats …”
Cheers!
** Thanks to RFH grad and longtime Rumsonite Doug Borden for the glimpse into the evening with the photos! **
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