Santa Claus is coming to … the Rumson Department of Public Works Annual Toy Drive.

That’s right. Once again, it’s that time of the year, on Friday and Saturday, when Rumson tradition takes hold and Santa, in the form of countless charitable elves, brings new, unwrapped toys to the Public Works garage on East River Road to bring a better Christmas to children in need.

But it’s not just a toy drive. It’s an annual Rumson community tradition. It’s hosted by the DPW employees and the community as a whole, replete with holiday-appropriate hot chocolate, candy canes and yuletide company.

“It’s definitely turned into a big community event,” DPW organizer Mark Wellner told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect last year. “A lot of people stop down, bring the kids and socialize. We give the kids the candy canes and hot chocolate and there’s coffee for the adults. It’s really nice.”

This is the 16th year of the drive for which organizers usually set a goal of gathering at least 1,000 toys that will get funneled to the kids via Family & Children’s Services, Long Branch, and The Salvation Army, Red Bank.

And they’re always setting higher goals, trying to reach more kids and top each year’s number of toys collected and distributed.

Organizers ask that anyone wishing to donate bring a new, unwrapped gift to the Rumson Public Works Garage, behind Borough Hall on West River Road, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday and/or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

— Elaine Van Develde