MATTAPOISETT — The line for food was even longer than the line to meet Santa Claus at Mattapoisett’s annual “Holiday in the Park” celebration on Saturday, Dec. 9.

While people’s mouths were treated to pizza and catered food from a number of local restaurants, their ears were treated to the sounds of the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School band and the Mattapoisett Showstoppers who performed traditional Holiday carols for the community.

Assistant to Town Operations Christine Richards helped plan the event. “It is amazing to see everybody come out,” said Richards. “Everybody is out enjoying their time — there are activities for the kids and the restaurants in town are so generous.”

The people of Mattapoisett were also generous at the “Holiday in the Park” celebration. The Mattapoisett Lions club collected a tableful of canned goods and toys that will be donated to community members in need.

Children in attendance got the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Additional appearances were made by Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Former Old Rochester Regional Junior High School Music Director Jim Farmer returned to his old post to lead the band as they played Christmas tunes.

Farmer, who taught music for 30 years before retiring in 2017, said conducting the band on Saturday was “a lot of fun.”

“I miss it,” said Farmer. “To turn around and see all of the smiling faces out there; it was awesome.”

Farmer hadn’t met the students he conducted at the event until he arrived.

“I loved to see how many kids came out and played. It’s a well rounded group, they play well together and I am looking forward to going in [to the school] on Monday and working with them,” said Farmer.

Farmer says the band will now start working for their Friends of Old Rochester Music scholarship concert which takes place in March.

After their performance, Farmer and the band joined the community in the park to eat and celebrate the Holiday season.