‘Santa Sleigh Ride’ along the Cape Fear River spreads holiday cheer

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Santa traded in his sleigh and reindeer for a different type of vehicle in Wilmington Christmas week. 

Wilmington Water Tours held their first ever “Santa Sleigh Ride,” inviting families and kids onto their boat to travel up and down the Cape Fear River. 

Kids got to play games, enjoy hot chocolate, and sing Christmas carols with Santa as the boat went past the riverwalk in Downtown Wilmington. 

More than 120 people took part in the event across 3 separate rides.  

Captain Jerry Thacker dressed up as Santa says it’s special seeing how people watching along the river walk join in on the fun. 

“When we’ve got the kids and the families and we’re passing Market Street, which there’s always a large crowd on Market Street and the people on Market Street are actually joining in and singing the Christmas carols and waving and the kids are being fueled by that and the people on the riverwalk and it’s just a great time of year,” Thacker said. 

 Thacker says they will increase the number of Santa sleigh rides next year to be done every Saturday during the month of December along with looking at similar river tours for other holidays like easter and Halloween.