1000 Islands River Santa 2023

1000 Islands River Santa will take place December 16, 2023 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the scenic View Park Pavilion in Alexandria Bay! With the new curtains in place the weather can’t be an issue for our first time at the Pavilion.

Every child deserves to believe in Santa and to have a real Christmas experience. Our goal this year is to reach out to every child along the river from anywhere in Northern New York. When Santa arrives in Alexandria Bay by boat with a United States Coast Guard escort, he will be bringing gifts purchased with your donations and sponsorship. This committee is 100% volunteers, and every dollar raised will go directly toward the purchase of gifts, all 5 river valley school districts Backpack Programs, and other worthy causes.

In 2022 River Santa also donated to the Alexandria Bay Fire Department, The Hearts for Youth Program, T.I.E.R.S Ambulance in Clayton, The Reformed Church, The local Food Pantry, and The Cape Vincent Volunteer Fire Department, Clayton Fire Department, Clayton Food Pantry, Redwood Food Pantry and more. Above the 650 gifts given out last year, over $33,000. was donated back into the local community at Christmas.

This money helps so many children in need through this wonderful program, and the schools were beyond grateful for this additional help. This year with your help, we hope to put gifts in the hands of all the children again and to hopefully continue feeding as many people in need as possible through the local backpack programs and food pantries. The chamber will also present checks to multiple non-profit organizations in the area with the extra donations. We feel it is important to support our local programs that help children flourish in our area.

Take a look at the videos of the link listed below and you will get an idea of what we accomplished in just four days the first year. This year will again be a festival with free food and drinks in our new venue, the enclosed village scenic view Park Pavilion. Hay wagon rides will be offered as well. https://youtu.be/ddOuJ7fkQvs

The 2nd video is the arrival of Santa by boat with the USCG escort in 2021. https://vimeo.com/658427742

All children are welcome and encouraged to attend. Our goal is to furnish any child 12 and under in the North Country with a gift.

Sponsored by the Public and Youth Improvement Team, Inc. in Alexandria Bay, NY.