(Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette) Santa Claus greets the crowd from a fire truck during Hancock’s Christmas celebration Friday.

HANCOCK — Normally, hundreds come to downtown Hancock on the Friday after Thanksgiving to meet Santa Claus. This year, he came to them.

Riding atop a Hancock fire truck, Santa Claus drove through every neighborhood in Hancock Friday night.

About 70 people watched in socially-distanced household groups for Friday’s tree lighting ceremony. Children were able to drop off letters in a mailbox for Santa, and pick up toys or candy at Santa’s workshop.

“I’m ecstatic about the response,” said organizer Shelley Lucchesi. “People out on the street everywhere, and so thankful and seeing the happy kids’ faces. It’s magical.”

After the tree-lighting ceremony, Nick Kwiek of Laurium took photos of his family as they smiled in head-in-the-hole Christmas boards.

“I think this is pretty cool,” he said. “They did a really good job. It looks like they did it pretty safely.”