Sub-Prime Santa? Claus a No-Show at Rye Merchant Association Street Carnival

Has Santa’s sponsor been hit by sub-prime mortgage woes too? The Rye Merchants Association staged its annual holiday shopping event along Purchase Street in downtown Rye today. The event was packed with families and many dueling jumpy castles.

But notably absent was Santa. Last year, local real estate brokerage Sotheby’s sponsored Santa, flying Claus and at least one Elf decked out in green sequins in from the North Pole for the Purchase Street fete–see the 2006 photo.

Has Sotheby’s gone soft? Has this real estate giant gone sub-prime? Can’t foot the Claus contract for 2007? Did Claus and the Elf want too rich a contract to fly down to the Soundshore for the day? Maybe the Claus clan has been getting contract advice from Rye’s Alex Rodriguez and asked for a $250 million pay day?

Coldwell Banker arranges for the life size electric train. Houlihan Lawrence forks over for horse drawn carriage.

But Sotheby’s only had a carnival shanty filled with video games.

My Christmas list for 2007: Rye signs Santa for 2008.