John Henry/Journal-World Photo Santa waves down at people gathered at 9th and Massachusetts Street on Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 during Santa's annual. Each year he arrives via the top of Weaver's Department Store and is rescued by firefighters.

The man in the red suit probably didn’t need any kind of fancy entrance to please the hundreds of children who came to downtown Lawrence to see him Friday evening.

He is — after all — Santa Claus.

“It was very, very cool,” 6-year-old Ella Young said of the high-ladder rescue Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical workers performed Friday night to bring Santa down from the rooftop of Weaver’s Department Store, 901 Mass.

The Lawrence tradition again drew hundreds of people downtown. Once Santa made his way safely to the ground, he had to hear several requests. His chair was waiting in front of U.S. Bank, 900 Mass.

Ella, a Deerfield School first-grader, planned to ask for some shoes that double as roller skates.

Her 3-year-old brother, William, was still making up his mind while waiting in line, but he was leaning toward putting in a request for a skateboard.

At the Downtown Lawrence Inc. event, City Commissioner Rob Chestnut read a proclamation declaring Friday Red Kettle Kickoff Day, in honor of the Salvation Army’s annual fundraising drive.

“It’s a real important time for them,” said Dan Hughes, owner of Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Mass., who was the master of ceremonies.

Carolers and even a clown added to the festivities. The crowd also performed a countdown as three volunteers flipped the switch to turn on all of the Christmas lights for the trees along Massachusetts Street.

Ella and William Young also brought their cousins from Shawnee along to see Santa.

Maddie Palmer, 11, said she planned to ask Santa for the Rock Band video game. Her brother, Andrew, 8, had his mind on a PSP handheld video game.

“I might get it. It might be too big, but it might work,” he said.

But the highlight of the night was the man taking requests and his earlier trip down the ladder.

“I thought it was really awesome,” Maddie said.