Hundreds of Westbrook residents braved the cold Sunday evening to help kick off the holiday season at the official lighting of Westbrook’s Christmas tree in Riverbank Park.

People bundled up in heavy winter coats and blankets started gathering in the park well before the start of the event at 5:30 p.m. The holiday spirit was evident in the air as families greeted each other and kept warm by sipping hot chocolate and snacking on doughnut holes.

While there was a light snow blowing in the air, it didn’t deter people from enjoying themselves. In fact, some people said the snow helped get them in the spirit.

“What a great night,” said Debbie Damon of Westbrook. “With a little bit of snow, it’s fun.”

One of the highlights of the event was a sing-a-long of seasonal songs and traditional Christmas carols. The kids in attendance got a special treat when Santa Claus himself arrived from the North Pole. Because Santa doesn’t like to show off his flying reindeer, he arrived at Riverbank Park on a Westbrook fire truck. How Santa arrived didn’t matter to the families in attendance, they quickly mobbed the jolly old elf.

Soon after that, Mayor Bruce Chuluda gave the word to light the tree and Westbrook’s Christmas tree was awash in colored lights, signifying the start of another holiday season.

“It was great to see everyone out there,” Chuluda said. “We had a great crowd and the little bit of snow helped everyone get into the holiday season.”

Staff writer Bob Lowell contributed to this story.

Tree 3 Santa Claus asks a young girl what she wants for Christmas during Westbrook’s tree lighting on Sunday.Tree 4 Young singers belt out Christmas carols during the tree lighting in Riverbank Park Sunday night.Tree 8 As soon as he arrived in a Westbrook fire truck, Santa Claus was mobbed by his fans at Riverbank Park Sunday night.Tree 10 Debbie Damon of Westbrook (front) joined her husband Mark Damon and their 20-month-old son Damon at the Christmas tree lighting at Riverbank Park Sunday.Mark Damon of Westbrook holds his son Bronson as they listen to Christmas carols at the tree lighting on Sunday.tree 15 Musicians helped set the mood at the Christmas tree lighting Sunday, playing holiday songs and traditional Christmas carols.

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