Santa's arrival by fire engine kicked off the 35th annual Olde Time Christmas Festival in Jim Thorpe Friday evening at the train station and Josiah White Park.

As people gathered in the hour leading up to his arrival, sounds of the season could be heard by an instrumental quartet called Faculty Brass and the Jim Thorpe Area High School marching band. More students accompanied the band as carolers.A local favorite performer, Angela Nardini, led a Christmas carol singalong, and before long Frosty the Snowman made an appearance.Nancy Doerr of Lansford brought her granddaughters to see Santa Claus."We love to come to Jim Thorpe, because it is so festive," she said.The girls, 9-year-old Kyleigh Malone, and her cousins, sisters Caila Doer, 7, and Hayden Doerr, 6, were all smiles and anxious to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. The little ones could only think of the yo-yos on their lists, but Kyleigh remembered she wants an electric scooter - yellow, to be specific.Just as scheduled at 6 p.m., the Jim Thorpe Fire Department's Diligent Hose Company's fire truck with sirens blaring pulled into town delivering Santa to his admirers. The Jim Thorpe Area High School cheerleaders created a running tunnel for the jolly old elf to make his entrance. Jogging down the center of the brick sidewalk like one of the football players entering the field, Santa waved his hands as the crowd cheered.He made his way to the stage, greeted the people and with the flip of a switch, turned on the white lights on the tall Christmas tree provided by Beisel's Christmas Tree Hill in Lehighton. Everyone cheered. Then, it was time to hear all of those Christmas wishes.The event was presented by the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency. Carbon County resident and BRCTV 13 reporter Katya Fitzpatrick served as the evening's emcee, and Jim Thorpe Mayor Michael Sofranko and state Rep. Doyle Heffley welcomed those in attendance. Marines from the Schuylkill/Carbon Marine Corps League Detachment 626 accepted toy donations for the annual Toys for Tots campaign. And St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Race Street held an open house with tours, cookies and caroling.Olde Time Christmas events will be held throughout December with special events each weekend leading up to Christmas. Merchants will remain open until 7 or 8 p.m. each weekend. For more information, visit

www.jimthorpe.org or on Facebook at JimThorpeOldeTimeChristmas for complete event information.