The Christmas season in Lehighton kicked off in style on Sunday with the 7th Annual Christmas in the Park and Tree Lighting Ceremony.

“I think that Lehighton’s Christmas in the Park event gets bigger, brighter, and better every year,” said Autumn Abelovsky, secretary of the Lehighton Borough Parks & Recreation Board. “Tonight is what Lehighton is all about. It’s not only the spirit of a holiday, but the spirit of a small town.”

A new feature this year was the addition of food vendors.

“When I put out the word on Facebook,” Abelovsky said, “we had several organizations contact us, and the Girl Scouts offered to do holiday crafts with the children.”

The Lehighton Area High School Senior All Night Party sold baked goods and hot beverages. The Lehighton High School Band sold filling and gravy and macaroni and cheese. St. Peter’s Community Resource Center sold grilled hot dogs, and Girl Scout Troop 30470 sold a variety of hot soups. Ott’s Concessions had funnel cakes.

At 4 p.m., Santa Clause arrived on a fire truck from the Lehighton Fire Department. He greeted everyone, then went to the special tree outside the municipal building and invited children to help decorate it.

“We had a lot more children help Santa this year,” Abelovsky said. “Last year we had about 20 kids help.”

Santa then went to the amphitheater where he sat for almost 90 minutes greeting children, listened to what they wanted for Christmas, and had his photo taken with them.

The Pale Moon Players sang several Christmas songs, and drawings were done to give away the bicycles donated by the Lehighton Orioles club.

The highlight of the festival was the lighting of the Christmas tree in the amphitheater, and the lighting of the 171 trees throughout both parks. Lehighton Mayor Clark Ritter and his wife Carol led the countdown.

Rehrig’s Nursery in Franklin Township supplied the Christmas trees.