There was no snow on the ground, but there was certainly enough holiday cheer to go around at the first Hometown Vintage Christmas in downtown Lehighton on Saturday.

Over 30 vendors lined First Street selling food, crafts, and wearables. Many downtown businesses were opened as well so patrons could shop out in the open air as well as in stores.

Boy Scout Troop 145 from Lehighton was onsite satisfying appetites with hot dogs, and peach and chocolate-cherry cobblers for a treat.

Committee Chair Tim Hunsicker said it was a fundraiser for the troop as well as an opportunity to help out the community.

Ken and Sally Yablonski from Towamensing Township attended with friends, Teresa and Tommy Harpster of Kresgeville.

They decided to check it out on the way to the Mauch Chunk “Lights at the Lake.” Sally Yablonski said, “The local community is very special to me, and patronizing our area’s small businesses is really important.”

Besides food and entertainment from noon to 6 p.m., one could also stop to take in the beauty of over 177 sponsored trees in the park. That is exactly what Jim Mazzotta and Joyce Klein of Blakeslee were doing. They had been at a tree judging at Heritage Hills earlier, and decided to stop for food and to look at the trees before heading back home.

Crafter and owner of “Lotsa Knots,” Dana Digilio of Nesquehoning commented that sales of her blankets were pretty good during the event and she wanted to thank Bambi Elsasser for putting the event on so crafters could come and showcase their items in an open air setting. She also like the fact that the event was supporting local storefront businesses on First Street.

Piano music, singing and horse and buggy rides kept visitors to the downtown entertained while strolling 1st Street. Cindie Gunderman from Autumn Falls Entertainment, delighted patrons as her voice echoed through the downtown area. Eric Stimmler of Gilbertsville provided piano music for the event.

Lisa Steiner, of Steiner Artisan Farms in Walnutport, drove the patrons by Clydesdale-led horse and buggy rides through the streets of the downtown Lehighton area.

Stephanie Roby, along with her father Alan Roby, traveled from Clarks Summit to set up “The Welsh Tea Shoppe” at the event. She heard about the event on social media and decided to participate in the open air market to promote a new store front in Clarks Summit. She said sales were good and had already sold out of two kinds of her shortbread cookies.

Darin McCaa of “Ateira’s on First,” a small business for catering, events and panini press shoppe, said traffic was steady all day. Ateira’s is normally closed on a Saturday, since catering is the main focus on that day. They decided to open and were happy they did.

“We are going to change things up a little come January,” he said, noting customers should keep an eye on Ateira’s Facebook. They are going to be offering more prepackaged take home meals for pick up for busy people and weekly specials.

Tim and Tiffany Snyder of Lehighton had brought their son Chase Snyder, and niece Layla Gibson. They were enjoying the event to support the downtown.

Chase shared he had asked Santa for a tablet and Layla said she wanted clothes.

Butch and Phyllis Potter traveled from Wind Gap and were visiting Jim Thorpe for the day but decided to stop in to see what the event was all about.

Coordinator Bambi Elsasser said she was very pleased with the turn out and that the main focus of facilitating the event was to support local small businesses and get foot traffic in their door.

She felt that her goal had been successful as many First Street businesses were reporting increased sales during the event.