Downtown Okotoks could've been the set of a Hallmark movie Friday night.
With fire pits burning, holiday music jingling and plenty of s'mores and hot chocolate, Light Up Okotoks was sure one for the books.
In a first for the event, the switch to turn on the lights for the epic Christmas tree was flipped by two youngsters who were awarded the privilege thanks to a raffle which raised money for the Sheep River Health Trust.
Shianne and Benjamin Matwychuk were joined on stage by Mayor Tanya Thorn, Town council and Santa Claus himself to illuminate the Old Towne Plaza.
"It was really cool," Shianne, 9, said of her experience.
Younger brother Ben agreed, giving a gloved thumbs up through a mouthful of blue cotton candy.
Attendees were entertained by the Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra and Indigo Circus performers, including fire dancers, a stilt man and ice queens and princesses.
During her remarks, ahead of the tree lighting, the mayor said the night's attendance had set a record. She herself also set a number to beat – 25 Light Up appearances.
If gathering around the fire wasn't quite enough to warm everyone up, the Okotoks Museum and Archives and Okotoks Art Gallery had curated displays to take in, and hosted a rather competitive gingerbread house competition.
Performances inside the Rotary Performing Arts Centre also gave patrons a chance to catch some warmth and some tunes.
RCMP and the Okotoks Food Bank were also on site collecting non-perishable food items which they crammed into two cruisers.
