Cheers and applause filled the crisp December air as Dartmouth welcomed in the holiday season with the annual Town Hall tree lighting ceremony.

Hundreds of people gathered together in front of Town Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7, joining voices in a countdown that ended with a lit Christmas tree with lights of blue, red, orange and green, as well as a golden star to top it off.

The tree lighting rounded out an hour of photos with Santa, a magic show, holiday treats, including hot chocolate and cotton candy, tables with games and a raffle for gift baskets.

First time attendee Graham Kilanowich said the event was “great” because it’s only an hour long.

“It’s not like the kids are cold and whatnot, but they can make an hour,” he added.

Kilanowich and his family had wanted to attend the event last year, but hadn’t been able to, so when he saw a sign advertising the event, he “figured it was something good to get the kids out of the house and get Christmas holidays started.”

“[There’s] Christmas spirit all around,” he said.

For some, attending the ceremony has become a family tradition.

Becky Dutra, who has attended with her daughters for the past few years, said she loves bringing her girls to “share in that same tradition that we’ve always enjoyed.”

Dutra said her family has other traditions to start the holiday season, but that the tree lighting gives them the opportunity to see people they haven’t seen in a while and be a part of the “sense of community that we have here in Dartmouth.”

Dutra’s daughter, Alexa Morrison, 11, said she and her sister, Abby, 13, usually attend the event with their mom but this year her best friend was also going to be there, which was another reason she wanted to go.

Sophia Nutra, 12, one of the girls’ friends also at the event, said her favorite part was the food because it was “very salty.”

Alexa and Abby got an extra special treat this year after their best friend’s grandfather gave Abby a raffle ticket for the baskets of treats, Alexa said.

When numbers were called for the various baskets, Abby’s number was among them, and she won a basket consisting of popcorn, hot chocolate, various candies and a gingerbread house kit, which Abby said she was going to build “immediately.”

Jacob Vieram brought his two kids to the tree lighting, which he said they attend every year.

“It’s a great experience,” he said. “The kids look forward to it.”

And this year was no different.

“They absolutely had a blast. I think they’ve gotten popcorn a couple times, candy, different things — plenty of things to do,” Vieram said. “I think they made out pretty well here.”