“Three, two, one!” and the Jim Thorpe Olde Time Christmas tree was lit with the soft glow of white lights Friday evening in Josiah White Park.

Jim Thorpe Mayor Michael Sofranko and Santa Claus marked the start of a 41-year-old tradition, the Olde Time Christmas Celebration.

The Jim Thorpe High School Marching Band played Christmas songs, and singer Dina Tulli-Davis also entertained the crowd.

Santa arrived a little after 6 p.m. by fire truck and made his way to the stage set up next to the gazebo.

After lighting the tree, Santa took photographs with children.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony was the start of the celebration which runs the first three weekends in December.

Visitors can enjoy the Santa Train, horse and carriage rides, Victorian carolers, musical jugglers, and a chance to walk up and down Broadway and Race streets, visiting the local shops and galleries and tour the town’s famous landmarks. Local businesses are also decorating for Christmas, and visitors can vote for their favorite displays.

“I’d just like to thank everybody for the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency and Michael Rivkin, the Jim Thorpe Fire Company, for once again bringing Santa, and we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” Sofranko said. “Between lighting of trees at Memorial Park, Sam Miller Field will have a tree lighting on the 11th, downtown here we just had our tree lighting, I think we’re becoming the town of Christmas, so it’s very good. It’s great to see this community support.”