It was an evening of Christmas carols, hot chocolate and tree lightings during the inaugural Christmas on the Hill event in Nesquehoning on Sunday.

The event, hosted by the New Columbus and Hauto fire companies and recreation commission, rang in the holiday season with a community event filled with Christmas magic.

Santa met with children while two live reindeer — named Patrick and Jingles — brought a little extra touch to the New Columbus park as residents and visitors gathered for the first ever tree lighting in the park. Nesquehoning officials have been working to install electric in the park earlier this year to be able to host events like this for the town.

“I think this is a fabulous turnout,” Suzanne Smith, one of the event organizers, said. “When we started community events, this is what we envisioned. Working together.”

She said that the event was made possible through joint efforts between the three fire companies, borough departments, the recreation commission, police department and town volunteers.

“It’s really a community coming together to hold an event like this,” Smith added. “Our goal is to offer these events completely free to anybody that attends. That’s always our missing. Whatever money we raise, we put back into the community.”

She pointed out that for the first year, the event had 27 sponsored trees, each decorated in their own themes. The trees were lit following a countdown from Santa himself.

The evening started with a firetruck parade down West Catawissa Street, bringing Santa, as well as two winter characters up to New Columbus.

Santa then met with children, while Cassandra “the Reindeer Magic Lady” Hoover, owner of Spruce Ridge Reindeer in Albrightsville, spoke to visitors about Jingles and Patrick and the rest of her reindeer on the farm.

“I would just like to thank everybody for a great turnout,” said New Columbus Fire Company volunteer Don Schlier. “Everybody had a good time. We appreciate all the people, all the donations, everything.”

New Columbus Fire Chief Tyler Schlier added that it was a great first year for the event, but noted that with the cold weather, people should make sure their smoke detectors are working and that oil burners and furnaces are cleaned and in good working order.

“We don’t want any accidents this holiday season,” he said.

At 6:15 p.m., residents and visitors gathered in the park as Santa counted down to the magical time.

With the flip of a switch, the trees were lit and the holiday Christmas season officially began in Nesquehoning.