It’s looking a lot like Christmas in Tamaqua.

Friday night, the season got a major boost with an early visit by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, who arrived by sleigh. The sleigh wasn’t pulled by reindeer — probably because there was no snow.

Their arrivals was part of a parade held Friday as one of the highlights in a five-day Spirit of Christmas celebration.

The parade was led by the Tamaqua Fire Department and Tamaqua knee-hi cheerleaders.

Also in the line of march of Spirit of Christmas marchers, was “Little Miss Spirit” Ava Jones. Ava, 9, is a fourth-grade student at Tamaqua Elementary School. She marched next to Frosty the Snowman.

The parade on Broad Street ended at the Depot Square Park where Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted visitors and lit the tree-shaped fountain in the park, which was decorated with white lights.

Today’s events start with Breakfast With Santa, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Tamaqua Salvation Army Center.

There will be a kids’ crafts event at the art center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., an open house at Stonehedge Gardens in South Tamaqua from noon to 4 p.m. and a presentation of “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m.

The Spirit of Christmas event will conclude Sunday with a matinee performance of “The Nutcracker” at 3 p.m. and the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 6 p.m. in Depot Square Park.