Northampton ushered in the Christmas holiday season Sunday with a crowd of people gathered at the Main Street and Laubach Avenue.

At the triangle there, a 32-foot spruce tree was lit as a band played holiday music. The event was capped off by the arrival of Santa aboard a borough aerial fire engine.

"Oohs" and "aahs" filled the plaza as 5-year-old Caitlyn Rogan, assisted by her toddler brother Cooper, both from Northampton, pressed a button on a remote control to activate thousands of small multicolored lights on the tree.

Caitlyn an Cooper are the children of Rita and Craig Rogan.

The glow of the tree lights complemented the broad smiles on the faces of the young children as they looked upward at the tree.

Caitlyn and Cooper were given the honor of lighting the tree because their grandparents, Patricia and Donald Rogan, donated the tree that became the town's official 2012 Christmas tree. The tree previously stood oin their front lawn on Eighth Street.

The program began with the Lehigh Valley Italian-American Band playing several holiday songs, including an original piece as an ode to Northampton. LeRoy Brobst, assistant to the borough manager, was the program moderator.

Mayor Thomas Reenock provided the welcoming address, noting the ceremony marks "the official start of our holiday season at our Christmas Plaza, the corner of Main Street and Laubach Avenue."

Reenock presented the Rogans with a framed certificate of appreciation for providing the borough with the Christmas tree. Many, including the mayor, said it is as "beautiful" as a Christmas tree can be.

As children sang "Jingle Bells" and "Here Comes Santa Claus," the flashing red lights of the fire engine could be seen as the siren blared from the north. As the fire engine approached the triangle, Santa waved to the children below. Santa, a.k.a. Bob Bare, was accompanied by Mrs. Claus, a.k.a. Roseann Bare.

Escorted to special chairs, Santa and Mrs. Claus, greeted each child, who received a small gift bag while pictures were taken. As the last child was given a hearty "ho, ho, ho, ho" Santa, began preparing for his trip back to the North Pole where he will fill the gift requests the children wrote on paper.

A small holiday painted mail box at the triangle serves as a collection spot for children and parents to drop wish lists for Santa.