TUNKHANNOCK -- The holiday spirit is taking over the downtown of one community in Wyoming County.
"Christmas in Our Hometown" is just getting started in Tunkhannock with caroling, Santa, a tree lighting and much more. It's all a way to bring the community together and get shoppers to buy local.
Volunteers sorted through tray after tray of Christmas cookies at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock.
All the donated cookies are all part of the theater's "Cookie Walk", a chance for people to stock up on holiday goodies.
"They will go fast, it's first come first serve last year they didn't have any cookies by Saturday morning so Friday night we usually have a big crowd that comes so it's really exciting," said Patty Holdredge, of the Dietrich Theater.
There will be all the cookies at the Dietrich.
There will be carolers strolling the decorated streets downtown. Horse drawn carraiges, ice carvers and of course Santa too.
There's a switch ready to be thrown to light the Christmas tree, which a little testing showed all the lights set to go.
"They'll be thousands of people here tonight and it's just a great time for community to be a community. It's just an awesome night," said Pastor Rick Womer, of the Assembly of God.
Pastor Rick Womer was all alone setting up the manger for a living nativity scene so we pitched in to help.
This will be in the center of all the fun.
"If it wasn't for Christ coming we wouldn't have a Christmas to celebrate so it's as simple as that so this is the focal point of reminding people of what the meaning of Christmas is all about," said Pastor Womer.
Another feature of this will include storefronts coming to life. Here at Greenwoods furniture there will be dancers performing in the windows, just one of many aspects bringing Christmas downtown.
"It's a big draw, there will be upward of 100s of people standing outside the window watching the dancers, it's great," said Mark Monsey, of Greenwood's furniture.
And all of downtown holiday cheer is free.
"It is wonderful and the whole community really pulls together in Tunkhannock," said Monsey.