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ATTLEBORO - Santa Claus came to town Saturday afternoon, as the city's tree-lighting ceremony officially set the scene for a merry - if really cold - holiday season.

With blustery winds sweeping the hair off their rosy-cheeked faces, hundreds of city youngsters clamored for the chance to see Santa at Capron Park's Newell Shelter.

Mayor Kevin Dumas kicked off the Christmas season by lighting the tree and greeting children, some of whom sat on their parents' shoulders for a better look at Old Saint Nick, following a short parade that carried Santa down County Street to the park.

Everyone enjoyed Santa's presence.

But the chilly weather - temperatures were in the 20s and dropping as the afternoon wore on - sent some home soon into the festivities, with the area looking rather bare halfway through the afternoon's annual Holiday Happenings event. Those who did stick out the bitter cold were treated to free hay rides from Liston Landscaping, hot chocolate, cookies, and a chance to pet some horses, and to snap up some holiday paraphernalia. Brennan Middle School students also were on hand to sing holiday songs, including "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."

ON THE WEB: See more photos of Saturday's Holiday Happenings event at the The Sun Chronicle's Web site, www.thesunchronicle.com/photo gallery. You also will be able to see a video of the parade at www.thesunchronicle.com/news.