Regina Downtown decided to kick off the holiday season last night with their annual tree lighting.

The tree lighting wasn’t all that was happening as there was free hot chocolate and cookies, carol singing, a scavenger hunt, snow for the kids to play in, and horse carriage rides, and even Santa and the Grinch made their way to the Queen City to take part in the festivities.

Michael MacNaughton, the board chair for the Regina Downtown business improvement district, said the event went well.

“We had an amazing crowd which is awesome,” he stated. “We are coming out of COVID-19, and hopefully, we are slowly out of it; people can get back to whatever normal was.”

MacNaughton said that this was their first in-person event since the start of the pandemic, and it was nice to get together with people.

“We’re social animals, as human beings, and we need to connect with people. It is just heartwarming to be able to be out here with all these people here tonight, celebrate this season and celebrate this City.”

He added that he encourages people to shop local this holiday season.