LEWISTON — Hundreds of city residents and visitors enjoyed the annual Holiday at the Plaza on Saturday at Dufresne Plaza on Lisbon Street.

Local vendors and shops along Lisbon Street welcomed visitors for holiday shopping during Sparkle Saturday, a day for small businesses, and food trucks were set up on the edges of the plaza for snacks and warm treats. Live carolers sang holiday songs adding to the festive atmosphere while some enjoyed horse-drawn wagon rides through the decorated streets.

The main attraction included visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, where scores of kids shared their holiday wishes and dropped letters into Santa’s special mailbox.

After a visit to the Claus family, Arlo, 6, and Abel Bean, 5, of Litchfield were drawn to the Kiddo Choo Choo Ride for a quick train trip up and down Lisbon Street. The boys’ mother, Pam Bean, said the thrill for her was watching the kids enjoy the day. But her favorite part?

“It’s got to be the food trucks,” she said. “The poutine for sure!”

Some families enjoyed horse-drawn wagon rides through the decorated streets, while others followed their children sprinting for the ice skating area set in the center of Dufresne Plaza.

Amira, 4, and Shahira Omar, 5, of Lewiston were finishing up taking a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus while eyeing the ice skaters a short distance away.

“My favorite part was Santa,” Shahira Omar said. Amira Omar had already decided ice skating was her favorite.

The petting zoo with its sheep and mini horses drew crowds of families, offering a chance to see and interact with the farm animals. Those looking for fun and games hit up the KidZone, which kept little ones busy, and Xtreme Sportz which offered basketball, football, and axe-throwing.

Fresh out of the KidZone, Juliette, 4, and Jessica Cormier, 6, of Auburn were waiting in line for the train after the giant snowman bouncy house closed for the day.

While Jessica Cormier was having a moment overcoming the bad news, Juliette Cormier enthusiastically shared it was her favorite fixture so far. In the meantime, parents Chris and Jamie Cormier were looking forward to the food trucks.

“Well, my favorite part so far is all of it,” Jamie Cormier said, “And the fact that it’s all open for everyone to enjoy? It’s wonderful.”

As the time for Lewiston’s big tree lighting drew nearer, Lewiston Middle School seventh grader Julia Pfohl and eighth grader Claude Neissen were readying to join Mayor Carl Sheline in leading the crowd in a multilingual countdown. Pfohl led the crowd in German while Claude counted down in French.

“I’ve really enjoyed being out here with our city today,” Sheline said. “There’s been a tremendous turnout, and it’s really great to see all the children’s smiling faces and I’m looking forward to the new year.”