From the moment Santa Claus pushed the button lighting up the city’s lights, this year’s Christmas in the City dazzled and gave good cheer to Austin residents everywhere.

Santa, for his part, visited little girls and boys at the Austin Chamber of Commerce, collecting wish lists and taking pictures with Mower County’s younger residents. Santa’s only challenge this year was pushing the button to make the city’s Christmas lights brighten up the night.

“It was tough,” Santa said. “The button was stiff. It was a little cold out, you know.”

Temperatures were in the low 20s, according to the National Weather Service. The wind didn’t help any, as the wind chill brought temps below zero.

That didn’t stop folks like Angi Schuster and her son Jaiden from waiting in line to visit Santa.

Schuster’s brought her son out to Christmas in the city every year, especially since her father used to own a business downtown in the old bank building that burned down. She sees Christmas in the City as a fun tradition.

“It’s just what we do,” she said.

There were several new attractions to make the traditional Christmas in the City event even more special this year, such as the Austin Human Rights Commission and Austin High School’s CORE group serving ponche, a Mexican spiced cider.

“We just want to help the community,” said Karem Salas, AHS senior and a member of CORE. “We want to show them about the culture of some of the people that live here. We show them what we do … so they can take that away, what we believe.”

Aside from Ponche, Salas and other students talked to bystanders about some of the Christmas traditions celebrated in Mexico, such as the Posadas, a nightly reenactment by the community signifying the journey of Joseph and Mary. A large seven-pointed piñata was on display as well, signifying the seven sins, according to several CORE members.

“It’s good because people learn more about our traditions and then they show us their traditions,” Mayra Cisneros, a seventh grader and volunteer said.

The Ponche is a delectable spiced fruit punch, made with sugarcane, cinnamon, pineapple and a variety of Mexican fruit. Bystanders who came in from the cold appeared to enjoy the drink.

“It’s very good,” said Nadeen Olson.

Many people enjoyed the chili contest put on by the Austin Jaycees this year, another new attraction to Christmas in the City. The chili contest allowed adults and kids to vote on their favorite chili, although adults were encouraged to donate to the Jaycee’s Christmas fundraiser. Every year, the Jaycees “adopt” about 20-30 kids from homes which need a little extra holiday cheer, according to Dannielle Borgerson-Nesvold. With Santa’s help, the Jaycees buy $50 in toys and $50 in clothes for each boy and girl, so they can have a happy holiday season.

“We make sure to get exactly what’s on their list,” Borgerson-Nesvold said.

Seven types of chili were on display, including Mickey Ely’s Bloody Mary chili, which is basically a Bloody Mary with meat and beans. Although most of the chilies were mild and contained beans, Garret Long made Pete’s Chili a little more spicy than the rest. Long’s Chili, which eventually won the contest, had a secret to it: He didn’t use any beans.

“I’m from Oklahoma,” Long said. “We don’t believe in putting beans with our chili.”

Steve Halsey didn’t mind. He enjoyed most of the chilies on display, and liked how the contest would benefit local children.

“Anything to help out,” Halsey said.

Piggy Blues’ offered free gelado samples across the street from Hill, Larson, Walth and Banda, where the Jaycees’ chili contest took place. It’s also where residents like Penny Murphy and her son Logan could get in out of the cold from the sleigh rides taking place on Main Street.

“The sleigh rides are my favorite,” Penny Murphy said.

The cold got to several live mannequins at Belles and Beaus Bridal and Formal Wear.

“There isn’t any heat in here, but we’re toughing it out,” Matt Kasel, one of the mannequins said. Kasel and fellow male model Max Brennan were required to stay the front display area of Belles and Beaus for the entire Christmas in the City celebration, although several female models were on hand to take 15 minute shifts in the display case.

“It’s fun seeing the little kids smile,” Katie Subra, who modeled a bridal gown, said. “I think it’s a good thing for the town to have Christmas in the City.”

Donna Anderson and Janet “Bubbles” Heller agree. They’ve helped the Mower County chapter of the American Dairy Association put out hot chocolate and crackers for the past. They get to see everybody who comes in to the Martial Arts Fitness Center building and visit with people they haven’t seen in a while, thanks to Christmas in the City.

“You get to see people that you don’t see very often,” Anderson said.

“We just show up and have fun,” Heller added.

Though it lasted only two hours, Christmas in the City provided a little mirth and holiday cheer for everyone who went out to have some fun.

“It’s cool,” said Maggie May, another model at Belles and Beaus. “I’ve never been to it before.”