The city of Sammamish kicked off the holiday season with their annual Very Merry Sammamish event, where they featured several school choirs, a petting zoo and offered pictures with Santa Claus on Dec. 1.

This year’s celebration also served to support Eastside Baby Corner, with representatives at the event collecting donations to the organization.

At 6 p.m., Sammamish Mayor Bob Keller began the tree lighting ceremony with a few words to the crowd about the event and thanked all of the city’s partners for helping to put on the celebration. After a countdown from 10 by the whole audience, the tree was lit.

The Blackwell Elementary School Choir performs in the city council chambers. (Evan Pappas/Staff Photo)

Eastside Fire and Rescue decorated one of their trucks with a ton of lights for attendees to take pictures with. (Evan Pappas/Staff Photo)

The petting zoo drew big crowds to the holiday celebration with a llama, a camel, pigs, and goats. (Evan Pappas/Staff Photo)

Yuta and Sota Hidaka get a picture with Santa Claus. (Evan Pappas/Staff Photo)

Maia and William Riley tell Santa what they want for Christmas. (Evan Pappas/Staff Photo)