The air was frigid, but that did not stop friends, families and their four-legged friends from spreading some warm holiday cheer. Bundled up in winter attire, strollers walked side-by-side and hand-in-hand with loved ones, admiring the picturesque view of the Village—a canvass of white lights wrapped around treetops, illuminating the streets and revealing ribbon-adorned lampposts and festive storefronts under the azure sky; a picture reminiscent of a holiday greeting card.

"This is a great way to spend some quality time with loved ones," said Collin Kent, whose 19-year-old daughter is on break from UCLA. "It reminds us of the things we should be grateful for and gets us in the holiday spirit."

The Nov. 28 event kicked off with the third annual tree-lighting ceremony, which took place in Blaney Plaza. There, Mayor Nick Streit led the crowd in two countdowns, one to bid the city's metal tree farewell and the other to celebrate a new addition, a living 20-foot blue spruce holiday tree, dressed in colored and twinkling white lights.

The crowd became livelier as the night wore on and several of the businesses were swamped with customers trying to get an early start on some holiday shopping.

Stacey Whitman said she was able to find some great deals for some of her loved ones.

"I'm almost done with my shopping," she said. "I'll be able to sit back and relax while everyone else is stressing out at the malls."

Some merchants went out of their way to keep visitors warm and fuzzy, offering hot apple cider and flavored tea to passersby. Restaurants including Village Rendezvous, Bella Saratoga, The Plummed Horse, Gervais and Viaggo allured those with a sweet tooth with signature desserts such as cookies, bread pudding, coconut macaroons, spice cake and pumpkin cheesecake.

"I've never had so much dessert in one night," said longtime Saratogan, Keith Johnson, who has participated in the event for the past several years. "And I didn't even have dinner yet."

Maureen Fitzsimmons, also known as the "cookie angel" at Corinthian Flowers, said this is her favorite night of the year.

"We get to see people we haven't seen in a long time," she said. "And everyone is in a good mood."

The Fitzsimmons did what they have been doing for the past 15 years—they passed out Cucci Datis, or sprinkled cookies with fruit filling.

"We're sharing a family tradition with the rest of the community," Fitzsimmons said. "It's a nice gesture."

Restaurants, where outside heaters kept visitors warm and desserts kept palates satiated, were popular hangout places that night, but so was the Chamber of Commerce office. It wasn't only the aroma of freshly popped popcorn that attracted people's attention; rather, it was the famous $5 horse-drawn carriage ride.

"It's one of the main attractions," said Kristin Davis, the chamber's executive director. "People wait in fairly long lines to get their turn on the carriage." Derek Baker said he would not leave until he and his fiancé got their chance on the carriage.

"It's one of the most romantic things about the night," he said. "We've shared a lot of good memories and intimate moments on the carriage. It's something we do every year."

Not only was there food for the soul, there was also music to the ears throughout the Village. Church organizations, students and band members entertained passersby with classic holiday tunes while swimmers from the Lynbrook High School water polo team displayed a table of handmade cookie mix jars, candles and dog biscuits as a fundraiser.

Children also got a special visitor from the North Pole. Santa Claus made his special appearance at Blue Rock Shoot, where children—and a few adults—had their turn to take a picture with old St. Nicholas.