CARIBOU – The flashing blue and white lights of the police cruiser Friday night led the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus aboard a wheeled sleigh at exactly the scheduled time.

Some 200 parents and children cheered at their arrival near the United Baptist Church. His sleigh, drawn by a five-wheeled ATV, was quickly surrounded by the happy children.

The annual wait was made cheery by the church choir, which sang seasonal Christian songs. High atop the front stairway to the church, 18 carolers were singing “Christ the Savior is Born” and “O Holy Night” as the cavalcade made its way down High Street.

There was no snow on the ground for the annual opening of the Christmas season in central Aroostook County, but temperatures of around 20 degrees and a brisk cold wind made sure everyone knew it was winter in The County.

Parishioners of the church made the cold a bit easier for people by passing out hot chocolate and cookies at a stand in the church driveway.

“This is the first year in some time that we have had the cookies and hot chocolate,” Heidi Clark, a Baptist church parishioner working the appreciated concession stand, said. “It’s chilly and it makes it a good night for the hot chocolate.

“The caroling is an annual thing,” she said as she waved her hand towards the church steps, where joyous songs could be hear.

A few minutes after his arrival, Santa Claus waved his hand and hundreds of white lights brightened a 15-foot-tall Christmas tree on the lawn of the Family Chiropractic Center. People cheered again.

Nearly the same ceremony took place on Saturday in neighboring Limestone, where they heralded the arrival of Santa Claus and the Christmas season with their annual Parade of Lights.

Next weekend the seasonal gathering will move to Presque Isle for its annual Christmas Light Parade and celebration.

The crowd in Caribou quickly made its way to the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department garage after the lighting of the tree. It wasn’t very long before the scores of children filled the back of the facility for the annual gathering.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived and made their way to two large lounge chairs set up in the facility. Between the chairs were hundreds of bags of candy.

“The Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry furnishes the candy, but volunteers give of their time for this event each year,” Wendy Landes of the Chamber said just before Santa Claus arrived. “We certainly could not do it without the Fire Department and its people.

“This kicks off the season in the city,” she said. “People make this happen.”

Kelsey St. Peter, 6, and Alyssa St. Peter, 8, the daughters of Claudia and Kevin St. Peter, were the first to climb aboard the laps of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Scores of children followed them for the annual tradition. Door prizes were also given away.

The Henry B. Pratt American Legion Auxiliary will host its annual lunch with Santa at Caribou’s Teague Park Elementary School at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Proceeds from the luncheon will go to the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen in Caribou. Santa will listen to children’s Christmas wish lists.