SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Santa arrived in Springfield Saturday night to help kick off the city’s holiday festivities.

“Holiday in the City” attracted thousands of people to downtown Springfield for an evening of family activities.

The event featured Santa’s arrival, a fireworks display and the illumination of the more than 270,000 lights on the community Christmas tree and lights strung on buildings throughout downtown.

Michael Morris, chairman of the event’s planning committee, said the event has grown in attendance from about 3,000 people in 2004 to about 14,000 people last year.

“We want people to walk away from it wowed,” Morris said.