PONTIAC - Dawn Hetherington of Fairbury could be seen sitting Friday evening on the northwest bench of the Livingston County Courthouse.

Sitting with her were her two children, Rhiley, 8, and Nicholas, 6. They were huddled together under a purple blanket while family friend Susan Harder and her daughter, Sarah, were both close by.

"It's cold," Susan Harder said. "It's cold out, but we really like it."

Their eyes were fixed on the luminescent figures slowly making their way around Pontiac's downtown square. They were among hundreds of people who braved the freezing weather to enjoy the Pontiac Christmas Light Up Parade.

There were lighted snowmen, trains, dragons and fire trucks, and dancers and motorcycle riders kept pace with the floats. The parade units' path was outlined by the white lights mixed with garland adorning lampposts and bare trees.

The crowd may have set a turnout record for the parade, which moved to the day after Thanksgiving last year, said Lori Fairfield, Pontiac Redeveloping Our United Downtown executive director. It was on Dec. 1 for the previous six years.

The weather didn't seem to upset the crowd. Children and adults alike were seen on the sidewalks, cheering as the floats came by and running out to collect the thrown candy and treats.

The parade finale was Santa Claus, who waved to the onlookers from atop a Pontiac fire truck.

"I liked the Grinch, the train and Santa," Rhiley said.

Rhiley was not the only one excited to see Santa. Other children waved back at him and ho-ho-ho'd along with him.

Santa's arrival meant he will take up periodic residence in his little red house north of the courthouse. In addition to having visiting hours there, he also will visit other downtown areas over the next month.

Those who seemed most excited to see Santa were the 20 or so children who were first in line at his house.

"I'm going to ask him for some Webkinz and an iPod," said Kyra Carr, 8, of South Elgin, who was visiting her grandmother.

"Last year, we waited over an hour to get in, so we made sure we were first this time," said Kyra's grandmother, Patty Pack of Pontiac.

The honor of being the first child to sit on Santa's lap went to 3-year-old Ryli Schmidt, daughter of Donny and Keri Jo Schmidt of Saunemin. With the encouragement of her parents, Ryli whispered her wish.

"I want a Dora's Magic Castle," she said.

And with that, the Christmas season officially had begun in Pontiac.