Bedford County got a little brighter Sunday night.

“We come out every year to see all the beautiful lights and the lighting of the tree and it’s just a beautiful place to come,” Debbie Stair said.

It was a magical sight as the 40-foot Christmas tree outside the Omni Bedford Springs Resort lit up for the first time. The annual grand illumination event has people coming back each and every year.

“Every year we strive to make it a little bigger, a little more fun and a little more interactive,” Bill Liedholm, the general manager of Omni Bedford Springs, said. “We’re already looking forward to next year.”

One of those in attendance was Santa Claus himself. People watched with glee as he read “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

However, Saint Nick wasn’t the only one in town.

Big crowds kicked off the holiday season, including a family coming all the way from Dallas, Texas.

“It’s a time to get together and celebrate Christmas,” Kamela Kolander said. “Just everyone being together.”

As the carols rang out, people couldn’t help but get into the Christmas spirit.

Everyone getting ready to celebrate the festive time with family, creating more lasting traditions and memories.

“The holidays are a special time for families,” Liedholm said. “So these are more memories that they can live with for a long, long time to come.”

The tree will stay lit until the end of the year.