Nicole Wallace munched on a cookie, patiently waiting for Santa to make his stop at Winterfest at Post Falls City Hall on Friday night.

Toys were down on the Post Falls 9-year-old's list for jolly St. Nick.

"I'm asking for joy and happiness," Wallace said before mentioning toys.

She said she ordered her requests that way because feelings are more important than things.

Santa was among several attractions at the annual festive event hosted by the city's parks and recreation department and volunteers.

Attendees also enjoyed caroling, make-and-take Christmas crafts, the tree lighting, refreshments and Mayor Clay Larkin's traditional reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to youth.

Turning on the lights on the Christmas tree was almost trumped by steam spewing out of French Cleaners across Fourth Avenue as the crowd gathered in the City Hall plaza.

Steam rose into the sky like Old Faithful just prior to the countdown.

"How can I top that?" Larkin said. "If I realized the dry cleaners would've had an aerial display like that, we could've added color lights to make it more festive."

Inside the rotunda, Wallace, her mother Heather Johnson and 11-month-old brother Aramis Johnson took in the sights and sounds.

"We decided to come out because we don't know of anywhere in the area that has a real-looking Santa," Heather Johnson said. "And it's (Aramis') first Christmas. It's just nice to be around the locals and enjoy the season."

Post Falls' Stephanie Davenport and her 18-year-old daughter, Britnee, were wearing pajamas, fresh off the River City Leadership Academy's pajama and sock drive at the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce next door.

Stephanie is part of the 2012 class of the academy, which develops community leaders.

"I try to get involved as much as I can," she said, adding that before the PJ drive and Winterfest she dropped off food at the food bank that was gathered by the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors.

Britnee said attending the events gave her a sense of community involvement.

"You know more about what's going on," she said. "There have been people who have lived here for years, and they still don't know what's going on. I think this is awesome for the community."

Coeur d'Alene's Mike Vetramile said it was a nice opportunity to get out with is 5-year-old daughter Abby.

"This time of year isn't easy (due to divorce), so something like this is nice," he said.

Abby's eyes lit up as she spoke about chatting with Santa.

"I want Strawberry Shortcake," she said enthusiastically.

Post Falls was among the communities that kicked off the Christmas season with festivities on Friday.

Elsewhere, December D'Lights in Rathdrum started with a holiday stroll and hay rides. It continues today on Main Street, including the lighted rig parade at 5 p.m.

In Spirit Lake, festivities included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the downtown revitalization project, music by Timberlake High and a lighted lawnmower parade.

Festivities tonight

Communities throughout the area will celebrate the season tonight, including:

• Rathdrum - December D'Lights, 3-5:30 p.m., Main Street, lighted rig parade at 5 p.m.

• Hayden - Hayden Lights parade on Government Way at 5 p.m., Christmas tree lighting at City Park afterward

• St. Maries - Christmas in St. Maries, stroll on Main Street, 1-5 p.m., lighted parade at 5 p.m., free concert at 6:30 p.m. at the Heyburn gym.