Parker McLeod climbed the waist-high steps as quickly as his little body allowed. Atop the summit, he cast a focused gaze toward a man he’d waited a year to see.

“I missed you, Santa,” McLeod, 3, said. “I want a big truck and a big trailer for Christmas.”

The corner of Troy’s 2nd Street and Kootenai Avenue was the place to be for children Saturday night. McLeod was one of more than 100 kids who played games, ate cookies and drank hot cocoa before sitting on Santa’s lap during Troy’s third annual Christmas Kickoff. Inside the Lincoln Theater, Betsy Pierce, Lee Kramer, Terry Pollock and Taylor Pollock sang Christmas carols while onlookers ate free popcorn.

Outside, children played holiday-themed carnival games. One game, organized by Praise Chapel’s Rev. Frank Kanc, required children to toss a ring over a candy cane. Every winner earned a candy-stuffed prize bag.

“It’s all for the kids,” Kanc said. “I’m here with Troy Ministerial Alliance. It’s all one body of Christ.”

Illuminated wreaths and snowmen hung from corner light posts. In front of the Gambles Hardware store, an impressive array of cookies and brownies were free for all. City councilman Phil Fisher kept the hot cocoa fresh as he rotated pots with fellow councilwoman Fran McCully. A crew of six volunteers — Fisher and his wife, Danette, McCully and her husband Sam, and Gary and Linda Rose — spent weeks preparing all the treats.

“I think my wife made eight to 10 dozen cookies,” Phil Fisher said.

A little before 7 p.m., Santa arrived with Mrs. Claus aboard a horse-drawn carriage.

“The reindeer are resting for their big day,” Santa said, when asked about his antlered friends.

Parents and children lined clear down 2nd Street to Home Bar as they waited to visit Santa under a massive Christmas tree lit with 30 long strands of red, blue, green and orange lights.

Audrey Evans, 8, was calm when she got her crack at Santa.

“I asked him for a marker-maker kit,” Evans said. “He’s been pretty good to me in the past. I think I’ll get it.”