MOSES LAKE — There is something magical about seeing Christmas lights brighten up downtown Moses Lake each year. Likewise, there is something magical about seeing the faces of people who attend the city’s annual downtown celebration light up at the sight of it all.

“This is by far my favorite time of the year. Christmas time I mean. Because it always seems like everyone is in a better mood after Christmas lights are put up and the trees are decorated,” 9-year-old Caiden Harper remarked.

That Christmas spirit was on full display Saturday evening in Moses Lake as the Moses Lake Business Association hosted its annual downtown tree lighting event. The night itself was pretty simple: live music, entertainment, shopping and the lighting of the trees that line the downtown corridor.

Whether it was the surprisingly mild weather, the voice of local musician Rylei Franks serenading attendees or the sight of the community coming together in a time when communities are often fractured, for some unexplainable reason it seemed as if everyone was in a bright and chipper mood Saturday night.

“You know, I grew up in a huge city. Like 250,000 people huge. And we had holiday stuff like this, but you never got the same sense of community and togetherness that you see in a fairly small town like Moses Lake,” Josephine Dwyer pointed out.

That sense of community was put on full display at 5 p.m. when locals gathered around the trees and light fixtures and finally flipped the switches that light up downtown and signify that the holiday season is in full swing. Some people left as soon as the lights went on, but most lingered around the downtown area visiting shops and getting some early Christmas shopping done.

“This lighting thing each year always reminds me to get my Christmas shopping done and out of the way. So if for nothing else, this day always, without fail, motivates me to stop procrastinating and start shopping,” Robin Toller said with a slight chuckle.