UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The City of Utica held Christmas at City Hall Thursday night. The event was free to the public and completely put on by local volunteers and donations.

New Horizons Barbershop Chorus and other singers were part of the entertainment, but it was Santa Claus who kept kid's attention.

The mayor's intent was to capture the spirit of Christmas.

"Christmas is special ...and it just is a great event to bring kids together with their parents, grandparents, its just electricity when they see Santa Claus they see the lights they hear the music its what's Chritstmas is all about," said Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri.

Utica's Proctor High School students helped hand out cookies, cocoa and candy canes.

Mayor Palmieri says the free event was all thanks to the city's volunteers coming together.

"Financially we all know where we are and it's not just the city, there could be families out there of this magnitude, it's just the warmth the city offers that no one else has we come forward when there's difficult times," said Palmieri.

Santa Claus was also thrilled to see children's excitement.

"This is wonderful, I always enjoy coming to Utica to see all the nice kids, they're all wonderful kids here in Utica," said Santa.

Each child left with not only a belly full of cookies and cocoa but two brand new pairs of gloves donated by local businesses. Left over gloves will be brought to St. Luke's Pediatrics and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Utica.