UTICA — The holidays came to Utica a little early as Christmas on Main Street returned after a two-year hiatus.

The annual event, which is going on its 34th year, is branded as the official start to the holiday season in Utica and the Mohawk Valley. This year marked the return of the event, as it had been previously shut down the past two holiday seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christmas on Main Street, located in Utica's historic Union Station at 321 Main St., comes at no cost to attendees and provides a family-friendly atmosphere where families and children of all ages can start celebrating the holiday season and enjoy the Christmas shows, craft fair and local participating vendors, like Anita's Stevens Swan Humane Society and the Utica Zoo's mobile petting zoo.

The highlight of the annual event is getting to meet and take pictures with Santa Claus.

"We're all volunteers, so we do this out of the goodness of our hearts," said Mark Santa Maria, president of the Christmas on Main Street committee. "That's why we've been doing it for over 30 years because everybody loves it. It's a wonderful feeling to see all the families and all the kids and how much joy it brings to the community."

Decorations from the Christmas on Main Street event will remain at Utica's Union Station for the remainder of the holiday season to keep up the holiday spirit for travelers at the station and for attendees of the Adirondack Railroad's Polar Express.