Olde Town Arvada hosted a slew of events over the weekend, with Small Business Saturday, the Olde Town tree lighting and the first Holiday Makers Market of the year taking place on Nov. 26.

Thousands attended the tree lighting, which was sound tracked by live music from the Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band and the Elegant Plums. Arvada City Councilmembers Lauren Simpson, John Marriott and Bob Fifer took part in the tree lighting.

Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District Director Joe Hengstler called the festivities the “Official kickoff of the holiday season” and said he was grateful for folks coming to the historic district.

“It’s critical for these small businesses that they see shoppers throughout the holiday season,” Hengstler said. “When you walk into an Olde Town business, you have a good chance of seeing the owner behind the county. These are people who have invested their lives into their business and they’re always appreciative when it comes to community support.

“The tree lighting is the perfect way to end Small Business Saturday,” Hengstler continued. “With the crowds getting larger every year, we’ve really tried to invest in this being the best tree lighting ever.”

To that end, 57th Avenue was closed for the ceremony and pop up bars in Olde Town Square helped usher in the first-ever lighting of the new Olde Town tree, which replaces the previous tree that was felled by a windstorm last year.