KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Knoxville! Downtown is a glow with more than 100,000 lights as Christmas in the City kicks off Friday.

Market square and Krutch Park are both full of the holiday spirit.

Mayor Bill Haslam will get some help from Santa Claus himself to switch on the lights on a 38 foot tree.

Families enjoy a night of music and crafts in Market Square. One of the most popular family spots is the Holidays on Ice skating rink.

Festivities include storytelling and horse drawn carriage rides.

Families call it the perfect way to start the holiday season.

"There's stuff here for the kids to see something for us to see, there's stuff to eat, there's stuff to smell, it's just like an old fashioned christmas all in one great spot," says Knoxville Mom, Melissa Carrasco.

Knoxville Dady, Stewart White enjoys Christmas in the City as well. "It's great for us to come down here with all the people, the skating and all the restaurants, it's just a great way to ring in the holiday."

The event also switches on the lights for all those trees on the rooftops of businesses across the city.

Christmas in the City runs through January. For more information, and a list of holiday events in Knoxville, click on the link below.