The Christmas season officially started in downtown Covington Thursday evening with the Lighting of the Tree.

Santa Claus made his debut on the Covington Square to light up a Christmas tree and the maples and magnolias in the Square Park. Along with Santa, thousands of visitors to the Square also heard music from the Livingston Elementary School Chorus, Arts Association's Oxford Little Singers and Oxford Singing Children, the Newton County Community Band and the Living Proof Band of Covington First United Methodist Church.