Thousands of people turned out to make merry last night at Honolulu Hale for the Christmas City Lights and parade.

Debbie Lui was on hand early with her children Daina, 10, Shylene, 4, Danielle, 12 and Jordan, 3, to take it all in, even though the kids had seen Santa Claus last week at a parade in Wai'anae. The kids all agreed that they would be happy to see him again.

"This is the first year we've ever all come to town to see it," Debbie Lui said. "Just for fun, and it's free."

For free, it was hard to beat. A festive mood ruled. Daina had even brought her own jingle bells just in case she had to help out with the jingling, but there was plenty of it to spare.

There were people with neon necklaces, Santa hats and short shorts, reindeer antlers. There were happy dwarves, prancing elves, bright lanterns in trees, glitter and glow and palm trees and stars.

And music pouring out everywhere.

The mayor himself was belting out "Mele Kalikimaka" and the crowd was waving and singing along.

Laurita Isa was camped out along the parade route with her granddaughter Simone, 4, who declined comment for the press.

"She speaks beautifully but she doesn't talk to strangers," Isa said.

What about Santa Claus? a reporter asked. Would she talk to Santa?

Simone whispered in her grandmother's ear.

"She would talk to Santa," Isa said, "but it would be a secret."

Simone pulled her sweater over her head to indicate that the interview was over.

Meanwhile the mayor, who is certainly not shy, was crooning "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with entertainer Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom.

All of your troubles, they were singing, would be miles away, and they would hang a star high upon the highest bough.

Then U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and his wife, Irene, threw the switch to light the most glorious Christmas tree at City Hall, which produced a bevy of oohs, aahs and camera flashes.

The parade started. When the marching bands from 'Aiea, Baldwin, Castle, Celtic Pipe and Drums, Damien, Farrington, Holy Family Catholic Academy, Kapolei, McKinley, Mililani, Nanakuli, Sacred Hearts Academy, Saint Francis, Stevenson, Waipahu and the Royal Hawaiian Band blared out "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bell Rock," the crowd went wild, especially the children standing on their dads' shoulders.

Ruka Tahara, 10, who was there with his family from Japan, said he loved it all, especially "all the color."

Santa was coming to his house near Tokyo, Ruka said. He'd been good.