 A small group of local citizens banded together to organize a small, intimate holiday community event, to show off the new decorations.And thus, the first Winter Festival was staged, with all of one entertainment stage, the brief lighting ceremony and "Santa's Alleyway" on the north side of City Hall.Barely 6,000 hardy visitors braved bitter cold temperatures on the first Friday in December that year, but enough enthusiasm was created to turn the event into an annual celebration.