Moreno Valley City Hall filled with families and holiday music as the city held its 10th annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, capped by a ceremonial countdown and the illumination of a 30-foot tree.

Emcee Brooke Bergstahler opened the evening as a "storybook adventure," introducing youth performers and visiting acts before calling local officials onstage. "We are stepping into a storybook adventure," Bergstahler said as she welcomed attendees to the program.

The program included a performance by a young group billed as Time for Tots and a multi-song set from the Satin Dolls (members introduced onstage as Roz, Blair and Thelma). The Satin Dolls invited the crowd to sing along to holiday standards including "Jingle Bells" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Mayor Ulysses Cabrera joined the event to offer holiday greetings and several city updates. "We're just a couple of weeks away from Christmas," Cabrera said, and he listed near-term projects he said residents should expect: he announced that the city is "getting ready to open the biggest bicycle pump track in Southern California this month," said a new library is planned to open next year on the north side of the city, and noted a dog park at Gateway Park and ongoing road-repair work.

A lighthearted moment came when a costumed character, Bernie the Burrow, stepped onto the stage dressed as Santa; the mayor then introduced the actual Santa Claus, who greeted families and said, "Merry Christmas."

The ceremonial countdown led to the tree lighting and a simulated snowfall for the crowd. Event staff provided hot cocoa and cookies, and the emcee invited families to take photos with Santa; she also announced that each child would receive the city's holiday keepsake. The program closed with thanks to performers and city staff and seasonal wishes for the community.

The tree lighting is an annual community tradition at Moreno Valley City Hall; officials said the event aims to bring families together while highlighting city recreation and infrastructure projects planned for the coming year.