Snow on the ground, holiday lights: It’s beginning to look a lot like …

Bedford’s winter holiday season began on Tuesday evening with a story time for Bedford’s youngest, and the annual tree lighting on Bedford Common to warm even the hardest of seasonal hearts.

Citizen of the Year Ralph Hammond pushed the switch to illuminate hundreds of twinkling lights in the trees on Bedford Common shortly after 7 pm on December 10. As if on cue, the Bedford Fire Department’s Ladder 1 truck and Santa Claus arrived carrying an important passenger, Santa Claus.

Earlier in the evening the sounds of The Bedford Four — Carole Krusemark, Laura Kalb, Ken Langer and Larry Herz — sang carols on the steps of First Parish while children listened to the Dr. Seuss classic, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, read by Kids’ Club volunteers in the Sanctuary. First Parish’s Junior Youth Group served cocoa to the crowd.

Santa personally greeted the hundreds of children awaiting his arrival and reminded everyone that he is apt to return to Bedford on Christmas Eve. For more information visit www.bedfordsanta.com.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to the Bedford Department of Public Works for lighting the trees, Amy Hamilton of the Recreation Department for arranging the program, and to First Parish on the Common for providing cocoa and shelter from the evening’s winter chill.