Correspondent photo / Bill Koch A horse-drawn carriage, which made trips from the township hall to Piccadilly Parlor and back, makes a stop on the village green during the annual Canfield Lighting of the Green.

CANFIELD — The wind chill was barely above zero, but that didn’t keep people from attending the tree lighting ceremony Saturday night on the Canfield village green, an annual event sponsored by the Canfield Rotary Club.

Anthony Nacarato, Rotary member and Lighting of the Green co-chair, said it started in 2007 and has grown every year. The event is normally the week after Thanksgiving, but because Thanksgiving came so late, they decided to do it this weekend so people could enjoy the lights for a longer time.

Nacarato said they had dozens of corporate and individual donors for the 64 trees, 28 uplights (wrapped around the base and up the trunks of the trees) and 35 light poles, as well as an additional 20 sponsors for the carriage rides.

He expressed gratitude to the city of Canfield and especially the Public Works Department for their hard work installing the lights.

Rotary president Jane Perrett credited Nacarato for all the progress made over the past 21 years. She noted that before 2007, the only decoration was “a light in the window of Township Hall,” and it has grown bigger every year. She said it was important for Canfield residents to know that although Nacarato is a past city councilman, the expenses are paid from private donations.

Brad Gessner of Austintown, a contestant on “The Great American Baking Show,” sold his festive gingerbread cookies. Carolyn Cappabianca, owner of Suite Magnolias beauty salon and co-chair of Lighting of the Green, stood nearby with her son Marcos Cruz to give out desperately needed hot chocolate.

Mayor Don Dragish joined Nacarato and Perrett on the gazebo to flip the switch.

“It’s nice to see the community come together for the season,” Dragish said.

Several buildings were open for the occasion. Piccadilly Parlor served free pizza and cocoa and hosted a musical performance by Alexandra and Emelina Sol. The United Methodist Church featured entertainment and a display by the high school robotics team.

Staff at the Mahoning Dispatch building gave tours in honor of the newspaper that served the county from 1877 to 1968.

A horse-drawn carriage gave rides around the green. The first passenger, accompanied by a marching band and police escort, was Santa Claus. He was transported to the Township Building, where he got started on taking requests.

Luna Raphael, 6, of Canfield, is a Marvel fan and planned to ask Santa for a Black Panther outfit.

Twin sister Solina said she is hoping for painting supplies and science equipment, but wouldn’t mind having a Squishmallow.

Nacarato said their goal is to make $15,000 for Rotary projects at the event.

Since 2007, they have raised more than $300,000, which has been used for the gazebo and electricity on the green, as well as paving at Fair Park. Their plan is to finish the plaza in front of the gazebo so it will attract more families all year.

Cappabianca was just happy to see all the activity, saying, “We have a beau tiful community and it’s great to have a reason to get people out.”

The Canfield Rotary ornament, whose theme this year is “Legend of the Bells,” was given away at the township hall to each family in attendance.