Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in a Fort Dodge Police Department vehicle to preside over the lighting of the gazebo in the City Square and of a towering evergreen tree in Veterans Triangle Park.

Then the holiday duo greeted children in the Wellsa Fargo Building, 822 Central Ave.

Despite the cold temperature, a group of children followed the Clauses to all three locations.

“It’s the best,” said Lia Dillon, 6, of Fort Dodge.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Mayor Matt Bemrich, right, holds the electrical switch as Santa and Mrs. Claus prepare to turn on the lights decorating a tall tree in Veterans Triangle Park at Central Avenue and 12th Street.

She and her brothers, Zach, Nate and Ezra, all said they had seen Santa previously, but never in a police car.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived at the City Square around 5 p.m. in a police vehicle. Santa told the small crowd waiting for him that the reindeer got tired so the police gave him and Mrs. Claus a lift.

Mayor Matt Bemrich asked who was on the nice list and who was on the naughty list.

Santa replied that the police told him there are a “few right in the middle” and urged everyone to be good up until Christmas. Bemrich led the countdown until the moment Santa flipped the switch to illuminate the gazebo.

Then the group moved east to Central Avenue and 12th Street. The Clauses again rode in a police car, while the rest of the group traveled in a modified hay rack pulled by a Jeep. At Veterans Triangle Park, Bemrich again led the countdown until the switch was flipped to illuminate a roughly 65-foot tall tree.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
White lights twinkle on the gazebo on the City Square Monday night after Mayor Matt Bemrich, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus formally turned on all the Christmas lights.

With the lights on, the action moved to the Wells Fargo Building. There Santa and Mrs. Claus posed for the traditional photos with children.

Kids could write letters to Santa there, and place them in a special red mailbox.

Cookies and hot chocolate were served.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
A tall tree in Veterans Triangle Park glows after the Christmas lights were switched on Monday evening.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
During the light-up events Monday, children could put their letters to Santa in this special mailbox that was placed in the Wells Fargo Building.