Cambria’s holiday mood was in high gear during the first week of December, with large, happy crowds turning out for the annual Festival of Trees Auction, Hospitality Night (wasn’t the weather grand?), the Lions Club’s free Christmas party for kids and other events.

Hundreds of children had their photos taken with Santa on Hospitality Night and at the Lions’ party, and at the latter, Santa gave out more than 200 toys.

More than 500 people rode the Cambria Otter Trolley on Hospitality Night, and about 250 people packed the hall for the tree auction, which raised $8,750 for various charities. One man bought one tree for $325, and then matched bids on four other trees, donating a total of $2,325.

An associated silent auction raised $1,850 toward keeping the Cambria Chamber of Commerce’s visitor center open.