For almost two hours Monday night, the sound of horse hooves hitting the pavement could be heard on Douglas Avenue as families visited downtown to enjoy the annual Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce’s Cowtown Christmas Celebration.

The horse and carriage delivered Santa Claus to the office of State Farm Insurance, where the jolly old gentleman greeted a long line of waiting children. Free carriage rides were then offered to celebration goers.

State Farm’s Anthony Hopkins, who also serves as vice president of the chamber, said he heard many positive comments about the weekend, which included a homes tour Sunday.

He said Santa heard the wishes of 150 children before they received bags of candy canes, stickers and other treats provided by H&B Communications of Holyrood to take home.

The weather also helped. In 2018, an ice storm canceled the annual celebration. This year, temperatures were in the 50s when the sun set.

Michael Martinez of Mosaic also was pleased with the weekend. Martinez also serves as a chamber Ambassador.

The Ambassadors staged Sunday’s homes tour as a fundraiser. Tickets from the tour and the soup supper that accompanied it were being counted Tuesday morning.

On Sunday, the Akion Club, which operates as a sub-group of the Ellsworth Kiwanis Club, raised $380 for service projects, conference expenses and other needs by selling walking tacos. Volunteers served 95 people.