Music . . . lights . . . Santa!

''It doesn't exactly feel like Christmas (temperatures were in the 70s), but it's still a great way to kick off the season - especially for the kids,'' said NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Chip Dobson.

Before the band had started to play Christmas songs, some patrons had already started to line up to be some of the first to sit on Santa's lap. Others were too distracted by the Christmas clowns who were on site to entertain children with face painting and balloon art.

''You see all the kids running around - that's why we do this,'' said CMDCM(SW) Chris Green, command master chief of NAS Jacksonville. ''This is a NAS Jax tradition and it's something people look forward to.''

Shortly after the chaplain gave his blessing, the crowd was relieved to hear the sound of sirens on the fire truck. Normally, this may be cause for alarm, but during this festivity, one of the NAS Jacksonville Fire Department's ladder trucks is responsible for bringing Santa and his elves to the children waiting with their wish lists.

Beatrice Renjifo, 4, confers with Santa over her wish list which includes a Dora the Explorer doll and backpack.

''I want to ask Santa for a baby doll,'' declared 6-year-old Hope Hamilton.

''I want a new purse and a swimming Ariel doll,'' said Samantha Costin, 6.

Some of the more pricey requests included a Sony PlayStation Three, requested by Josh Moody, 5. However, perhaps the most presumptuous request came from Josh's little brother, Dominique, 3, who stated that he wanted ''everything.''

After Santa arrived, Dobson presented checks to the winners of the 2006 Christmas Card Contest. The winners were presented with checks for $200, $300 and $500 for third, second and first places respectively. The winners are as follows: third place - Air Operations; second place, Navy Jax Yacht Club and first place, Transient Personnel Unit Jacksonville.

''The card contest is a great way to promote the Christmas spirit and MWR does a great job organizing everything,'' said Green.

Six-year-old Samantha Costin sits still while Cuddles the Clown decorates her face for the holidays.

Aside from the Navy Band Southeast Brass Quintet, members from the Orange Park Junior High School's Choir and Concert Band and preschoolers from the NAS Jax Child Development Center (CDC) also provided music.

''They've been practicing every day this week to prepare for this,'' said Angie Benitez, lead education technician over the preschool department at the CDC.

After the kids proudly belted out their Christmas carols, Dobson took the stage to get ready for the main event - the lighting of the Christmas tree.

''Now this tree is kind of old, so it really needs everyone's help to get started,'' he said while preparing the crowd to shout out the 5-4-3-2-1 countdown.

A brass quintet from Navy Band Southeast performs Christmas tunes as Sailors and families arrive for the 2006 Christmas tree lighting festivities.

At the end of the countdown the tree was lit, but the ceremony wasn't yet over. Festivities continued long after dark, as the Orange Park choir took the stage again, followed by their band. Santa also had more work to do as Sailors and families still waited patiently to get their moment with him.

Green acknowledged, the fact that though the ceremony is titled ''Christmas Tree Lighting'' he is aware of who the real star is.

''The older you get, the more spiritual this season gets for people, but for kids it's still about presents and Santa,'' he said.

Santa and his elves finally arrive with a little help from the NAS Jacksonville Fire Department.

Two-year-old Maliyah Arzuaga was first up on Santa's lap to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.