“Am I in Whoville right now?” Ruth Hagmann, of Saranac Lake, exclaimed to her friends, referencing the magical fictional town from Dr. Seuss’ book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”

Wes Moody had a big grin on his face as he watched children’s’ faces literally light up with excitement, and as he heard the raucous cheering from the crowd when the lights came on.

“We pulled it off I guess,” Moody said.

Earlier this year, Moody Tree Farm in Gabriels approached the village with the idea to install the tree, and donated the coniferous balsam itself, as well as the decorations and time installing them.

A crowd gathers and cheers as the lights on the 40-foot tall Christmas tree in Riverside Park spring to life in Saranac Lake on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Moody gave credit to Patrick Duprey for the work putting up the tree, a balsam 40-footer, according to Duprey. Curt Staves from Moody Tree Farm and several members of the Saranac Lake village Department of Public Works also worked on the tree.

Sandra Lessard said Moody wanted the event to be a “Christ-centered night.” She gave a brief salvation message.

“The reason for the season is Jesus Christ,” Lessard said. “The message is clearly that God knew we needed a savior and he sent us one as his gift to us.”

Village Manager Erik Stender said he hopes this will become a Saranac Lake tradition for years to come.

“It is the Christmas season right here in Saranac Lake,” John Warchol said between playing Christmas songs on his guitar. “No better place to be.”

John Warchol pulled a slew of Christmas songs out of his bag at the tree lighting ceremony in Riverside Park spring to life on Saturday, with the crowd gathered chiming in on the “Ha ha ha”s on “Jingle All the Way.” (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

A second Christmas tree, installed at Berkeley Green, will be lit in a ceremony at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 2.

A crowd gathers and cheers as the lights on the 40-foot tall Christmas tree in Riverside Park spring to life in Saranac Lake on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)