LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX18) — Hundreds of people gathered downtown Lexington to celebrate the annual Holiday Lighting Festival, marking the official start of the holiday season with the lighting of both a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah.

The festival brought together community members to embrace the season of festivities with hot cocoa, winter coats, and ice skating.

"I think for all of us here, when the tree's lit and we've added the menorah ceremony to the festival for several years, it's such a start to the holiday season," Allen McDaniel, the Lexington Downtown Partnership executive director, said. "Everybody begins to celebrate, shop, sip, and enjoy downtown, all that we have here in the community."

The celebration wasn't limited to Christmas traditions. The Jewish holiday of Ha

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