SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The holiday season is now upon us as Union Station lit their tree today accompanied by holiday music, hoping to spread smiles and joy. Thanksgiving is next week, but Santa is already in town and Christmas cheer has begun at Springfield's Union Station. "The closer and closer we get, the more excited we all become, the elves, the reindeer and me, we all love it so much!" said Santa Claus. After the Community Music School of Springfield performed a medley of holiday songs, Springfield Mayor Sarno flipped the switch, illuminating the tree. "It makes you feel good and that is what the holidays are all about and that's what we want people to feel as they come to Springfield or they leave Springfield to go back home," said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. Mayor Sarno and Congressman Richard Neal started the tradition together. Thanksgiving travel season being at Bradley International Airport While there is always the traditional model train that is wrapped around the Union Station tree, courtesy of Amherst Railway Society, each year the theme changes. This year, the Nutcracker. "I wanted to feel very nostalgic, very Springfield, very historical," said Idalia Long, a floral designer at Social Haus Displays and the designer of the Union Station tree. Long ordered real ballet slippers from England, crafted musical ornaments and shopped at a local fabric store for many of the decorations… while also thinking of how she could spread more joy. "We also shopped around at local thrift stores and got Christmas books so if children here did take them from under the tree, it's ok, they left here with a gift and it is a holiday book," said Long. Long mentioned this is something she looks forward to each year. "It warms your eyes, it warms your heart, it makes you feel good. And that's a feeling we need more and more, not only during the holiday, but hopefully everyday," said Long. Mayor Sarno said there will also be various other groups from Springfield Public Schools performing throughout the holiday season. Local News Headlines Stop & Shop recovers from ‘cybersecurity issue,’ will give out free food, coffee Study finds ‘Most Sinful Cities’ in America: Where does Massachusetts rank? A look at Toys for Tots inside 22News Healey plan limits family shelter stays to six months WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.