BATH — North Carolina’s oldest town will officially launch the holiday season with the lighting of its Christmas tree tonight.

The lighting of the holly tree at the corner of South Main and Carteret streets is a longstanding tradition, drawing crowds in search of holiday cheer in the form of caroling, storytelling, refreshments and a guest appearance by the jolly old elf himself: Santa Claus.

Tuesday, members of the Historic Bath Garden Club were at the site, preparing for the community event — wiring garland and hanging lights and ornaments.

“The garden club’s main purpose is the beautification of Bath and those goes along with Christmas, too — to beautify for everyone’s enjoyment,” said Sallie LaCava, garden club president.

Bath celebrates its history and LaCava and other garden club members took that to heart with this season’s decorations. Many of the Historic Bath Garden Club members decorate their own homes in the colonial Williamsburg style, using fresh greenery, fruits and other natural items. By committee, they decided to translate the style to the Historic Bath sign, draping it with white pine and cedar garland studded with arrangements — more greenery bearing pinecones and brightly colored fruit.

Turning back the clock on decorations happened the previous year as well, when the garden club switched from white lights on the holly tree to strings of multi-colored lights.

“In the early 1900s, people used colored lights, not white lights,” LaCava said.

In addition to red, silver and gold ornaments decorating the tree, are ornaments made by local Girl Scouts guaranteed to draw their crowd: pinecone bird feeders.

Bath’s tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. The public is invited.