A big crowd welcomed the Clam Lights, Santa and the Christmas season Friday night at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.

For the 17th year Ivar’s is sponsoring the Clam Lights, a holiday tradition that annually draws thousands of visitors to the park on Lake Washington. The lights are ablaze 5 p.m.-9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1.

Santa will appear in downtown Renton at Santa’s House from Dec. 10 – 18 in the Piazza downtown on Fridays 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. and Saturdays 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Downtown Events Committee, each visit includes a free downloadable picture. For more information contact 425-255-6078 or email happydelusions@yahoo.com.