MIDDLEBORO — Neither rain nor the presence of the Grinch could dampen spirits at the Middleboro Holiday Fest and Tree Lighting.

Middleboro residents gathered in the town hall grand ballroom to shop for locally-made holiday gifts, take free pictures with Santa, enter raffles, and check out intricate model trains.

The Holiday Fest and Tree Lighting is hosted annually by the Middleboro Tourism Committee, and proceeds help pay for the committee’s other events throughout the year.

“It gives people a chance to come downtown and helps for people who want something to do in the earlier part of the day,” said Middleboro Tourism Committee Chair Nate Demers.

Demers stressed that free pictures with Santa were an opportunity to take advantage of because many other places charge for such photos.

Jeff Stevens, a former teacher and principal in Middleboro schools who played the role of Santa, said he enjoyed hearing about children’s Christmas lists while they posed for photos.

Vendors attended the event, too. People sold items ranging from jams and spices to wreaths and gnomes. There was even a vendor selling dice for board games including Dungeons & Dragons.

Guests gathered around a door to a balcony to watch the tree light up to cap off the event. Rainy weather changed the initial plan, which was to gather on the town hall lawn and watch the tree light up above.

Attendees still cheered the lighting of the tree. Families stuck around afterward to take photos with the Grinch, who Sean Quinn of the Middleboro Tourism Committee portrayed.

Clearly, the Grinch has not stolen Middleboro’s Christmas spirit.