WATCH: Nearly 5,000 Attend Lake Elsinore Winterfest

Parking was definitely hard to find in downtown Lake Elsinore Friday night as the annual Winterfest celebration took over historic Main Street.

The busy thoroughfare was blocked off for the free four-hour family event that began at 5 p.m. and featured vendors, real snow for the kids, Santa, food, live performances, a Christmas tree and so much more.

Sgt. Raymond Nava from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station was on duty at the city-sponsored Winterfest and he estimated there were nearly 5,000 people in downtown Friday night – more than at last year’s event.

[Click on the attached video to watch Friday's scene at Winterfest.]

Several businesses on Main Street were open, including restaurants that were packed with patrons.

Downtown Lake Elsinore’s Winterfest may very well become the holiday tradition not to be missed.