Norwich — New features blended with 25 years of tradition as the Light Up City Hall event, part of the city's annual Winter Festival, celebrated its silver anniversary Friday with cake, bells and a special tribute to longtime festival organizer Kathy Relyea.

The countdown to light City Hall, the annex across the street and the Christmas tree in the plaza in between also was done with a new twist. Three children — Izabella Bischoff, 3, Vivian Lau, 8, and Alivia Okediadi, 11, all of Norwich — won raffle drawings to pull a giant lever attached to the electric light switch at the conclusion of the countdown led by Santa Claus.

The white lights came on just as a misty drizzle turned into a more steady rain Friday evening. Still, hardy attendees lingered for photos with Santa and more music by the popular band Malaena as the four-hour festival drew to a close.

The Winter Festival continues at 1 p.m. Saturday with the annual parade, with the 25th anniversary theme “Silver Bells.” Retired city police Chief Louis Fusaro and his wife, Jane Fusaro, will be grand marshals. The parade starts at Chelsea Parade and winds through downtown to Franklin Square and Main Street.

Relyea volunteered to run the festival for many years before stepping aside in 2009 for health reasons. Relyea was coaxed to City Hall on Friday evening by her daughter, Carolyn Impellitteri, to celebrate Relyea's birthday.

Mayor Deberey Hinchey presented “The Christmas Lady” with a trophy of appreciation engraved with the words “Thanks for Keeping the Holiday Spirit Alive in Norwich, Connecticut,” a dozen red roses and a cake with an image of City Hall in lights. City Clerk Betsy Barrett, whose staff volunteers to organize the Light Up City Hall event, also promised to give Relyea a phone call next November in an attempt to lure her back to the festival committee.

Festival participants handed out pieces of a different 25th anniversary cake at a table in front of the United Congregational Church.

For those who felt the need for a warm beverage or sustenance, inside Norwich Arts Center, volunteer Roberta Vincent offered bowls of her homemade chicken soup to visitors. The pot was nearly empty by the time Santa arrived on the Norwich Fire Department tower truck.

“We try to do our part,” Vincent said.

The Salvation Army is an annual Christmas season presence throughout the region, with its signature Red Kettle fundraiser. But this was the first time the organization participated in the Light Up City Hall celebration.

Captain Jerry Uttley rang the bell standing beneath the city's own Freedom Bell tower in the David Ruggles Freedom Plaza, and the New London Salvation Army Canteen set up shop at the end of Church Street offering free hot chocolate and coffee. Uttley said the Salvation Army's presence, with several members in uniform, was well received Friday.

“People have been coming up to us and saying, 'Thank you for your service,'” he said. “We figured this would be a good family community event. We'll be in the parade (Saturday), too.”

c.bessette@theday.com