CLEVELAND — It's the most wonderful time of year in Cleveland's Public Square.
"It just makes it feel like Christmastime," Casey Herringshaw, from Mentor, says.
Families spent their Friday night under the holiday lights.
"Everything's been good down here," Michael Herringshaw told 3News. "The girls love the lights."
But nearly three weeks ago, it was a different scene, as shots rang out following the WinterLand tree lighting ceremony.
Friday morning, officials released new video, showing the alleged shooter that's seen firing into a group of people and hitting two teens before fleeing through Tower City. That incident left many on edge, and some hesitant about heading downtown.
"I didn't feel safe down here at first," Oriannah Harris, of Cleveland, admitted.
Harris and Janiyah Stevens say they avoided the tree lighting ceremony, fearing the crowds would bring violence.
"I wanted to come, but I'm glad she told me not to come," Stevens said.
"When they have big events like the one they had, I knew not to come down here, because it's not the first time it happened," Harris added. "So right now, we're here and no one's down here."
Others like the Herringshaws say they returned to downtown for the first time in years.
"We obviously didn't like hearing about it," Michael Herringshaw said, "but it didn't deter us from coming down."
Gino Calvillo of Old Brooklyn told us he was excited to continue a family tradition.
"I am so blessed to be able to live in Cleveland, Ohio," Calvillo said while ice skating with his daughter and granddaughter. "We've got the best city in the world.
"I could understand out-of-towners maybe not being comfortable, but you can come to Cleveland. Nothing's going to happen."