Kansas City, Mo. ? “American Idol” champ David Cook helps usher in the holiday season at Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza.

Thousands lined the streets Thursday night as Cook and his niece flipped a switch, turning on more than 250,000 lights.

Cheers erupted from the crowd, and fireworks lit the sky. Cook was joined on stage with other musicians to sing Christmas music.

The Plaza lighting tradition began in 1925 with one strand of 16 lights over a single doorway, and the first actual lighting ceremony took place five years later.

About 200,000 people usually turn out to watch the Thanksgiving Day tradition.