Woodstock's Lighting of the Square to take place Friday

Woodstock's annual Lighting of the Square and other holiday activities are set to take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Organizers said the event will feature a Christmas Tree Walk and Gingerbread House Walk, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, caroling, child-friendly activities, live music, visits with Santa and the lighting ceremony itself.

Both the Christmas Tree Walk and the Gingerbread House Walk will begin at 4 p.m. Decorated Christmas trees can be viewed at the Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St. The fourth annual Gingerbread House Walk will take place at the Old Courthouse, 101 N. Johnson St. Various organizations and residents have submitted gingerbread houses or decorated Christmas trees for the event.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive at the Opera House at 5:15 p.m. before the Friends of the Opera House fundraising event, which is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Woodstock Community Choir members will carol around the Square from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending at the Old Courthouse, where members of the Northwest Area Arts Council and Clayworkers' Guild will offer gift items for sale.

The lighting ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Mayor Brian Sager, Miss Woodstock and Little Miss Woodstock are expected to perform the countdown and pull the switch to light up the Square with thousands of holiday lights, organizers said.

Jingle Bell Jamboree is scheduled to perform after that ceremony. Families may visit the "Elf Escape" tent to warm up and partake in activities such as crafting and story time with the Woodstock Public Library. Woodstock School District 200's INCubator and marketing class students and local Boy Scout troops will provide additional activities.

Families are encouraged to sign the “Merry Christmas Card” banner the community is sending to troops from Woodstock’s Army National Guard Delta Company, 1st Battalion stationed in Afghanistan, and make donations for soldiers serving overseas in drop boxes located in the tent and around downtown, city staff said.

Woodstock Heating and Cooling will offer free donuts in the Spring House inside the east entrance to the park. Your Sister’s Tomato, Beef Village and Pixie Dawgs food trucks are scheduled to be parked on West Jackson Street by the Old Courthouse, and downtown restaurants, shops and bars will offer a variety of seasonal specials.

Santa will be available to visit with children after the lighting ceremony until the event ends at 9 p.m.