Music, Santa, live nativity, carriage rides and tree-lighting part of downtown Christmas

The annual Christmas in Downtown Dickson event will feature live music, the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, free carriage rides and a visit from Santa Claus Friday night. With the theme “Home for the Holidays,” the event begins at 5 pm Friday and stores will remain open until 9:00. The ceremony to light the city tree starts at 5 pm in Holland Park with the Oakmont Elementary School Choir performing. Mayor Don Weiss Jr. will officially light the city’s tree in the park at 5:30 pm followed by a performance from The New Vessels. Downtown stores will be offering a variety of holiday specials and giveaways. The Bank of Dickson is sponsoring free horse-drawn carriage rides beginning at the bank’s Main Street branch throughout the evening. The Dickson County Help Center will host a live nativity 5-8 pm along with a performance by the Union Choir at 6:00. Events on Main will feature performances by the Stuart-Burns Elementary School Choir and other groups. Santa Claus will arrive during the evening and be available for photographs at L&K Photography 6-8 pm. In conjunction with the downtown Christmas celebration, the Dickson Division of Habitat for Humanity will be conducting its silent auction noon-8 pm at First United Methodist Church on Main Street. The auction features sports memorabilia, tickets to area attractions and events, gift certificates for area restaurants, overnight stays in Nashville and Florida and a variety of other donated items.