Vicksburg will be filled with holiday spirit this weekend as a long list of festive activities unfolds.

Breakfast with Santa, holiday shopping, parades, Christmas carols are on tap, in addition to holiday specials at churches.

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Temperatures for the city’s annual Christmas parade, this year themed Christmas Through a Child’s Eyes, should be in the 40s when it begins to roll at 5 p.m. Saturday. But temperatures will, the National Weather Service says, drop to a low of about 26.

On Friday, Lorelei Books on downtown Washington Street will host the authors of the book, “A Cup of Comfort Christmas Prayer: Prayers and Stories That Bring You Closer to God During the Holidays.” Richelle Putnam and Virginia Dawkins will sign copies of the book at 1 p.m. following their two-hour writing workshop set for 10 a.m. The workshop costs $25.

That evening, the Vicksburg Art Association will host its annual Christmas party at the Firehouse Gallery on Main and Openwood streets.

The party theme is Southern Style Toga Party and attendees are encouraged to dress the part. Admission is $20 per person in advance from the Attic Gallery, 1101 Washington St., or $25 per person at the door. The party will be from 8 until 10:30 p.m. and feature a silent auction of works by local and statewide artists. Proceeds will benefit the VAA.

Saturday’s events will kick off with breakfast with Santa at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Kids can visit Santa’s village and take pictures with him, play a variety of games and create crafts. Admission is $7 per person and proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House charities.

“We have families with ill children in Vicksburg and Warren County that the Ronald McDonald House helps,” said Sue Bagby, VCC event coordinator. “There will be a lot of fun things to do. Kids can play in the village until they’re done.”

After the kids have had their fun, adults can visit the Sugar Plum Marketplace holiday arts and crafts show, also at the convention center. The event is set for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and admission is $2. Shoppers can scour the booths for gifts or items for themselves.

Shoppers can also search for that perfect gift at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, where the Holly Days arts and crafts show has returned after having a successful run last year, Executive Director Annette Kirklin said. “We had over 450 attend last year and over 30 vendors participate,” she said. “It’s going to be a good day so I hope people will be in the mood to shop.”

The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission is $1. Kirklin said this year’s show also will  feature more than 30 vendors from around the region, showcasing and selling a variety of handmade items. Lunch will be available for purchase by Goldie’s Express. Entertainment also will be provided during the event.

The SCHC will also host other holiday events throughout the season including “Singe Feste,” a dinner theater by the Warren Central High School madrigrals, on Dec. 10 to 12, a book-signing by Vicksburg’s own Bill Ferris on Dec. 14 and a Christmas concert on Dec. 13 by the Saint Joseph Community Orchestra accompanied by Alcorn State University Choir.

After the sun sets, Washington Street will light up as Vicksburg Main Street Program’s annual Parade of Lights rolls from Belmont Street to Jackson Street.

“All of the floats are decorated to the theme,” Executive Director Kim Hopkins said. “Picture how you were during Christmas when you were a child.”

She said more than 60 floats of local groups will be in the parade, and she cautioned that all cars need to be clear of Washington Street by 3:30 p.m.

“We have tons of dance groups, day care centers, businesses and all the high schools to participate,” Hopkins added.

All floats will be entered in a competition and judged in categories that include best in show, best nonprofit, best civic, best original and best business.

This year, Hopkins has added a twist to the float competition. “The community will get to vote on their favorite float,” she said.

Votes for the community choice category can be cast by either text message or e-mail. To vote, text the name or number of your favorite float to 601-831-8043 or e-mail the information to kimh@vicksburg.org. Standard text messaging rates will apply. Voting will close at 8 p.m. Saturday. Balconies and windows of downtown buildings also will be judged. Each winner will receive a trophy.

“We have a humongous Christmas parade,” Hopkins said. “It’s really fun because it’s at night.” Santa will enter in a fire truck and close the parade.

Some merchants and restaurants along the parade route will stay open later that evening. The Town of Edwards and Port Gibson will both have their Christmas parade at 10 a.m. Saturday.

To keep the festivities going, parade-goers can head to the City Auditorium on Monroe Street for the final competition of the fifth annual V105.5 Christmas Caroling Contest. The contest is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. This year, event coordinator Christy Wilson said the contest drew 70 entries.

She said 21 contestants from eight divisions will perform that evening to compete for a piece of the $10,200 cash prize. Preliminaries began Monday and will conclude tonight at 6:30. Finalists will be announced after the show. Admission is $5 per person.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com