The Christmas tree blinked to life Friday night at Washington Street Park, marking the official beginning of the Christmas season in Vicksburg.

Upcoming holiday events include:

NOV. 30

4Small Business Saturday — support Vicksburg small businesses, shops and restaurants from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

DEC. 1

428th Annual Downtown Old Fashioned Christmas Open House — sponsored by Vicksburg Main Street, the event will run from 1 until 5 p.m. along Washington Street and include a visit from Santa from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. and a poinsettia give-away to the first 100 customers who spend $25 or more.

DEC. 2

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Express train — the train will roll into Vicksburg at 4 p.m. and remain at the Levee Street Station, 1000 Levee St. at Grove until 8 p.m. The CPKS raises money, food and awareness to support food banks across their network and attendees are encouraged to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation.

DEC.5

Santa’s Christmas Village unveiling — the unveiling of a three-tiered Santa’s Christmas Village will be held at 4 p.m. at the Sears Quarters, 1509 Washington St. The display, which spans the windows of the building, features more than 200 intricately crafted ceramic pieces, including charming houses, cars, and characters. Following the unveiling children of all ages can then enjoy a scavenger hunt to spot whimsical scenes within the display. Sponsored by Big River Forest Products, the Christmas Village will be available for viewing through Christmas. 

17th Annual Will Conway Memorial Beechwood Benefit — the fundraiser, which supports Jacob’s Ladder Learning Center, Rainbow Farms and the Caroline McCullom Simrall Hood Memorial Scholarship will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at the restaurant, 4451 Clay St., and include live music, food, an auction and a raffle for $1,000. Tickets for the raffle are $5. For more information, call 601-636-3761.

ERDC Under the Lights — the event will run from 6 until 8 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-ERDC Vicksburg, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd. Visitors should enter through Gate 3 just South of the main gate on Halls Ferry Rd. Donations of non-perishable food items and toys will be accepted. For more information contact 601-618-5792.

DEC. 6

Vicksburg Art Association Annual Christmas Party — the party will begin at 6 p.m. at the Old Constitution Firehouse Gallery,1204 Main St. This year’s theme is a “Roaring 20’s Christmas.” Costumes are encouraged. Tickets for the event are $35, which include heavy hors d’oeuvres and one drink ticket. A cash bar will also be available. The VAA will also be sponsoring a silent auction.

Vicksburg Holiday Lights Trolley Tour — tours of historic neighborhoods will be offered at 5:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14. The 5:15 p.m. family tour will include Christmas caroling and the 7:15 p.m. trolley tour will include a stop at the Duff Green Mansion for hot chocolate or a signature cocktail. Tickets are $15 for Children and $25 for adults and are available at www.tickettailor.com/events/ochristmastree/1453980.

DEC. 7

6th Annual 5k Reindeer Run and Walk — the race will begin at 8 a.m. at Catfish Row and will take participants through downtown Vicksburg. Post-race events will include a pet parade and reindeer games for children. For more information or to register, visit raceroster.com/ events/2024/95403/reindeer-run-5k. Proceeds from the race benefit Paws Rescue.

16th Annual Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show — the event will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center Auditorium, 1302 Adams St. and feature an assortment of vendors showcasing their products. Local talent will also be on hand as entertainment. Admission is $2. For more information call 601-631-2997.

Santa visits River Haven — Santa will be making a stop from 2 to 4 p.m. at River Haven, 1208 Washington St. For more information, call 601-456-0426.

Levee Street Marketplace Christmas Open House — the event will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Levee Street Marketplace, 1001 Levee St. and include music, pictures with Santa and concessions. For more information, call 601-638-7191.

Martha Vick House Victorian Tea — the event will be offered beginning at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 and 14 and at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15 and will include British tea, scones, and a variety of classic Christmas desserts all served on antique fine china. Tickets are $45 and are available at www.tickettailor.com/events/marthavickhouse/1395978. Seating is limited. A portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting the Vicksburg Old Courthouse Museum and HEROES.

O’ Christmas Tree Historic Home Tours — the event will run from 1 until 3 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 and include tours of historic homes, all of which will be decorated for the holidays. Transportation will be provided by the City of Vicksburg. Tickets are $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tickettailor.com/events/ochristmastree/1279199.

“Miracle on 34th Street” — the classic Christmas movie starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn will be screened at The Strand Theatre, 717 Clay St., beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $9 and $4.50 for children and are available at the Highway 61 Coffeehouse, 1101 Washington St. or $10 and $5 for children at the door.

Neighborhood Luminaries — hundreds of luminaries will be placed along Drummond and Cherry streets and the Glenwood Circle neighborhood by the Vicksburg Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of Troop 7 as a fundraising event. In case of rain, the luminaries will be postponed until Dec. 14. 

DEC. 8

Vicksburg Christmas Parade of Lights — the annual Christmas parade will roll down Washington Street between Belmont and Jackson streets beginning at 5 p.m. This year’s theme is “The Nutcracker.”

DEC. 10

Vicksburg Chamber Choir musical performance — under the direction of Christie Beasley, the VCC will perform Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse’s “Night of Wonder” beginning at 7 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, 900 South St. The event is free and open to the public.

DEC. 12

19th Annual V105.5 Christmas Caroling Contest — preliminary winners vying for their share of the $10,000 cash prize will compete beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Dr. Briggs Hopson Blvd. Winning songs will be played on the V105.5 Christmas Playback Show on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

DEC. 13

Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church Live Nativity — the drive-thru live nativity will run from 6 until 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 at the church, 335 Oak Ridge Rd. The event is free and open to the public.

DEC. 14

“Christmas in Connecticut” — the 1945 Christmas romantic comedy starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan and Sydney Greenstreet will be screened at The Strand Theatre, 717 Clay St., beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $9 and $4.50 for children and are available at the Highway 61 Coffeehouse, 1101 Washington St. or $10 and $5 for children at the door.

Breakfast With Santa —the annual event will begin at 8 a.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Dr. Briggs Hopson Blvd. and include a delicious breakfast, a photo with Santa, Santa’s souvenirs, Home Depot kids’ crafts, and activities. Tickets are $7 and are available at the VCC. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ronald McDonald House. For more information, call 601-630-2929.

DEC. 15

Crawford Street United Methodist Church Christmas cantata — under the direction of CSUMC choral director Mary Kate Core, the choir along with a string ensemble will perform a selection of Hal Hopkins’ “A Festival of Lessons and Carols” beginning at 10:55 a.m. at the church, 900 Crawford St. For more information, call 601-636-5612.

48th Annual Santa’s Ride through Openwood Plantation subdivision— Santa will arrive at 2 p.m. at Newitt Vick and Jil Marie Circle; 2:40 p.m. at Newitt Vick and Fairways Drive; 3:04 p.m. at Newitt Vick and Club House Circle and at 3:25 p.m. at Fairways Drive and Pebble Beach. The event is sponsored by the Openwood Plantation Garden Club and the Warren County Volunteer Fire Department.

English Tea — the Duff Green Mansion, 1114 1st East St., will host an English Tea for children and adults beginning at 3 p.m. The event, which will benefit the Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance, will also include photo opportunities with characters from the dance school’s upcoming performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for children. For more information, call 601-636-6968.

Attic Gallery Christmas Open House — the event will run from 1 until 4 p.m. at the gallery, 1101 Washington St. Owner Lesley Silver and Daniel Boone will be on hand as well as various local artists. For more information call 601-638-9221.

“White Christmas” — the 1954 Christmas classic starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Cloony will be screened at The Strand Theatre, 717 Clay St., beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $9 and $4.50 for children and are available at the Highway 61 Coffeehouse, 1101 Washington St. or $10 and $5 for children at the door.

Cocoa, Cookies and A Classic Christmas Carol — the free event will begin at 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1607 Cherry St. with cocoa and cookies. At 5:30 p.m. organ and piano Christmas music will be offered and at 6 p.m., “A Classic Christmas Carol” will be performed, which will include the adult choir, the children and preschool choirs, the Warren Central High School percussion team and dancers from the River Pointe Dance Academy and the Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance.

DEC. 21

“The Light of Christmas” — River Pointe Dance Academy will perform “The Light of Christmas” with shows at 2 p.m. and at 6 p.m. at the Ardis T. Williams, Sr. Auditorium, 901 Monroe St. Tickets for each showing are $13 for reserved seating and $10 for general admission and are available online at 30795.danceticketing.com/r/3952/42513/. For more information, call 601-501-1101.

The Nutcracker Ballet — the Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance will perform Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet beginning at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. Dec 22 at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre, 101 Iowa Ave. Tickets are $15. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 601-638-7282.