A weekend of holiday events kicks off Dec. 4 in Vicksburg.

Friday, Dec. 5

Festival of Trees ball – 7 p.m. at the Convention Center; tickets $50 per person or $75 per couple

Vicksburg Art Association Christmas Party – 8 p.m. at the Constitution Firehouse Gallery; tickets $20 in advance at the Attic Gallery or $25 at the door

Saturday, Dec. 6

Breakfast with Santa – 8 a.m. at the Convention Center. Tickets are $7.

Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show – 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center; admission is $1

Christmas Parade of Lights – beginning at 5 p.m. along Washington Street downtown

V105.5 Christmas Caroling Contest finals – 7:30 p.m. at the Convention Center; admission is $5

Sunday, Dec. 7

“Elf” – 7 p.m., shown drive-in-style at Outlets at Vicksburg; $10 per car.

“Nutcracker” —  2 p.m., Vicksburg High School, 3701 Drummond St., staged by Vicksburg Dance Studio. Admission is $9.

Tuesday. Dec. 9,

“Sleepless in the Castle” — VHS madrigal choir; 7 p.m. at Southern Cultural Heritage Center; meal and performance, $25; 601-831-1807.

Marine Forces Reserve Band — 7:30 p.m.; Vicksburg Convention Center; part of Santa Meets Sousa Toys for Tots Tour; admission is new, unwrapped toy.

Thursday, Dec. 11

Jammin’ for the Kids — 6 p.m.; Jacque’s Cafe, Battlefield Inn; benefit and toy drive for needy children of Vicksburg and Warren County; sponsored by musicians, Jacque’s, Beyond Walls Ministries, Warren County Chaplain’s Office; admission, $5 or new toy.

Dec. 11-13

• Crossroads Christmas Marketplace — Mississippi Cultural Crossroads, Port Gibson; www.msculturalcrossroads.org.

Dec. 13

Song and Dance Program — 2 p.m. at Parkside Playhouse, performed by the Theresa George School of Dance; admission is free.

Dec. 14

St. Joseph Community Orchestra Christmas Concert — 2:30 p.m.; Southern Cultural Heritage Center; free.

Art Galore for Baddour — 1-5 p.m.; Saunders-Levy House, 1420 Cherry St.; $10 donation at the door benefits Baddour Center, a community for adults with moderate intellectual disabilities; gift basket raffle: $5 per ticket, includes handmade items by local artists; tickets available at Lorelei Books, Peterson’s Art and Antiques and SunCatchers; basket on display at Lorelei.

Dec. 20-21

• Nutcracker — 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 21; Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave., staged by Debra Franco School of Dance; admission: $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.

Beginning tonight, the Christmas spirit will sweep through Vicksburg with a horde of holiday events through the weekend.

An annual favorite, Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express Train will stop on Levee Street today at 4 p.m.

Next will be the 36th annual Vicksburg Art Association Christmas Party Friday at 8 p.m. at the Constitution Firehouse on Openwood Street.

A silent auction of local works of art is a staple of the party. This year’s theme is I’m Dreaming of Green Christmas, and those attending are encouraged to dress according to the theme.

“We’re trying not to use any synthetic or plastic decorations, and do everything eco-friendly,” said VAA party host Amy Burr, standing among cypress branches in the Firehouse Gallery.

Tickets for the VAA Christmas Party are $20 in advance and are available at Attic Gallery. Tickets also can be purchased at the door for $25. Proceeds benefit the art association, which hosts various workshops, and competitions annually. Cool Papa Bell of Jackson will perform.

“It’s a great way to support the arts in Vicksburg, and it’s also a great way to get Christmas presents or artwork for your home,” said Burr.

Before the VAA party on Friday will be the 7 p.m. opening gala of the weekend-long Festival of Trees at the Vicksburg Convention Center. The ball will feature food from around the world and music by Hoosier Daddies. 

The Christmas Parade of Lights, with former Main Street executive director Rosalie Theobald as grand marshal, and V105.5 caroling contest finals will cap off a day of holiday events Saturday, including a breakfast with Santa at the convention center and Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center. The events culminate Sunday night with a drive-in-style showing of “Elf” — rated PG-13 — at the Outlets of Vicksburg to benefit the What Up Wit Dat? Teen Coalition.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.