Christmas will kick off in Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 27, when the town will hold a variety of events in conjunction with Small Business Saturday.

A fire truck parade with the Columbia Fire Department will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will lead Santa Claus to Hinkle's Restaurant, 261 Locust St., where he will greet families and pose for free pictures from 9 to 11 a.m. Christmas cookie decorating and Santa's workshop will be held at Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mrs. Claus will be at the Columbia Public Library, 24 S. Sixth St., from 4 to 5 p.m., and she will read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at 5:45 p.m. before a tree lighting in Locust Street Park at 6 p.m.

Carolers from Columbia High School, dressed in Victorian garb, will perform throughout the day, said Bethany Hartzok, who is coordinating the event for the Merchants Association of Columbia. At the tree lighting, carolers from the choirs of St. Peter's Catholic Church will sing. "We'll hand out song sheets for people to join us in caroling," she noted.

More than 30 small businesses will be participating in the day, Hartzok stated. "Businesses that are participating in Small Business Saturday will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be offering specials, promotional activities or other fun activities throughout the day," she said. Each business will also participate in a Christmas Cash drawing. "Shoppers can pick up a punch card at any participating business, and once they get a stamp at six shops, they'll be entered to win one of two cash prizes," Hartzok said.

The Christmas in Columbia and Small Business Saturday events help to promote the town as a destination for unique shops and restaurants. When the Merchant's Association of Columbia formed in 2019, the group set a goal of supporting continued growth for local small businesses.

"This day is about building small businesses up in the town and getting as many merchants as possible excited to show what they're doing," Hartzok said. "It's about getting people excited about what's going on in Columbia and all the momentum Columbia is experiencing. It's going to be a fun day to come and see everything Columbia has to offer."

For more information on Christmas in Columbia and Small Business Saturday, visit the Merchants Association of Columbia's Facebook page.