The historic town of Shepherdstown will kick off its annual “Christmas in Shepherdstown” celebration on Friday, Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving.

The evening’s schedule will include a series of events that are traditional for the town: a bonfire, the lighting of the town tree, the arrival of Santa and children’s visits with Santa. Other highlights of that weekend will be carriage rides, live Nativity performances, a Christmas concert at O’Hurley’s store and a Christmas sing-along at the Methodist Church.

After that, there will be many different events every weekend and some weekdays until Christmas. Most events will be free. Every weekend will include children’s activities; holiday marketplaces selling handmade crafts, baked goods and greens; and special musical performances.

Many shops will be open late on Fridays and Saturdays.

The town will hold its annual Christmas parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Also that weekend, the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War and the Shepherd University History Department will present a “Civil War Christmas in Shepherdstown,” which will feature many activities including lectures and panel discussions, military re-enactments, children’s activities, period music and street entertainment.

Highlights of the remaining weekends before Christmas will include performances of Dickens’ Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker Ballet during the Dec. 10-11 weekend, and a TUBACHRISTMAS concert Dec. 24.

New for this year will be a “You Shop, They Play” child-minding service that will be available every Saturday during the Christmas in Shepherdstown period.

Parents will be able to shop and dine on their own by dropping their children off at the Black Box Arts Center for arts and crafts, storytelling and improvisational theater classes.

The fee will be $10 per hour, and $5 per hour for each additional child in the same family. Children staying three hours or more will get lunch free; those staying a shorter time can get lunch for $6.

For more information, contact info@blackbox artscenter.org or 304-870-4685.

There will be free parking in all the town’s metered spaces on Friday, Dec. 16 and every weekday through Monday, Jan. 2.

There is always free parking at Shepherdstown’s metered spaces on weekends.

Free weekend parking is also available in the Shepherd University parking lot at High and Princess streets, one block from downtown.

Events and activities will continue to be added. For an up-to-date listing of all events keep checking the calendar on the Shepherdstown Visitors Center website at www.shepherdstown.info. Or contact the Center at 304-876-2786 or svc@shepherdstown.info.