A very special all-weekend event celebrating the arrival of the Christmas season. Friday evening kicks off the festivities with the Town Christmas Tree lighting at 6:30 p.m and holiday theater performance at Ensemble Stage. Saturday activities include the YMCA 5K Reindeer Run, Breakfast with Santa Claus, cookie and ornament decorating at local restaurants, artisans and craftsmen selling holiday gifts at the BE Artists Gallery and Lees-McRae, storytelling and theater performances, the evening Parade of Lights, train rides in the park, synchronized light show, and of course, more Santa Claus. For the first time, a Polar Plunge fundraiser for the Banner Elk Volunteer FD and Wildcat Lake will take place in the afternoon. Sunday wraps up the weekend with one more opportunity to attend a holiday theater performance at Ensemble Stage. Lots more to do locally, check out the full lineup of events at https://bannerelk.org