SAGINAW, MI -- Holidays in the Heart of the City is back this Friday, Nov. 17, bringing visits with Santa, a lighting ceremony at the City of Saginaw Water Treatment Plant, free hot chocolate at MLive/The Saginaw News and more.
The annual holiday event takes from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Old Town and downtown Saginaw.
The evening includes:
- City lighting ceremonies at the City of Saginaw Water Treatment Plant, 522 Ezra Rust Drive at 5:45 p.m.
- Free horse-drawn wagon rides.
- Cookie House Competition at the Andersen Enrichment Center, 120 Ezra Rust Drive.
- Downtown Saginaw Farmers' Market "Holiday Market" at the Andersen Enrichment Center.
- Free transportation over the Court Street Bridge supported by First Student.
- Free holiday concerts at St. John's Episcopal Church, 123 N. Michigan Ave., at 6 p.m., and at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1525 S. Washington Ave., at 7:15 p.m. (donations of new hats, mittens and scarves for those in need will be accepted at both concerts).
- Free hot chocolate at MLive/The Saginaw News, in the Ippel building at 100 S. Michigan Ave. (Toys for Tots donations are being collected inside the Ippel building -- new unwrapped toys only).
- Hot chocolate and entertainment at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 600 Court St.
- Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the gazebo in Old Town.
- Free pony rides in Borchard Park.
- Living nativity at Montague Inn, 1581 S. Washington Ave.
- 1,200 luminarias.
- Food vendors on the streets.
- Fireworks from Ojibway Island at 8:30 p.m.
MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa on Wednesday morning, Nov. 15, said Friday's weather forecast is looking "pretty mild for this time of year."
Torregrossa said it will be at least 50 degrees in Saginaw early Friday evening, and maybe in the 50s, with "showers developing at some point."
Torregrossa said the showers will be "off-and-on spurts of rain."
"If the rain holds off, it will actually be fairly pleasant for the time of year," he said.
The weather will "change dramatically" on Saturday with much colder temperatures, wind and spurts of now, he said.
Learn more at www.prideinsaginaw.org/events/holidays/.