ESCANABA — ‘Tis the season of downtown Escanaba holiday festivities. Once again, downtown businesses in Escanaba will be hosting Black Friday sales early next week on Tuesday, Nov. 26 during the annual “Black Friday on Tuesday” retail promotion held in conjunction with the city’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

“This is one of my personal favorite events of the year because the kids get so excited and it’s grown every year in numbers,” said Downtown Development Authority Director Ed Legault.

The tree lighting ceremony kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with free horse-drawn carriage rides at the DDA Center Court. Legault said the carriage rides will continue from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Hot chocolate and cookies will be served at the DDA building, as Christmas music fills the air of the downtown event.

Santa Claus will also be making an appearance, which Legault said makes for a great opportunity for pictures with kids.

According to Legault, Santa Claus will touch the tree at 7 p.m., signaling not only the tree to light but also all of the garland strung up along Ludington Street.

“The garland and tree remain lit during nighttime throughout the rest of the holidays,” he said.

The public is also invited to attend the annual Escanaba Downtown Partners in Business’s Black Friday on Tuesday event in conjunction with the tree-lighting ceremony.

“The event has evolved into the biggest business day of the year for most participants,” said Peggy O’Connell, president of the Escanaba Downtown Partners in Business.

Twenty-eight businesses are participating in the holiday season kick-off event along Ludington Street, according to O’Connell.

This year’s downtown sales promotion period is from 3 to 9 p.m., however, O’Connell noted there are some businesses that will be offering their specials during the day.

O’Connell explained shoppers can find a “stamp sheet” for the event in a full page ad within the Daily Press and U.P. Action or by picking one up at a participating businesses during the event. By collecting stamps from 10 businesses during the event, participants can be entered in a chance to win one of two $250 shopping sprees. The drawing takes place at 9:30 p.m. at Mo’s Pub.

O’Connell also advised shoppers to look over the stamp sheet in the Daily Press or U.P. Action before the event to see specials taking place during the promotion.

According to O’Connell, Delta County Credit Union has been sponsoring the grand prize since the inception of the event, but this year the Escanaba Downtown Partners in Business decided to sponsor an additional prize to allow for two $250 shopping sprees.

“It’s an exciting event,” she said. “It fills the downtown. And it was originally done because we knew we couldn’t compete with big retailers’ advertising, so we decided to get the jump on them and show in advance what we offer locally — it’s worked. It’s worked well.”

There will be free DATA shuttles from 4 to 10 p.m. for the event.