GLADSTONE — The hustle and bustle of the holiday season will come to Gladstone Friday during the annual Old Fashioned Christmas event, sponsored by the Gladstone Downtown Development Authority.

The event will kick off at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at the corner of Delta Avenue and 11th Street. From there, guests can walk the town, or hop on a horse-drawn wagon near the city’s live nativity scene outside the city’s electrical garage. The nativity scene is sponsored by Grace Church.

In addition to the tree lighting and live nativity, there are a plethora of other activities in downtown Gladstone during the event. There are kids craft projects and hotdogs available at Iversons, sponsored by the Gladstone Kiwanis and North Bluff Grocery; cookies and cider provided by the Gladstone DDA at Brampton Bike and Ski; a station for writing letters to Santa at Dance it Up!; face painting at D&D Dog Dynamics; warm peanuts at Mainstreet Pizza; ice cream at the Dairy Flo; a chocolate treat at Frame Farm; hot chocolate at Great Lakes First Federal Credit Union; “reindeer” chow and hot chocolate at The Dew Drop; a football toss game at Xcellerate Gym; a kids craft project at Trotters Floral; a Christmas treat game at Grace & Clare Boutique; hot cocoa, a holiday treat and photo booth at Happy Rock Boutique; cookies, egg nog and hot cocoa at Waters Edge Chiropractic; and adult and children’s beverages and live music at Wally’s Bar.

In addition, children of all ages will have an opportunity to meet Santa himself at the Gladstone Farmers Market and to cook up s’mores at burn barrels located along Delta Avenue.

The event concludes at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.gladstonemi.org.