Escanaba Downtown Developmental Authority on Tuesday evening will light the city's Christmas tree at Center Court, 1025 Ludington St., as well as each garland hung above the street as part of the city's Black Friday on Tuesday event. (Daily Press file photo)

ESCANABA – Escanaba Downtown Developmental Authority will kick off the holiday season with its annual Black Friday on Tuesday event as well as the city’s Christmas tree lighting Tuesday.

Black Friday on Tuesday will be hosted in downtown Escanaba’s shopping district on Ludington Street. The event is scheduled to take place over the course of 10 hours, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m.

While the exact number of participating stores is still being determined, Escanaba DDA Director Craig Woerpel expects more stores to participate in the event than previous years.

It is recommended shoppers arrive downtown at 10 a.m. to catch the best store specials and avoid later crowds. Shoppers should also prepare for chilly weather by wearing warm clothing.

“Two years ago, it was beautiful weather. People showed up, it was a beautiful community event, they all had fun. Last year, it was cold,” Woerpel said. “It really depends, I think, on the weather, but there are going to be hundreds of people there.”

The event will feature limousine rides, Christmas carolers and more.

Two limousines will take attendees up and down Ludington Street from 4 to 7 p.m.

Christmas carolers from Players de Noc will also sing along Ludington beginning at 4 p.m., as shoppers visit stores. Some stores will also enter shoppers in drawings as they browse.

Sometime before 6 p.m., children participating in an upcoming musical by Players de Noc, “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever,” will sing carols at the city’s Christmas tree at Center Court, 1025 Ludington St. More information on the musical is available on Players de Noc’s website.

At 6 p.m., the Escanaba City Band will begin playing by the Christmas tree. The subsequent tree lighting, as well as lighting each garland that hangs from pole to pole above Ludington, will take place at 7 p.m.

More than 500 people have responded to the event listing on Downtown Escanaba’s Facebook page, indicating they’re interested or plan to attend. The actual number of shoppers and attendees may fluctuate due to the weather, Woerpel said.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.