Downtown Stouffville will be a busy place the weekend of Dec. 5 to 7.

The Stouffville Business Improvement Association and Stouffville United Church will kick off this year’s Christmas season with a live re-enactment of the nativity, complete with a live mule.

The 45-minute event will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, starting at 7 p.m. at the Care And Share Thrift Shop parking lot.

Following the performance, the Stouffville Hype Music Festive Choir will lead the Christmas walk from Library Lane east on Main Street to Church Street, where children will be able to visit with Santa in the Studio Lab.

At 8 p.m., the United Church will begin its bell ringing, which will usher in the church’s Christmas social.

Starting Friday night and continuing through to Sunday, local youth groups will be providing free gift wrapping at the GO train station, as well as at Multiverse Games and Toys near Main Street and Park Drive.

The new service is for anyone who purchases a Christmas gift in downtown Stouffville. Downtown merchants will be open Friday night.

Santa rolls through downtown Saturday, Dec. 6. His annual parade, hosted by the Stouffville Kinsmen, starts at 2 p.m. from Tenth Line and Aintree Drive. It heads south and then west on Main Street to Giant Tiger, under a route shortened this year.

Sunday will be Christmas in the Heart of Stouffville and feature horse-drawn wagon rides, with free gift bags and special offers by various participating stores.

Santa will return for photo opportunities with children and pets.

Merchants will take part in a window-decorating contest. Customers will receive Snowflakes with their purchases that can be used for discounts at other stores.

Throughout the Christmas season, downtown shoppers will be treated to music by the Hype Music Festive Choir.