Children visiting downtown Dowagiac during the community’s Christmas Celebration Saturday may win one of two gift baskets, plus the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accompany Jolly ‘Ole St. Nick in the Dowagiac Candle-light Christmas Parade.

Now in its 13th year, the children’s drawing is one of several holiday events staged downtown from 10 to 2 p.m. that morning.

The four-part Yuletide celebration, presented by Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, represents the official start to the holiday season. The three-day Open House Weekend kicks off Friday morning at specialty shops throughout Dowagiac and continues through 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Corporate sponsors of the celebration, which also features Small Business Saturday, the Dec. 1 Candle-light Christmas Parade and Dec. 16 Breakfast with Santa, are: The Business Center of Southwestern Michigan, Casual Tees Inc., Chemical Bank, Clark Chapel/Starks Family Funeral Homes, Cass County COA/Front Street Crossing, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Edward Jones’ Office of Kim MacGregor, John A. Vylonis Custom Building, Mahar Insurance, The Marshall Shoppe, May Oberfell Lorber, The Timbers of Cass County and Vincent J. Jewelers.

An Old-World Santa, assisted by the Miss Dowagiac Court of Honor, will visit with children from 10 to 2 p.m. within the Pompeii Room at Wood Fire Italian Trattoria, while a European-styled Mrs. Claus will greet families at Beckwith Park, where children can meet the costumed “magic minis,” miniature horses of Whitney Podell, and also enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, and Christmas performances by David Lloyd and Vicki Vanas, and Positively Dance.

In-store events will be held at Bow Wow Bakery & Bath, Who Knew? Consignment and at the Dowagiac Area History Museum, along with the Theta Mu Craft Show at Dowagiac Middle School.

Those with a sweet tooth will also have plenty to enjoy during the Open House Weekend, at the bake sale of MKSODance and from pastry artist Jordan Anderson, owner of The Baker’s Rhapsody.

For a full list of holiday activities or to register a unit in the Dec. 1 Candle-light Christmas Parade, call the Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212 or visit DowagiacChamber.com or its Facebook page.