Sure, Christmas decorations have been in many of the big-box stores since Halloween, but the weekend after Thanksgiving is traditionally when all the festivities kick into high gear — and Edmonds is no exception. The annual tree-lighting ceremony, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Plaza, 5th and Bell, is a family favorite, but the entire weekend offers opportunities to shop local, eat local and enjoy all that Edmonds has to offer. A sample of the season’s offerings follows, and you can visit the My Edmonds News calendar for more details on each event.

Friday, Nov 27: It’s opening night for the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, presented by the Driftwood Players at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 20, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. All performances at the Wade James Theater, 905 Main St.

Saturday, Nov. 28: Tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. featuring the arrival of Santa Claus, free cookies and cider, musical entertainment and caroling, plus photos with Santa at the Edmonds Museum. Centennial Plaza, corner of 5th Avenue North and Bell Street.

Thursday, Dec. 3: First Dibs, Merchants Holiday Open House features treats and special offers from your favorite businesses, 5-9 p.m., Downtown Edmonds.

Saturday, Dec. 5: Swamp Creek Model Railroad Association Holiday Open House, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Edmonds Amtrak station, 211 Railroad Ave., Edmonds.

Saturday, Dec. 5: Edmonds-Woodway High School’s Music Booster Club sponsors its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Great Hall, 7600 212th St. S.W.

Saturday, Dec. 5: Olympic Ballet Theatre opens its production of the Nutcracker, with performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6, all at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N.

Tuesday, Dec. 7: Come to the Edmonds Fishing Pier from 7-7:30 p.m. for the Edmonds Christmas Ship Celebration, featuring caroling and free holiday refreshments courtesy of Petosa’s Family Grocer.

Friday, Dec 11: Seattle Women’s Chorus presents “Making Spirits Bright” concert at 7:30 p.m., Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Saturday, Dec. 12: Get your jingle bells on at Run Rudolph Run, a 5k run/walk sponsored by Running in Motion, 8:30 a.m. at Edmonds Civic Center Track and Playfield at 6th Avenue North and Bell Street. (Register by Dec. 5 to get a T-shirt.)

Sunday, Dec. 13: Enjoy the Holiday with the Classics concert, sponsored by Edmonds-based Max Foundation, which supports leukemia patients worldwide, 4:30 p.m.  at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St. S.W., Lynnwood.

Saturday, Dec. 19: Straight from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Shirelles will present a Noel Holiday Show, 7:30 p.m., Edmonds Center for the Arts.