BIDDEFORD — Christmas is called the festive season for a reason and in Biddeford, the more traditional aspects of the holiday season are combined each year with fashionable new trends and fun activities.

And this year is no exception as the city celebrates the holidays with the Downtown Holiday Festival and Special Holiday Art Walk on Friday evening.

The Biddeford Downtown Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting event will be held in City Square from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday and Santa will arrive by sleigh to light the tree on Main Street. There also will be free horse and wagon rides, and free photos available with Santa.

Also during the festival there will be performances by local dance troops and the Salvation Army Band.

Reilly’s Bakery on Main Street will start the festivities with free Christmas cookie decorating from 3 to 5 p.m. at Reilly’s Bakery.

There also will be a Special Holiday ArtWalk from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 in venues throughout the downtown area of Biddeford, including several holiday pop-ups featuring local artists and crafters.

The Second Congregational Church on Crescent Street will offer a free Yule concert to the public at at 7 p.m.

Here’s a quick look at some other events and activites in downtown Biddeford on Friday:

ELEMENTS BOOK ANNEX, 227 Main St., will feature a selection of new, used, and remainder books; adult coloring books; children’s books; journals; and locally made specialty gift items.

JOSEPH WEBSTER GLASS, 10 Westpoint Lane Suite 201, will have live glassblowing demonstrations and handmade glass art for sale.

ENGINE, 128 Main St, CSA II: Community Supported Arts featuring work by 10 artists who spent time on farms in Maine and created a body of work based on their time spent with the farmers.

BISCUITS & COMPANY, 24 Alfrred St.,  Exhibit of work by Biddeford Middle School art students. Also paint on a huge canvas and warm up with hot chocolate and cookies.

PEPPERELL MILL CAMPUS, 40 Main St.,  AIN ST:

MAINE MAKERS HOLIDAY MARKET, Pepperell Mill Campus, 40 Main St., (upstairs next to TULU Salon): A holiday pop up shop of Maine artists and makers.

JUST A MOMENT GALLERY, Pepperell Mill Campus, 40 Main St., (upstairs next to TULU Salon): Work by photographer Stephen Maka.

ELEMENTS ANNEX, 227 Main St. (across from Reilly’s Bakery, shop for books, books, and more books.

HANDMADE ON MAIN, 128 Main St. inside Engine features locally-sourced gifts.

CITY THEATER, 205 Main St., presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at 7:30 p.m.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com