Things to do: Small Business Saturday, storytime, Santa, tree lightings

Jay Powell, Columbia Daily Herald
·3 min read
Shoppers fill the downtown Columbia square for Small Business Saturday.
Shoppers fill the downtown Columbia square for Small Business Saturday.

Now that it's officially the holiday season, it's time to ring in the spirit, pay a visit to Santa or maybe work off some of those Thanksgiving calories.

Also be sure to shop and dine local this weekend for Small Business Saturday.

1. Main Street Holiday Characters Storytime & Selfies

Columbia Main Street is bringing back its Story Time & Selfies with holiday characters, which will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday over the next four weeks.
Columbia Main Street is bringing back its Story Time & Selfies with holiday characters, which will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday over the next four weeks.

The popular Main Street Characters Storytime & Selfies returns this weekend to the Visit Columbia Welcome Center.

The weekly book reading event will occur every weekend over the next for weeks, each week featuring new stories and new characters featured in many childhood classics, including the Grinch and Cindy Lou, Buddy Elf, Jack Fost and, of course, Santa.

Each event will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday. The week's featured characters will also be roaming the downtown Columbia square until 2 p.m.

This week's featured cast includes Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Disney's "Frozen" films.

For this year's Main Street Holiday Characters Storytime & Selfies schedule, visit www.VisitColumbiaTN.com or stop by the Visit Columbia Welcome Center at 713 N. Main St.

2. Santa sightings, Christmas events

Get the family's photo with Santa Claus this weekend, which will be presented in a safe, socially distanced environment.
Get the family's photo with Santa Claus this weekend, which will be presented in a safe, socially distanced environment.

Santa will be out and about at many local businesses, along with other holiday events now that Thanksgiving has passed.

On Friday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be stopping by A Balloon Shop on the downtown square from noon to 2 p.m. Snacks will be provided, and each child will go home with a free treat bag.

Santa will make his way to Living on 6th, 113 E. 6th St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Bring the kids, or even the family pup, for photos, as well as animals from Sweet Swizzle Farm and photos with Spider-Man.

Also on Saturday, Little Neighbors, 802 S. Main St., will host Storytime and Cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus starting at 10 a.m.

Grab a bush and take part in Paint with Santa at The Factory at Columbia, 101 N. James M. Campbell Blvd. starting at 2 p.m. Sunday. The event will also feature a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Muletown Pottery.

3. Mt. Pleasant Christmas Tree lighting

Mt. Pleasant will host its first ever Christmas Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Saturday, with Santa on the Square starting at 5 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant will host its first ever Christmas Tree lighting at 6 p.m. Saturday, with Santa on the Square starting at 5 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant will be starting a brand new tradition this year by hosting its first Christmas Tree lighting, "A Very Mt. Pleasant Christmas."

The event will take place starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, and will include holiday songs by the Mt. Pleasant Elementary Choir, routines performed by Mt. Pleasant Middle School Dance Team and Mt. Pleasant High School Cheer Squad.

The fun starts at 5 p.m. with photos with Santa on the downtown Mt. Pleasant square. Be sure to share photos using the hashtag #SantaontheSquare.

The event is sponsored by the City of Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Pleasant Electric Company.

4. Spring Hill Turkey Burn 2023

The seventh annual Spring Hill Turkey Burn Half Marathon and 5K returns this Saturday to Spring Hill High School starting at 7:30 a.m.
The seventh annual Spring Hill Turkey Burn Half Marathon and 5K returns this Saturday to Spring Hill High School starting at 7:30 a.m.

The seventh annual post-Thanksgiving Spring Hill Turkey Burn Half Marathon and 5K returns this Saturday at Spring Hill High School.

The event will kick off with the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and a prayer at 7:15 a.m.

The half marathon will promptly begin at 7:30 a.m., with the 5K at 8 a.m. and 1K at 9 a.m.

Awards for 5K winners and food will be served starting at 9:30 a.m., with the half marathon winners awarded at 10 a.m.

Spring Hill High School is located at 1 Raider Lane.

5. Live entertainment

Nick Bentley will perform at Grinder's Switch Winery, 510 N. Garden St., starting at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Bottom Dollar Band will perform at The Boondox, 3543 Highway 431, starting at 8 p.m. Friday.

Murphy Ridge will perform at The Tilted Mule, 102 Depot St., starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Boomerang will perform at The Boondox, 3543 Highway 431, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Reba's Hairdo will perform at Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 150 Stephen P. Yokich Parkway, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Jay Powell
Jay Powell

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Things to do: Small Business Saturday, storytime, Santa, tree lightings