Central Avenue will be transformed into a Christmas festival this Friday, Dec. 9 for the Christmas Stroll.

The annual Whitefish Chamber of Commerce event includes shopping, entertainment and scores of vendors set up alongside downtown merchants as town celebrates the arrival of the holiday season. Events run from 5:30-9 p.m.

In addition to some great holiday shopping, thousands of strollers can enjoy the lighting of the official Christmas trees, horse-drawn wagon rides by Bar W Guest Ranch, fire juggling, visits with Santa Claus at the Stumptown Marketplace, bonfires, bungee jumping, face painting, chestnut roasting at the Village Shop, hot chocolate, awkward family holiday photos taken at the Great Northern Brewery and ornament creation at Stumptown Art Studio.

The chamber is once again holding its Shoppers Drawing featuring almost $2,000 in prizes donated by chamber members. To enter visit the chamber tent on Central Avenue between Second and Third streets and bring receipts from any item or service purchased from a Whitefish merchant during the stroll and for each $10 spent get one entry ticket. The drawing takes place at 8:30 p.m.

New this year, Love Lives Here will host a seasonal “coming together” event at 7 p.m. at 100 Central Avenue. Attendees are asked to use the side entrance. The free community event includes music, song, caroling and storytelling and will feature Whitefish’s own Erica Von Kleist of Groovetrail, tenor Mike Eldred, Alpine Theatre Project, Mama Jazz & the Stumptown Po’ Boys and Merle Robinson and Cathi Lai. Rabbi Allen Secher, Pastor Morie Adams-Griffin and Rev. Debbie Schmidt will share holiday stories for kids and adults alike.

Love Lives Here is affiliated with Montana Human Rights Network and is a nonprofit organization. For additional information, visit www.loveliveshere.org.

For the complete schedule of Christmas Stroll events visit, www.whitefishchamber.org

2016 Stroll Event Schedule

3-9 p.m. - Holiday photos with your pet at Tailwaggers

5 p.m. - North Valley Music School Christmas recital at First Presbyterian Church

6 p.m. - Alpine Bell Ringers Hand bell Choir Concert at First Presbyterian Church

6-8 p.m. - North Valley Music School Performance at Montana Coffee Traders

6 p.m. - “WhiteFire” fire dancers outside O’Shaughnessy Center/Depot Park

6:15 p.m. - Tree Lighting Ceremony outside O’Shaughnessy Center/Depot Park

6:20 p.m. - Santa Arrives via wagon outside O’Shaughnessy Center/Depot Park

6:30-9 p.m. - Photos with Santa at Stumptown Marketplace

7 p.m. - “Celebrate the Light” music, songs, caroling and storytelling at 100 Central Ave

7 p.m. - Whitefish Dance performance at Carnival float on Central Ave.

7:45 p.m. - “WhiteFire” fire dancers at Carnival Float on Central Ave.

8:30 p.m. - Shopper’s Drawing