EPHRATA — Santa will be stopping by Ephrata for breakfast Saturday, and he’ll be back for the evening parade. The annual town Christmas celebration, “Miracle on Main Street,” also includes stories at the Ephrata Public Library and not one but two food drives.

The day begins with Santa hosting breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Ephrata Recreation Center, 112 Southwest Basin Street. Santa’s visit is sponsored by the City of Ephrata.

Tickets are $4 per person. A backdrop will be set up, and parents can take pictures of the kids with the jolly old elf. People can register in advance at the city’s website or pay at the door.

Volunteers from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will sponsor a food drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at Moore Furniture, 328 Southwest Basin St.

Librarians will be reading and telling holiday stories from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the library, 45 Northwest Alder St. “Christmas Bingo” is scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Pita Pit, 26 Northwest Basin St.

The annual Jingle Bell Fun Run is scheduled for 3 p.m., with racers assembling at in the parking lot at 261 Northwest Basin Street. Runners have their choice of a one-mile or five-kilometer course. Same-day registration is from 2 to 2:45 p.m.

There’s a costume contest for runners, with prizes for the top three winners. Judging is at 2:30 p.m.

For both races the course goes down Basin Street to the Lee Theater; the one-mile course turns around there, while the 5K course continues down Frey Road. Awards will be presented to the first place male and female finisher in each of 11 age divisions, and every runner gets a candy cane.

The Ephrata chapter of Kiwanis will sponsor a food drive, a different one from the earlier food drive, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Rock Park. All food and money collected will be donated to the Ephrata Food Bank. And since it’s December and everything, the Kiwanis will be serving hot cocoa.

The Columbia Basin Bells handbell choir will perform at Pita Pit before and after the annual holiday parade.

The parade starts at 5 p.m., with lineup at 4 p.m. in the parking lot at Ephrata High School. The parade route follows Basin Street to Moore Furniture.

Judging will be at 4:30 p.m., and trophies will be awarded for the top three entries. Santa will be riding the fire truck, so organizers as asking that other entrants avoid competing Santas. Parade participants are asked to avoid throwing candy from vehicles, and have somebody walk along the curb and hand out candy instead, if they want to hand out candy.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].