The public is invited to the annual Christmas tree lighting set to take place during the Christmas Open House at the Historic City Hall on Goodyear Boulevard this Saturday.

Other events are coming up, such as the annual Shop By Candlelight. Also the deadline to purchase corporate squares for the soon to be completed train depot is nearing.

Picayune Main Street’s Open House will kick off the main street holiday shopping season with a lighting of the Christmas tree to be located at the Historic City Hall. The event will be Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic City Hall and will feature opening comments from Mayor Greg Mitchell and a prayer from council member Donald Parker. Local talent Sherry Lawley is also scheduled to sing a musical number at the event, said Picayune Main Street Manger Reba Bebee.

While Saturday’s event will kick off the Main Street holiday shopping season, Shop By Candlelight will offer some festivities. On Nov. 30, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. shoppers can peruse the various stores in the Main Street community on sidewalks and stores lighted by candles. Bebee said there will be two carriage rides, one on East Canal and another on West Canal.

Santa will also be available at Gaise Photography and Little Angels Boutique in the Main Street area so the kids can tell him what they want for Christmas. The Perfect Dress Teen Board will set up in front of Melinda’s Fine Gifts where they will sell hot cocoa and offer a present wrapping service to raise money for needy families.

Other events include a live nativity to be performed by Emanuel Baptist Church near Crystal Gallery on East Canal and Sonnets Dance Academy will be performing a Christmas Ballet and Christmas Hip Hop on the corner of Ruby Street and West Canal, Bebee said. First Baptist Church of Carriere will perform Christmas Carols by the clock on the corner of Main and West Canal for their third year in a row.

To help complete the new train depot currently under construction Main Street is selling engraved corporate squares. Only 100 of those corporate squares will be available for sale, for $500 each. The 16×16 inch squares will be made of granite and will decorate the foyer of the new train depot. The deadline to purchase a corporate square is Nov. 21, Bebee said.

“They need to get their name in the hat if they want one of those squares,” Bebee said. The corporate squares are not just for corporations. Individuals can purchase the engraved squares as memorials to honor someone or for any other occasion.

Main Street is also selling engraved bricks that will construct the pathway from the depot to the train. Each of the 11,000 bricks are available for $30, making them a great Christmas gift, Bebee said. There is no deadline to purchase an engraved brick.