The annual Picayune Main Street Christmas on the Rails/Shop by Candlelight event takes place today at 5 p.m.

The event kicks off with a pancake breakfast fundraiser by the Kiwanis Club of the Greater Picayune Area at the Southern Char Steakhouse at 7 a.m.

Locally owned downtown shops will be decorated and stocked with gifts for everyone in the community.  Sidewalks in downtown Picayune will be lined with luminaries lighting the way as residents shop local.

Santa is expected to arrive on a Picayune Fire Department truck to North Main Street at 5 p.m., before he and Mrs. Claus board their sleigh. Then, children can share their Christmas wishes and have a picture taken with Santa.

Adults and children can take a toy train ride, hayride or an old timey stagecoach from West Canal Street and Quince Street, the Intermodal Transportation and Tourism Center on Hwy. 11 or at the intersection of East Canal Street and Curran Avenue.

To keep warm through the evening there are four hot chocolate stations being manned by representatives of Trinity Methodist Church, Picayune Rotary Club, Picayune Chamber of Commerce and Bank Plus.

The Exchange Club of Picayune will host a meet and greet with Elsa from Disney’s Frozen at 5 p.m., at Charlotte’s Web on West Canal Street where children can have pictures taken with the Disney princess for $10, which comes with one 5 by 7 print. The fee will be used to fund projects conducted by Exchange Club of Picayune.

On East Canal Street, a line up of entertainment will be available from 5:30 p.m. through 7:15 p.m., including performances by West Union Baptist Church, Picayune Memorial High School choir, The 5th Sunday Night Convention Mass Choir of Pearl River County, Wee Wisdom, Roseland Park Baptist Church, Caleb Rabion and Caleb Leads Group Carols. The Senior Center Choir will be singing Christmas carols by the clock at the corner of South Main Street and West Canal Street.

Other performers include carolers Becky Highnote, Tara Poolson and Caitlin Palmer, Bethany Berryman, Pearl String Dulcimer group, Pearl River Community Band, and Catilin Palmer.

Tom Milar, one of the organizers of the event and a Picayune Main Street Board member, said this year he is expecting approximately 2,500 people to attend the event.

Free refreshments will be available at 118 West Canal Street and at the Intermodal Transportation and Tourist Center.

“We are expecting families and children to have a great time lining the streets and shopping local,” Milar said.