Santa will arrive Friday in downtown Salt Lake City where Christmas lighting ceremonies and a full array of other activities are planned.
Festivities will begin at noon at the Gallivan Utah Center, 36 E. 200 South, where entertainment and skating are planned, according to the Downtown Alliance, which will coordinate events.Santa will arrive on an antique fire engine at 4 p.m. At 5:30 he will give out 3,000 kazoos for use by followers in humming carols as he leads a walking parade north along Main Street, west on South Temple and south on West Temple to the Salt Lake Art Center.
The entourage will include the Brighton High School Marching Band. During the procession, Edison School students will turn on Salt Lake Tribune Christmas tree lights and all the city holiday lights at 5:40 p.m. The Christmas windows at ZCMI will be unveiled at 5:50 p.m. Santa and the band will lead the parade to the north entrance of Crossroads Mall for a South Temple view of the annual lighting on Temple Square at 6 p.m.
The square is poised to launch its 30th season of Christmas lighting. The lighting will be preceded at 5:30 p.m. by a brief Christmas message delivered in the Salt Lake Tabernacle by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Music will be provided by the Mormon Youth Chorus and Symphony. Elder Wirthlin will flip a switch that will turn Temple Square into a sea of lights.
President Robert C. Witt of the Temple Square Mission will conduct the program. The chorus and orchestra will be conducted by Paul B. Larson and Terry S. Hill, assistant directors of the chorus and symphony, respectively.
Treats will be provided at the Gallivan Center, along Main Street and at the art center. Parking is free at Regent Street Parking and the Gallivan Center at 4 p.m. Friday. UTA buses will give free rides anywhere in the downtown free-ride zone.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will pose for pictures with children and their families at the art center. The alliance is offsetting the price of photos, which will cost $2.50 each. The art center will feature an exhibit of Ansel Adams photographs, according to Bob Farrington, alliance executive director.