Stafford County invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season at its annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Market on Saturday, November 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the George L. Gordon, Jr., Government Center, 1300 Courthouse Road.

The family-friendly celebration will feature an evening of holiday entertainment, seasonal shopping, festive activities and the lighting of Stafford County's Christmas tree.

The Holiday Market will feature 59 local vendors offering a variety of unique gifts, handmade crafts, books, apparel, baked goods, home décor and more. Visitors can also enjoy food trucks, inflatable bounce houses, holiday stilt walkers and seasonal music throughout the evening.

Santa Claus and the Grinch will make a special entrance aboard a firetruck at 5:55 p.m., followed by performances from Stafford County Public Schools students. The evening's entertainment will feature vocal performances by students from Hartwood Elementary School, Rodney Thompson Middle School and Brooke Point High School, along with music from the North Stafford High School Jazz Band.

The highlight of the evening will be at 6:30 p.m., with welcoming remarks from Deuntay Diggs, Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman, followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree and a fireworks display.

Photos with Santa will be available from 6 to 8 p.m., giving families an opportunity to capture a special holiday memory.

Residents are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the market, explore the activities and take in the festive atmosphere. Parking and shuttle service will be available, with designated ADA parking and shuttle drop-off locations near the tree lighting area.

The Stafford County Tree Lighting and Holiday Market is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the season, support local businesses and enjoy time together as a community.

The event will be held rain or shine unless dangerous conditions exist. Rain date is November 22. Any change of date will be announced on Stafford's website and social media pages.

For the complete event schedule, vendor information, parking details and event map, visit www.staffordcountytreelighting.com.