EASLEY — The city of Easley has already started its holiday celebrations, and the festivities will only continue to ramp up this weekend.

It began on Nov. 24 with Small Business Saturday.

On that day, the Easley Downtown Business Association revealed the first installment of the collectible Downtown Easley Christmas ornament. The ornament is the first in a series of ornaments that will be offered annually and can be purchased for $10 from participating merchants.

Supplies are limited on the quality-made first edition ornament. In celebration of the release, many downtown businesses will extend their weekend hours every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 22. The extended hours for most merchants will be from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.

This Friday, the city will host its Grand Illumination tree lighting at city hall. The evening will begin with downtown businesses holding an open house beginning at 5:30 p.m. and conclude with the tree lighting at 7 p.m.

“There will be live entertainment at the City Park on Pendleton Street, carriage rides and shopping with the local merchants,” said Scott Buckhiester of DunBurks Premier Events. “The tree lighting ceremony will consists of Mayor Bagwell welcoming the guests, a devotional reading and the Easley High School Choir performing for your enjoyment. Come help us light the City’s Christmas tree and welcome a special visitor from the North Pole.”

The next morning at 10 a.m., the annual Easley Christmas Parade will wind along a new route starting at the corner of Bradley Avenue and East Main Street and proceed on Main Street, then making a left onto South 1st Street (Robinson’s Funeral Home). From there, it will go to West 1st Avenue (Easley First United Methodist) and finish at the intersection of West 1st Avenue and Pendleton Street. The parade has been a tradition for more than 40 years.

On Dec. 7 and 8, participating merchants with the Downtown Business Association, excluding restaurants, will offer a tax-free weekend, offering customers the chance to save 7 percent on top of other discounts offered by some of the downtown businesses.

The following weekend, Dec. 14-15, participating merchants will have “deal days” and will have special discounts for customers.