Mayor Bill Haslam will lead the countdown Friday night as downtown Knoxville lights up for the holidays during the Regal Celebration of Lights.

The big event that annually kicks off the heart of the Christmas in the City celebration starts at 6 p.m. in Krutch Park Extension though it features activities - scattered throughout Krutch Park and Market Square - for the entire family before concluding at 9 p.m.

Those include some terrific music, horse-drawn carriage rides, storytelling, the Christmas Market, marshmallow roasting pits and a chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, all amid the glitter and glow of more than 300,000 lights decorating downtown.

The Regal Celebration of Lights is highlighted by the lighting of the 38-foot First Tennessee Foundation Christmas Tree while about 150 members of the Grace Baptist Church Worship Ministry will provide the music for the event.

The Celebration of Lights is presented by Regal Entertainment Group and produced by the City of Knoxville.

In addition Knoxville's Holidays on Ice, the popular outdoor ice skating rink on Market Square, which is a pay activity, will open Friday at 10 a.m. and the WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown concert begins at 5 p.m. also on Market Square.

Haslam with help from Santa will lead the countdown to light the tree about 6:15 p.m., accompanied as always by fireworks and some very local snowfall at the Celebration of Lights.

Bo Williams and Tearsa Smith of WATE-TV will emcee Friday evening's lighting ceremony.

Krutch Park Extension is located along Gay Street near its intersection with Clinch Avenue. There will be free parking in the City of Knoxville's downtown garages on Friday.

In addition to the lighting of the big tree on Gay Street at 6:15 p.m., the city is asking dozens of business and organizations that are part of "Up on the Rooftops" to flip on the hundreds of brightly lit rooftop Christmas trees adorning buildings downtown, along the Tennessee River and across the city at the same time.

"Up on the Rooftops," began in 1995 with 11 light trees and has grown to include more than 400 trees currently.

The WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown includes early performances from Freddy Smith, who also serves as emcee, The Step Above Dance School and Wade Hill and the Cluck and Pluck Band. Darrell Webb performs at 8 p.m. followed by the Phil Leadbetter and Friends Holiday Bluegrass Holiday Special.

Knoxville's Holidays on Ice will be open, rain or shine, from November 26 through January 2, 2011. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children 12-years-old and younger. The admission price includes skate rental. For more information please call 865-215-4423 or visit http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/icerink.
 
The Christmas Market featuring items from local craftsmen opens Friday from noon until 9 p.m. and is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition to the Regal Entertainment Group the major sponsors of Christmas in the City are: First Tennessee, Mayfield, WATE-TV Channel 6, Comcast Cable Communications, WIVK and The Knoxville News Sentinel.