Christmas in Driver will kick off this Saturday with a grand illumination, children’s activities, a holiday sweater contest and more.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Lana Sadowski, owner of the Little Black Dress Resale Boutique. “We’re going to try to get Driver the way it used to be, when people came here for food and fun. It should be a shopping destination.”

In addition to Sadowski’s business, participating businesses also include Arthur’s General Store, Knot Hole Station, Harmony House Antiques, Rio Grande Traders, Print and Stitch, Suffolk Appliance Parts, Chic Unique Vintage Rentals and Big D’s Shaved Ice.

Plenty of holiday cheer will be available throughout the village, with a live pianist playing Christmas carols and cider, hot chocolate, cheesecake, and year-around favorite barbecue being served up.

There will be crafts, face-painting and a Santa letter writing station for children throughout the event, which runs from 3 to 7 p.m. At 4, children can participate in a candy cane scramble with fake snow on the ground. At 5, Santa will arrive on a Driver Volunteer Fire Department truck and set up at Harmony House for photos, which are free with a suggested donation to the Suffolk Humane Society.

The grand illumination also will be held around 5. The “Awesome Holiday Sweater Contest” will take place at 6 and be judged by members of the fire department.

Local businesses will also collect toys, human food and pet food for those in need.

For more information, call Sadowski at 718-8266.