Smithfield will shine bright on Friday night as festivities kick off for “Light Up Main,” a new extension of the Woman’s Club of Smithfield’s annual tree lighting ceremony that goes back more than 25 years.

The ceremony will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Smithfield Times gazebo stage at 228 Main St., where the tree will be lit, local children’s choruses and church choirs will sing, and cookies, hot chocolate and punch will be served.

After the tree is lit and hot chocolate is poured, merchants in downtown Smithfield will light up their shop windows as the drum corps marches down Main Street. Shops will stay open until 8 p.m., and there will be homeowners participating with their own festive lights as well, with Christmas carolers going up and down Main Street.

“Folks can walk along and vote for their favorite light display, and if they vote, they can enter to win a $50 gift certificate to a business of their choice in town,” said Special Events Coordinator Connie Chapman.

Meanwhile, at the Isle of Wight County Museum on Main Street, “An Evening with St. Nick” will be held for families from 6 to 8 p.m. Children will enjoy a reading of Clement Clarke Moore’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” along with holiday refreshments, crafts and activities.

Santa himself will be dressed in his best Victorian red and white to spend time with the children. Parents can make their children’s visit even more special by pre-registering in advance, which will allow Santa to have some information about the child in advance. Plus, parents can wrap a gift for Santa to give him or him.

Registration is not required, and walk-ins will be accepted as well.

“They love it, (because) he actually spends a good five minutes with each child,” Isle of Wight County Museum Curator Tracey Neikirk. The advance information about each child allows him to know what each child wants for Christmas. “He actually interacts with the children.”

Call 357-0115 for “An Evening with St. Nick” registration, and go online to visitsmithfieldva.com for more information on “Light Up Main.”