Downtown lighting up

Downtown Salt Lake City will be ablaze with holiday lights starting Friday night. However, even though there will be reindeer on Main Street, don't expect Santa Claus to arrive by sleigh this time around — he'll be coming via Harley with the Utah Jazz Bear.

Hundreds of thousands of downtown Christmas lights will go on about 5:30 p.m., and at about the same time, the switches will be flipped for holiday lights around Temple Square as the city again provides one of the nation's most dazzling holiday displays.

The "Lights On" family-oriented event is sponsored by the Downtown Alliance of Salt Lake and will include additional events Friday night at the Gallivan Center (6:30 p.m.) and The Gateway (7 p.m.).

Besides Santa's appearance, there will be live reindeer, a stage, carolers, stilt-walking elves and jugglers between the two downtown malls. Events begin at 5:15 p.m. with Sterling Poulson from KUTV emceeing the festivities.

There will be some edible treats this year as well. Meier & Frank will be giving away hot cider and gingerbread Friday night, and the ZCMI Center will have free hot chocolate and cookies this and every Friday during the holiday season.

After a brief stop at the Gallivan Center (6 p.m.) for ice skating and to have a life-size "Snowman" join in, the events will move to The Gateway's Olympic Legacy Plaza at 7 p.m. Events there will include singing by the Studio Choir, a special appearance by Kurt Bestor, a tree-lighting ceremony and more complimentary cocoa and cookies. "Scott and Maria," KSL radio afternoon hosts, will emcee The Gateway festivities.

Bestor will board a TRAX train in Sandy at 2:59 p.m. and head for Salt Lake, singing carols all the way, meeting Santa and a choir at The Gateway at 3:35 p.m. Bestor will then be at the Virgin Megastore from 4:30-5:30 p.m. to sign autographs.

The ZCMI Center will offer free parking for those who don't leave the parking area until 6 p.m. or after on Friday. TRAX service will continue as usual, and a special doubledecker "Jingle Bus" will also be offering free transportation downtown and to The Gateway.

Here are more details on northern Utah's other holiday events this weekend:

• Bountiful's Electric Light Holiday Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, going along Main Street and ending at the Bountiful City Center with a lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa.