Submitted photo Pictured left to right in back row are Ryan Hall, Festivals and Special Events Director and Scott Mekus, Events Specialist, with Patty Pleszewski, Youth and Recreation Secretary, Carol Oliveira, Secretary to the Mayor, and Evon Hernandez, Events Assistant, in the front row.

Dunkirk’s holiday season-opening celebration and marketplace is moving down Central Avenue.

The city has rebranded the event as “Christmas on Central.” It was previously held at the D and F Plaza — which is also on Central Avenue. However, city planners wanted the event downtown, and centered around the annual tree-lighting ceremony at City Hall.

“We really, truly wanted to bring it back downtown and celebrate small businesses down here,” said EJ Hayes, the city’s deputy director of planning and development, at a meeting of the Common Council’s Economic Development Committee last week.

The event will be Saturday, Nov. 26 from 2 to 7 p.m. More than 40 businesses and vendors will be participating along Central Avenue. There will be holiday shopping opportunities and food for sale.

Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be provided from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be a Christmas tree lane on Stearns Court, featuring trees decorated by local businesses.

Vince Liuzzo, the “Tree Guy,” will offer a chainsaw wood carving demonstration from 2 to 5 p.m. A children’s holiday crafts and coloring contest, set for the Stearns Building, will also happen from 2 to 5 p.m.

The annual tree lighting ceremony next to City Hall, led by Mayor Wilfred Rosas, will be at 5:30 p.m.

Of course, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and the elves will be making a visit from the North Pole. They are expected to arrive about 2:30 p.m.