A free holiday movie, a gingerbread house contest and, of course, jolly old Saint Nick himself will highlight this year’s Christmas in the Heart of Charleston festival. These activities and many others will make up a full day of events in the Square Saturday.

The actual festival does not start until 5 p.m., but there are many other happenings in the square and around town leading up to the celebration.

Starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until noon, the Tarble Arts Center will be having its Holiday Ornament Open House where anyone is invited to go and make their own creative ornament. Tarble also will hold its annual art sale all day Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Tarble Arts Center.

Also starting at noon, the Mandana Pines Christmas tree farm will be bringing freshly cut trees to sell until about 8 p.m. The trees will be sold at special prices for the festival and a few trees will be given away in a free drawing.

Art Space, located at 714 Monroe Ave., will be giving a lamp-working demonstration from 1 to 4 p.m. and the melted glass creations will be on sale afterwards. Art Space is also collecting art supplies to give to the Hope Foundation for children all throughout the day.

The Charleston Alley Theater will be putting on two shows of a play titled “St. George and the Dragon” at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The play is a medeval comedy and is suitable for both the young and old. The Charleston Alley Theater asks that anyone interested in seeing the performances should call the Lincoln Book Shop for reservations between noon and 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Will Rogers Theatre will present a special free showing of “The Grinch” staring Jim Carrey at 4 p.m. Admission will be free but the theatre asks people to bring non-perishable food to donate to the Charleston Food Pantry.

Following the movie, the festival will kick off at 5 p.m. with numerous activities. On the “Gingerbread Block,” which is located on the 700 block of Jackson Ave., gingerbread houses will be on display in the storefront windows for the gingerbread house contest.

The contest is open to the public and the drop off time for the house will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday night at Jackson Avenue Coffee. Youth, adult and group or family entries will be accepted.

Everyone who enters will receive a prize, but the winners of each category will earn a $25 prize and a grand prize winner will be awarded $100.

All of the winners will be on display during the festival and Master of Ceremonies Rob Stroud will also announce the winners during the music entertainment in the Courthouse rotunda.

Santa Claus will make his entrance at the square at 6 p.m. and he will be available for free pictures on the east side of the square in the Teen Reach Building. Children will also have the opportunity to write Santa with their Christmas list at Santa’s Post Office, which will be located in the northeast corner of the Square.

Carriage rides go on throughout the evening. The rides are free and will pick up riders at 520 Jackson Ave. and also the corner of Seventh Street and Jackson Avenue.

Free refreshments are available on the west side of the square, including hot cocoa, cider and cookies.