SIDNEY - Downtown Sidney will be alive celebrating Christmas this Friday and Saturday with holiday events planned for Hickory Street Square and downtown Sidney.

"Holidays at Hickory Street Square" was scheduled for just Friday afternoon and evening, but because of high winds and cold temperatures in the forecast for Friday, the event schedule was split across two days. 

According to the News Channel Nebraska Accuweather forecast, sun and a few clouds with gusty winds are expected for Sidney on, with a morning high Friday of 47, before temps fall sharply to near 20. A high wind watch, with winds occasionally gusting over 50 mph, goes into affect at 2 a.m. and lasts until 5 p.m.

Events start Friday at 3 p.m. with hot chocolate provided by Viaero Wireless, snag family photos with Santa Claus and his real-life reindeer in a photo booth behind Charlotte & Emerson, Pedalers Corner will have hot dogs you can roast over their fire pits, and the UNL Extension Office will be offering ornament craft kits. 

Santa will be back on Saturday at Hickory Street Square from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be more hot chocolate from Sidney Regional Medical Center and their minions, Platte Valley Bank is providing take home s'mores, and the UNL Extension Office will again offer ornament craft kits. 

The lighting of the Christmas tree will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, followed by the parade of lights at 5:30 p.m. The parade route has moved from Illinois Street to Jackson Street, from 14th Ave. to 7th Ave. Entries into the parade will be accepted through 9 a.m. Friday morning, Dec. 2 by calling 1-308-254-5851. The theme of this year's parade is "Snow Globes."

There will also be free Candlelight Tours of Fort Sidney and the Commander's Home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The PlainsWest CASA chili feed fundraiser has been cancelled.