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(KAIR)--Atchison is set to celebrate the Spirit of Christmas Saturday, complete with the annual evening parade of lights, meaning parking restrictions on Commercial Street taking effect late that afternoon.

Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Jill Thorne, says the family friendly, Christmas events start late Saturday morning, hosted inside Atchison's Memorial Hall.

As the daytime Christmas activities wind down late Saturday afternoon, Thorne says motorists should be aware of the parking restrictions that take effect at 4:00 for several blocks of downtown Commercial Street, in preparation of the evening parade. 

Along with the numerous activities planned for Saturday, leading up to the parade at 5:30, Santa Claus will greet local children in his Santa House, located in the 400 block of Commercial Street.

Once Saturday wraps up, Atchison will again be filled with the sounds of the season the following day as a local church holds it's annual Christmas Choir Concert.

The United Methodist Church will host the concert, again under the direction of Marta Myers, comprised of 51 local community members who will perform "The Sounds of Christmas" during the free, afternoon performance Sunday afternoon. The group has been practicing since October.

Beginning at 3:00, the concert, at the Atchison church located at 5th and Kansas Avenue, will feature an intermission performance by Leavenworth based vocalist, formerly featured on TV's "The Voice," Daysia Reneau.

A reception will follow the Christmas concert, with a free will offering to be collected to benefit the Hunger Task Force.