PLAINFIELD – Holiday spirits could be brightened by a visit to downtown Plainfield on Saturday.

The village is having its annual Candlelight Christmas, a holiday event that features madrigal music, horse-drawn carriage rides, and the traditional lighting of the creche at Plymouth Congregational Church.

“It’s a fun way to kick off the holiday season,” said Tracey Lane, chairwoman of the organizing committee for the event.

The event is from 3:30 to 9 p.m.

Downtown businesses stay open into the night, since the event is aimed in part at drawing customers to the local stores and restaurants. The extra pedestrian traffic also adds a holiday bustle to the streets, which are decorated for the season.

“Everything will stay open,” Lane said. “The downtown does light up. Everything is very pretty. It’s kind of magical.”

Adding to the magic this year is the appearance of two actors posing as the Anna and Elsa, characters from the Disney movie “Frozen.” They will be taking pictures with children. The movie “Frozen” also play at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

There will be no charge for the movie, no charge for photos with the Anna and Elsa, and no charge for any of the activities, including the carriage rides.

The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce and its members are sponsoring Candlelight Christmas, which also is on the same day as Small Business Saturday – a day to raise awareness of the shopping at local, independent stores during the holidays.

Offering the array of activities “kind of gets them in the door,” said Tasha Kitson, executive director of the chamber. “Last year there were well over a thousand people.”

Downtown businesses also participate in the Candlelight Christmas, hosting some of the activities.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 3:30-5 p.m.: Crafting at the Plainfield Park District’s Lower Level Professional Building on Lockport Street.

• 3:30 p.m. – YMCA dancers at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

• 4 p.m. – Plainfield North High School madrigal singers at the Plainfield Public Library.

• 4 to 5:30 p.m. – The movie “Frozen” shown at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA.

• 4 to 9 p.m. – Pictures with Santa at Gourmet Junction.

• 5 to 7 p.m. – Letters to Santa at Barvian Realty.

• 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Snow Sisters at the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce offices.

• 6 to 9 p.m. – Carriage rides through downtown.

• 6 to 9 p.m. – Complimentary wine tasting at Wine and Cheese by TCC.

• 7 p.m. – Creche lighting at the Plymouth Congregational Church.