Wrangell is getting ready for one of its busiest weekends of the season, as high school wrestling, holiday shopping and Christmas cheer all land on the same days.

On Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, teams and families from around Southeast will pour into town for a wrestling tournament at the high school gym. The extra visitors arrive just in time for the annual Christmas tree lighting and Midnight Madness store sales on Friday night.

The tree lighting ceremony is set for Friday between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. The borough’s electrical line crew stages and decorates the community tree, which will stand near the center of the action on Front Street.

For safety and strolling, the street will be blocked off at the bottom of McKinnon Street and Lynch Street for pedestrian traffic. Burn barrels will be placed nearby so people can warm their hands and gather with friends. Organizers say marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers are usually donated so families can toast s’mores by the fire.

Mayor Patty Gilbert typically leads the crowd in a countdown before the lights flick on. After the tree is lit, people spread out to visit stores, where Midnight Madness sales and specials run late into the evening.

According to Chamber Director Lora Lee Mason, to keep the fun centered on Front Street, Santa Claus will greet children and sit for photos at the Elks Lodge instead of his usual spot at the Nolan Center. The idea is to keep families close to the shops, lights and food stands downtown.

“We definitely want to keep people downtown to shop. We want them to buy locally,” Mason said. “The businesses here are really interesting, and they have a unique variety of things. I’m a picky shopper and I always manage to find something to buy locally.”

To draw shoppers, the chamber last month launched a holiday shopper card. Each time someone spends $100 at participating businesses, they will fill up a card and earn a chance at a $1,000 “chamber bucks” prize. A shopper who fills three cards would earn three entries in the drawing.

This year’s holiday shopping promotion runs through Sunday, Dec. 7.

The $1,000 can be spent only at businesses that are part of the program.

Participating businesses include 56 North/Alaska Waters, Ottesen’s Ace Hardware, Alaska Vistas, Angerman’s, Arctic Chiropractor, Arrowhead Propane and Transfer, The Bay Company, Breakaway Adventures, Brenda Schwartz – Yeager Marine Artist, Buness Bros., Stone Cold Fox, Afterglow Tanning Salon, City Market, Compass Line, First Bank, Wrangell IGA, Island Escape Rental Cars, Laughing Star Hobbies, LN’M store and gas station, Marine Bar / Hungry Beaver, Nolan Center gift shop, Ocean View Gardens, Sentry Hardware, Stikine Drug, Stikine Inn, Stikine River Gifts and Apparel, and TK’s Mini Mart.