CAMBRIDGE — After becoming director of Cambridge Main Street on Oct. 3, Katie Clendaniel said she “... hit the ground running, and hitting the ground running meant getting ready for the holidays.”

The holidays are almost here and happening in Cambridge.

“There is no place like downtown Cambridge for the holiday season,” Ms. Clendaniel said. “In 2016 we’ll be beefing up our downtown offerings with some exciting new events. Our program details continue to evolve so check back on the CambridgeMainstreet.com website throughout the next few weeks for updates.”

Since its introduction just a couple years ago, the bushel basket tree has become very popular, even drawing a visit from Gov. Larry Hogan.

“We are making it bigger this year. It’s going to be three more rows up,” Ms. Clendaniel said. “The businesses are going to be tying into the bushel basket tree by incorporating bushel baskets into their displays. On Second Saturday (Dec. 10), they’re going to do special storefront bushel basket displays.”

Ms. Clendaniel is seeking volunteers to help decorate vacant downtown store fronts on Nov. 25, and getting ready for the downtown holiday hustle and bustle including the Dec. 3 Christmas Parade and Bushel Basket Tree Lighting.

“The parade is the longest parade on the Eastern Shore,” she said. “It runs through downtown. Last year we were a little hampered by the street closure of the 500 block but the parade will run through all of downtown this year.”

Ms. Clendaniel encourages everyone to join in the holiday spirit and shop downtown.

“I think people will be really surprised at the types of items that are in the stores when they go and look,” she said. “If you walk into Craig’s Gift Shop, if you walk into Sunnyside, If you walk into Butterfly Boutique, if you walk into the Wine Bar, you’re going to find things that are unique to our area that make excellent gift items. At the same time, you can feel good that you’re supporting your local business owners and employees who live and work and raise their families here in our community.”

Here is the list of holiday happenings for 2016:

HOLIDAY SONG KARAOKE COMPETITION! For the first time ever, downtown will host a Holiday Song Karaoke Competition! At 7 p.m. Wednesday at RAR Brewing, Cambridge Main Street will host its first of two audition nights for the competition. A second audition night is planned at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Canvasback Bar & Grill. Participants are asked to provide a $10 entry fee and be prepared to commit to singing at the competition finals, taking place 6 p.m. Dec. 10.

WIN A DOWNTOWN SHOPPING SPREE! — When you shop or dine at participating businesses you will be entered to win a prize drawing for every $20 spent! Starts Black Friday and ends Second Saturday December! Drawing will be the night of Second Saturday. You do NOT have to be present to win!

SHOPPING SPREE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES: Sunnyside Shop, Butterfly Boutique, Heart of Dorchester Antiques, Thomas’s Fine Jewelry, The Wine Bar, The High Spot, Stoked, Blackwater Bakery, Rock Lobstah, Knit Nook, Canvasback, Main Street Gallery, Craig’s Gift Shop, Liv Again / The Art Bar, RAR Brewing, Simmon’s Center Market, Downtown Frame of Mine, Jimmie & Sook’s, Furniture Flipping Females (FFF), and more being added everyday!

DECK THE HALLS! FRI, NOV 25th — Come join us downtown the morning of Black Friday to deck our halls, help is needed to decorate the bushel basket tree, shop windows, and lamp posts / banners! To sign up email office@cambridgemainstreet.com or check out our volunteer page.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! SAT, NOV 26th — Visit downtown Cambridge to show your appreciation for small businesses, Deck The Halls, then join us for the Spring Valley tree lighting and a visit by Santa. Choirs, Carols, Family and Friends. The Lighthouse Foundation wraps gifts in exchange for donations, 12 p.m. til 5 p.m.

CHRISTMAS PARADE & BUSHEL BASKET TREE LIGHTING! SAT, DEC 3rd — afternoon shopping followed by the famous Bushel Basket Tree lighting and downtown Christmas Parade. The Tree Lighting kicks off at 4:30 p.m., corner of Gay & Race streets. Baywater Animal Rescue will be providing gift wrapping in exchange for donations Saturday afternoon noon to 5 p.m.

DOE & STAG NIGHTS! DEC 7th / DEC 9th — Ladies you do the shopping on the evening of Wed, Dec 7th. Sample a menu of wines as you travel shop to shop and enter your favorite items on the in store gift registry. Gentlemen, you shop for your ladies, taking advantage of their gift registry the evening of Friday, Dec 9th during Stag Night! Participating Shops, galleries, and restaurants open late both nights!

SECOND SATURDAY! SAT, DEC 10th — Cambridge Dorchester YMCA wraps gifts in exchange for donations 12 p.m. til late. Trunk shows, Bushel Basket Displays, Carriage Rides, and the grand prize drawings for the Downtown Shopping Spree! Expect live music, a Holiday Song Karaoke Competition finals, and more surprises! Shops, galleries, and restaurants open til late! Stay tuned for updates!!

DAD’S DAY! SAT, DEC 17th – Dad’s this is your chance to take the family out for a little holiday season downtown excursion to shop for mom, aunts, grandmother, sisters! Dads, what happens downtown, stays downtown. Gift wrappers for a good cause are being lined up for this day!

GIFT WRAPPING FOR A CAUSE! NEW this year is Gift Wrapping For A Cause. Cambridge Main Street has partnered with local nonprofits like the Dorchester YMCA, Baywater Animal Rescue, and the Lighthouse Foundation to provide gift wrapping in exchange for donations to the respective good cause. Sponsored by The Whitten Group!

Saturday, November 26th — The Lighthouse Foundation 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, December 3rd — Baywater Animal Rescue 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, December 10th — Dorchester YMCA 12 p.m. til late!