Get ready to kick off the Christmas holidays season Friday. Numerous events are planned for the Mother Lode.

The first “official” day of shopping is the day after Thanksgiving. Expect long pre-dawn lines of bargain hunters outside stores such as Wal-Mart waiting for the doors to open very early Friday morning.

Later that evening, nearly 10,000 people are expected to line Washington Street in downtown Sonora for the 20th annual Christmas Parade. The parade boasts of nearly 70 entries this year and steps-off at 5:30 p.m. at the Red Church — continues south to Restano Way. Expect road closures in the downtown beginning at 3:30 in the afternoon.

Among a number of holiday activities this weekend, the Sonora Christmas Craft and Music Festival starts Friday and runs through Sunday at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Saturday it´s the 17th annual Sonora Toy Run by motorcycle enthusiasts Signups at 10 a.m. the run at noon at Jamestown Harley-Davidson.