Forget the housing crisis, folks. Santa Claus just built a new place — think colonial gingerbread — in a prime location inside Binns Park.

Santa's new house (actually built by Gallagher Construction and decorated by Atomic Design), is where he'll be hanging out, talking to kids about their Christmas wishes.

It's part of Downtown for the Holidays, which begins Friday — a week earlier than usual — and runs every weekend through Dec. 21.

If you plan to visit Santa on Friday, you'll have to squeeze that visit in, because there is a lot more going on downtown, including the Mayor's Tree Lighting in Penn Square at 6:30 p.m., followed by the annual TubaChristmas at 7:30 p.m., also in Penn Square.

"We're starting a week early," says Valerie Wagner, special events manager for Lancaster City. "It will be Black Friday (the traditional beginning of the holiday shopping season) instead of First Friday."

After the tree lighting, when Santa heads to his new home in Binns Park, he won't be alone.

"We are asking people to dress up as elves and we'll have a processional of elves going over to Binns Park," Wagner says.

The variety of events tied to Downtown Lancaster for the Holidays will continue every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) through Dec. 21.

"A lot of city residents come, but we get a lot of people from all over the county," Wagner says. "We even get calls from people out of state inquiring about it."

So what can you do in the next several weeks to get yourself into the downtown holiday mood?

Well, like we said, Friday night will be a biggie.

The tree lighting begins at 6:30 p.m. with TubaChristmas following at 7:30 p.m.

Between 30 and 50 tuba players come out for the occasion and anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 people will cheer them on.

Central Market will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. for those who want to get a jump start on holiday shopping (or grab a fast snack), and horsedrawn carriage rides ($5 per person) will run from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

And of course, Santa will be welcoming visitors at his new house from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Saturday events will begin at 10 a.m. Santa will chatting with his guests until 3 p.m. Strolling musicians will entertain throughout downtown until 4 p.m. and the model train display on the second floor of Citizen's Bank, in Penn Square, will be open until 4 p.m.

Sunday activities get a later start, with noon to 3 p.m. visits with Santa. The strolling musicians will embark from 1 to 4 p.m., the same hours the train display will be open.

First Friday will keep things popping next weekend, as galleries open their doors for new shows. And all the holiday festivities will be back, including the horse drawn carriages from 6 to 9 p.m., the Santa visits (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and the model train display from 5 to 9 p.m.

And all you potential Andy Williamses, you don't want to miss Holiday Karaoke, which will be located in Penn Square from 6 to 8 p.m.

All of these events will continue throughout the weekends leading to Christmas.

A special concert by the McCaskey Gospel Choir will he held in Binns Park, beginning at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19.

And during Downtown for the Holidays, merchants will expand their weekend hours on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

"We want to encourage people to support the local economy and businesses," says Wagner. "Buy fresh, buy local."

There will also be free parking at curbside meters downtown Dec. 15 through 24. For a complete list of events, go to www.lancastercityevents.com/holidays or call 291-4758.

Here's the lineup:

Downtown Holiday Weekends

Opens Fri. Through Dec. 21

Fri. 7:30-9 p.m. (reg. 5-9 p.m.)

Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. noon-4 p.m.

Horse-drawn carriage rides

Fri. 7:30-10 p.m. $5

Fulton Bank, King and Queen sts.

Model train display

Fri. 5-9 p.m. beginning Dec. 5

plus Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sun. 1-4 p.m. Citizens Bank Building

Penn Square

Santa visits in his new Santa House

Fri. 7:30-9 p.m. (reg. 5-9 p.m.)

Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun. noon-3 p.m.

Binns Park strolling entertainment

Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. 1-4 p.m.

Holiday karaoke

Fri. 6-8 p.m.

(beginning Dec. 5)

Heritage Quadrant

King and Queen sts.

291-4758
http://www.lancastercityevents.com/

Mayor's Tree Lighting and Tuba Christmas

Fri. kickoff at 6:30 p.m.

Tuba Christmas around 7:30 p.m.

Free. Penn Square. 291-4758
http://www.lancastercityevents.com/