BELLE FOURCHE - A collection of holiday concerts begins Thursday with a free 2 p.m. Christmas Concert by Northern State University choral groups at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.

About 110 voices are involved in the concert that features the full concert choir and smaller group and solo performances.

After the concert, the Tri-State Museum hosts its annual free Christmas Open House with displays of how Belle Fourche and area residents celebrated Christmas in years past. That runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Weekend weather is predicted to be chilly. According to the National Weather Service in Rapid City, it's likely to be around 1 degree above zero for the Saturday, Dec. 1, annual Parade of Lights in downtown Belle Fourche.

The lighted parade follows a 2:30 p.m. Black Hills State University Christmas Concert at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center, and that is followed by the annual free chili feed at the Community Hall.

The Belle Fourche Cowboy Band will play its annual Christmas Concert during the chili feed at the Community Hall downtown.

The two Belle Fourche funeral homes and St. James Lutheran Church are cooperating on an informal "Blue Christmas" service at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5.

It is especially designed for people whose holiday season is more depressing than joyous because of personal losses or problems during the year.

It's open to friends and family as well.

Thursday, Dec. 6, is the annual Festival of Trees, which features trees, wreaths and other items auctioned to benefit major local nonprofit organizations.

The program sponsored by First Western Bank has turned into a major social event of the season.

The annual Belle Fourche Public Schools' kindergarten holiday concert will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9, Tina's Dance Studio will present "Oh Holy Night," described as a production celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ through the art of dance, at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.

The Belle Fourche High School Band and Choir Concert is at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.

Then Tuesday, Dec. 11, A Cappella Showcase performs its holiday music program at 7:30 p.m. at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center in a performance benefit for the Belle Fourche Arts Council.

The annual Belle Fourche Public Schools' kindergarten holiday concert will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.

The Belle Fourche Middle School Holiday Concerts are Monday, Dec. 17, at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center.

The choral concert is at 5:45 p.m., and the band plays at 7 p.m.