The basement of the Brown County Community Foundation has been filling with gingerbread and wooden nickel Christmas tree decorations, corn husk dolls and patriotic wreaths.

On Friday, Nov. 25, the Christmas in Brown County Committee will see all its work — and hopefully, the community — come together.

Carols will be sung, bells will ring and the community Christmas tree will be lit at the Brown County History Center.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., local musicians Chuck Wills, Cari Ray and Kara Barnard will perform. At 6 p.m., the Owl Creek Schoolhouse bell will ring and the lights will shine on the tree and inside the History Center.

Afterward, hot chocolate, coffee and cookies will be served.

Santa will also be around to hear Christmas wishes and pose for photos until 6:30 p.m. He’ll arrive at noon at the Brown County History Center and will stay for the tree lighting, said committee member Brenda Young. Brown County High School student council members will be his helpers, handing out candy canes, she said.

Those who attend the tree lighting will get a small gift, too: A new wooden nickel ornament. Last year, the Christmas committee started a tradition of giving collectible nickel ornaments at the event.

Volunteers started meeting to work on this Christmas season shortly after last Christmas, Young said. For 11 months, they’ve been creating decorations and planning events.

This weekend, committee members and members of the high school Rotary Interact Club will decorate four live trees on thec ourthouse lawn — two in a patriotic theme to celebrate the bicentennial and two others as “country-themed,” Young said.

Next week, volunteers also will hang various pine cone decorations and wreaths around downtown Nashville, and town staff will hang wreaths on the street lights, Young said.