From left, Iris Nichols, gallery director for Columbus Arts Council, and volunteers Devan Lott-Knipe and Keyaria McKinney, speak with Karen Barnes and Brandi Whitehead at the Columbus Arts Council’s wassail table Friday night at the Rosenzweig Arts Center in Columbus. Nichols said the Arts Council prepared about 11 gallons of wassail and used all of it pouring cups for those who stopped by the center during Wassail Fest. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

From left, Diane Ford, Jane Atkins, Grace Mast and Patti Gildea perform Christmas songs Friday night at the Rosenzweig Arts Center in Columbus. The four members of the Suzuki String Program performed Christmas classics during Columbus Arts Council’s Gingerbread Market, which happened concurrently with Wassail Fest. Gildea said the group enjoys performing year-round and planting “a seed” of interest in music for their younger performers. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

From left, guitarist, Brad Sims, drummer Mark Hysaw, bass player Wes Davis and lead vocalist Brooks Berry of The Ornaments play Christmas songs Friday at Leadership Plaza in Columbus. The band, which was missing its fifth member Jim Thomas on fiddle, performs only in December and exclusively plays Christmas songs, Berry said. “We start rehearsing in October, just to make sure that we’re on point,” he said. “We always try to add some new songs to the mix. … But that’s the great thing about Christmas music, these are classics. … We’re putting our own little twists on some of them, but ultimately, they never change.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

From left, Avij Elochy, 6, tells Mrs. Claus (Edwina Williams) and Santa Claus (Dwaine Smith) what she wants for Christmas Friday night at The Southern Social Venue in Columbus. Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus were a part of Wassail Fest downtown. Avij’s mother is Loubna Fanani. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

From left, Lily Bradley, 12, Landry Kate Bradley, 3, and Cali Bradley, 10, play inside an inflatable snowglobe Friday night in front of the Rosenzweig Arts Center during Wassail Fest. Main Street Columbus hosts Mississippi’s only wassail-tasting festival each year during the holiday season. The 15-foot-wide snowglobe was a popular attraction for families Friday night and had more than 250 people stop by to take a step inside, said Carlos Otalora, owner of Total Entertainment, said. Lily, Cali and Landry’s mother is Amber Bradley. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Bridget Cruz, left, Columbus Arts Council operations manager, speaks with Elizabeth Owens at Cruz’s booth Friday at Columbus Arts Council’s Gingerbread Holiday Market. Cruz was one of 12 vendors present on the market’s first night, which was held in conjunction with Wassail Fest. She said she normally paints animal portraits but also makes ornaments with paw prints for those looking for a more festive item. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff