Volunteer Anne Dumont decorates a table Wednesday to be used for a bake sale at the Augusta Teen Center of the Boys & Girls Club of Augusta on Water Street, as part of the Augusta Downtown Alliance’s annual River of Trees. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA — A day of festivities Saturday is expected to feature visits with Santa Claus, a Rudolph-themed scavenger hunt, the annual holiday tree lighting, fireworks over the Kennebec River and, just across the river from downtown Augusta, a Victorian-style Christmas.

The holiday events also kick off the 12 Days of Augusta, which is to feature child-friendly events throughout December, including calls from Santa, the Reindeer Games Fun Fair on Dec. 15 and a gingerbread house build-off Dec. 6 at the Buker Community Center at 22 Armory St.

The River of Trees is set for Friday through Sunday at the Augusta Teen Center at 244 Water St. The event allows participants to buy raffle tickets in an effort to win one of many trees surrounded by gifts donated by area businesses and organizations. The trees and gift packages have an average value of $300.

The River of Trees is the Augusta Downtown Alliance’s biggest fundraiser of the year, with 75% of the event’s proceeds used to help fund the alliance’s activities and the rest going to the Augusta Teen Center, according to Jeremy Ashlock, the executive director of the alliance.

Daylong downtown events Saturday include a scavenger hunt, in which participants pick up a list of what they need to track down at Market Square on Water Street and then visit 10 downtown businesses. The businesses are to be marked with blue signs featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his friends to help participants find the scavenger hunt items.

A Rudolph-themed story walk is also planned for Water Street.

Sara Holt-Moseson adjusts white chocolate “rocks” around a gingerbread model of the Sand Hill Bagel Co.’s building Wednesday at the Augusta Teen Center of the Boys & Girls Club of Augusta on Water Street. In preparation for this week’s River of Trees event, Holt-Moseson, who runs the bagel shop on nearby Canal Street, built the model, which is lighted inside. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Entertainment featuring Dance Unlimited, the Maine Arts Academy and Central Church musicians is planned for 2:30 to 4:45 p.m.

Downtown festivities wrap up with the annual tree lighting at 5 p.m., followed by a fireworks display over the Kennebec River.

This year’s tree was donated by Bill and Nita Faulkingham.

Water Street is to be closed from 2:30 p.m. until crowds clear, expected to be about 6:30 p.m., from the intersection of Oak Street to the south parking lot. The parking lot will remain accessible to vehicles, according to Haley Gauvin, the director of communications and marketing for the city.

“These events are a wonderful opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate the season in a joyful way,” Gauvin said. “Plus, nearly all activities are free or very low cost, making them accessible to everyone.”

A free shuttle is planned for 1 to 4:05 p.m. between Market Square to Fort Western.

Santa’s Stroll, in which Santa and other holiday characters are to be driven around city neighborhoods and visit the city’s four elementary schools, is to begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Buker Community Center and end at about 2 p.m. at Hartford Fire Station at 1 Hartford Square.

Visits with Santa at his new snow globe are scheduled for 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. at Market Square.

Across the river, staff members at Old Fort Western at 16 Cony St. are set to host “A Victorian Christmas” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Planned activities include a bonfire on the fort’s parade grounds, ornament-making, gingerbread men cooked in the kitchen hearth and available for sampling, games, horse-drawn wagon rides and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by Father Christmas, according to Linda Novak, the executive director of the fort.

The gift shop at the fort, built in 1754 and the oldest-surviving wooden garrison in America, is to be open during the event, and open Saturday, Dec. 7, 14 and 21, for Christmas shoppers.