Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton City of Warren Department of Public Works crews placed and decorated the Christmas tree in downtown Warren on Tuesday morning.

It’s beginning to look a little like Christmas in downtown Warren.

The snowflake lights have been on the light poles for several days and City of Warren Department of Public Works crews placed — and decorated — the tree at the point along Pennsylvania Avenue West on Tuesday.

“The generous donor requested to remain anonymous,” DPW Superintendent Joe Reinke said. “It came from a field just outside the city limits.”

And while the annual Christmas Parade is going to look a little different — it’ll be a virtual shoebox parade — the other elements of the Christmas Walk are still scheduled to proceed.

The Walk is set for Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the theme is “Goodwill towards all.”

Santa is set to make an appearance on Dec. 6 at the intersection of Liberty Street and Pennsylvania Avenue

Children won’t be able to sit in Santa’s lap but organizers hope to find a way for photos to be taken with Santa at a distance.

A mailbox for Letters to Santa will be set up at the PNC Bank Building lobby and the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is going to provide a table and supplies for kids who want to write their letter that night.

After the Walk, the mailbox will move to the Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry headquarters until Dec. 21.

The completed shoeboxes from the parade will be on display at McKissock Learning, who is partnering with Jeff Bartsch for a mini light show with the Grinch.

The public will be able to vote for its favorite shoebox from Dec. 2 until Dec. 4.

Booths and vendors set to participate include Warren County Christian School, SADD, Relay for Life, Boy Scouts selling chestnuts, mini donuts by Tony Seriola and the Lions Club food wagon.

Several businesses are also set to be open for the evening including VirgAnn Flower & Gift Shop, McKissock Learning, Struthers Library Theatre with a holiday show set for 7 p.m., Allegheny Outfitters and the WCCBI, where the shoebox parade will be broadcast on a blowup screen throughout the evening.