Downtown Pontiac will be filled with the sights and sound of holiday glee on Saturday when the 44th Annual Holiday Extravaganza returns.

The free annual parade, festival and scholarship announcements are cohosted by Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Waterford, and White Lake but open to all.

The fun starts at 8 a.m. Dec. 6 with a timed 5K Elf Run, followed by an untimed Little Elf run, with medals for timed runners and a Scholastic book and sweet for children awarded afterward at the Flagstar Strand Theatre. Other activities:

8:30 a.m.: Four high school students will receive $5,000 Fran and Russ Anderson Family Legacy Fund scholarships. and four college nursing students will receive a $1,500 Dr. Calandra Green Memorial Scholarship. WXYZ Anchor Carolyn Clifford, who is this year’s parade grand marshal, will emcee.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The Winter Fun Festival will feature a s’mores station, pony rides, visits with Santa Claus, the Grinch and Whoville friends, pony rides, face painting and other family friendly diversions on Saginaw Street between M-59 and Water Street.

11 a.m. The parade steps off at Saginaw and East Pike streets and ends at Cesar E. Chavez Avenue at West Montcalm Street.

3 p.m. A free screening of the 2004 film “The Polar Express” at the Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw St., which includes a hot chocolate buffet, hot dogs, beverages, and ice cream while supplies last. People are encouraged to wear ugly holiday sweaters or pajamas. Children can participate in a coloring contest.

Organizers are asking that people donate new, durable mittens to Mittens for Detroit or a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots Oakland County.

Online registration is strongly advised for this popular event. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Details are online at www.flagstarstrand.com.

Details of the 44th annual Holiday Extravaganza are online at www.holidayextravaganza.org.