A few weeks back, I headed to Olde Mistick Village on an errand. I parked and was inside a shop for about 20 minutes. When I emerged, there was some sort of engineering crew building what appeared to be a Taylor Swiftian stage set or perhaps a suspension toll bridge connecting Elon Musk’s ego to Will Smith’s.

Then I realized it was just the crew setting up for the Olde Mistick Village’s annual Holiday Lights Spectacular, which runs through January in the new year. In that brightly-lit spirit, the Village ups the ante Friday when they host their Festival of Lights wherein hundreds of luminarias will brighten the pathways of the expansive and charming outdoor shopping center. Expect all sorts of family-inclusive seasonal activities including live music, free refreshments in the Meeting Center, and more.

Olde Mistick Village Festival of Lights, 4-9 p.m. Friday, Olde Mistick Village, 27 Coogan Blvd., Mystic; free; oldemistickvillage.com.