With a cold, drenching rain in the local weather forecast, a number of weekend events have been cancelled.

Heavy rain is expected today and tonight, and the area is under a Flash Flood Watch until Sunday morning.

Friday night, The Weather Channel predicted the rain would begin shortly before noon, with 2 to 3 inches of rain expected to fall.

Rain could continue Sunday morning, moving out by early afternoon. Highs will be in the low 50s, with lows in the 40s, with little chance of severe weather.

Here’s how that forecast is affecting local events:

• This morning’s Candyland Christmas Half Marathon and 5K will run, rain or shine. Races begin at 7:30 a.m.

• Candyland and Springdale on Ice will be closed on Saturday. Both the Court Square and Springdale on Ice venues will be open from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. 

• Harmony Baptist Church’s Live Nativity will be closed Saturday night. The venue will be open from 6 until 8 on Sunday night, weather permitting. (See related story, Page 1B.)

• Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church cancelled its annual Living Nativity.

“As we have neither the time, materials nor critters sufficient to turn our Living Nativity into a Noah and the Ark pageant, we won’t be running the annual event this year,” the church announced. It is the first time the event has been rained out in eight years.

• The City of Florala postponed its Christmas parade, Cookies with Santa and Snow Machine event until Sat., Dec. 15. Cookies with Santa are planned for the Pocket Park on Wall Avenue from 3 until 4:30 p.m., and organizers guarantee the forecast will include snow.  The parade, which has an “Old Fashioned Christmas” theme, is set for 6 p.m.