Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Malden: Parades, Tree Lightings, More

MALDEN, MA — There is no shortage of things to do in Malden to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Malden already got into the holiday spirit in recent weeks with a tree lighting at Fellsmere Pond. The city will soon move forward with new events including a menorah lighting at City Hall Plaza on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. and a separate tree lighting at Lincoln Commons on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place at the national level this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland; the Target Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis; and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in the Malden area may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Additional parades, lightings and other holiday events to catch here at home include:

• Burlington Tree Lighting
• Stoneham Holiday Tree Lighting
• Wakefield Santa Tour
• Reading Menorah Lighting
• Woburn Menorah Lighting
• Melrose Home for the Holidays

Larger holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Massachusetts are:

• Zoo Lights at the Stone Zoo (Stoneham)
• Boston Common Lights (Boston)

Do you have a suggestion for an event that you feel should be added to this list? Email dakota.antelman@patch.com