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

WAKEFIELD, MA — There is no shortage of things to do in Wakefield 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.

Wakefield will welcome Santa to town on Saturday for a tour beginning at 11 a.m. at Wakefield Memorial High School. The town will gather before that on Friday for its annual lighting of holiday lights at the Town Common at 6:30 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 Wakefield area may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades, lightings and other holiday events to catch here at home include:

• Malden Menorah Lighting
• Malden Lincoln Commons Tree Lighting
• Burlington Tree Lighting
• Stoneham Holiday Tree Lighting
• Reading Menorah Lighting
• Woburn Menorah Lighting
• Melrose Home for the Holidays
• Wakefield Wreaths Across America
• Wakefield Lions Club Santa Headquarters

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