Strolls welcome the holiday season

And so the holiday season begins in earnest. It begins, as it now always does, with the strolls.

East Lyme does its patented stroll on Saturday, from 4 to 8 p.m. all along festively decorated Main Street. What that means: horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, kids' activities. And ye ol' Santa arrives on a firetruck just in time for the 5 p.m. tree lighting on Liberty Green, at the corner of Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Then, on Wednesday, Westerly-Pawcatuck transforms into a winter wonderland, with luminaria lighting the way at its 13th annual stroll. From 5 to 9 p.m., visitors can take a hayride with Santa, hear carolers, and stop into stores for hot chocolate and special promotions. The event is soonsored by The Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association.

East Lyme Holiday Stroll, 4-8 p.m. Saturday, downtown Niantic; www.discovereastlyme.com.

Westerly-Pawcatuck Holiday Stroll & Luminaria, 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck; if it's bad weather, the stroll will move to Dec. 3; (401) 596-7761.