One holiday down, onto the next!

With Thanksgiving in the rearview window as of Thursday night, folks tend to turn their gaze toward Christmas.

To help everyone get into that proverbial holiday spirit, Niantic hosts its Holiday Stroll on Saturday. People can take horse-drawn carriage rides. Kids can delve into games on Liberty Green. They can await Santa's arrival at 5:20 p.m., followed by Ol' Saint Nick visiting with youngsters. The town tree will be lit on Liberty Green during a 5 p.m. ceremony. And, of course, many of the downtown businesses will provide discounts and giveaways during the stroll hours of 3 to 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, on Saturday in Mystic River Park, Santa will arrive by tugboat at 2 p.m., and he'll listen to all the Christmas wishes from the younguns. Then, at 6 p.m., there will be the tree lighting at the park, followed by the holiday lighted boat parade.

Yes, Santa does a lot of arriving in late November. He'll do just that, via fire truck, at 6 p.m. Friday at Westerly's Dixon Square. And he'll greet kids from noon to 3 p.m. Friday at Olde Mistick Village. And he'll appear in Norwich for the Friday late-afternoon tree lighting at City Hall.

A lot, in fact, is going on in Norwich. The Light Up City Hall event happens from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday at City Hall plaza and around that downtown area. On Saturday, the Winterfest Parade steps off at 1 p.m., starting at Chelsea Parade and ending at Franklin Square and Main Street.

Rounding out the weekend on Sunday is the Ledyard Light Parade, beginning at 5 p.m. from Ledyard Center School. Expect, too, holiday carols around a bonfire and, of course, an appearance by Santa.

FRIDAY

Santa and Mrs. Claus — noon-3 p.m., Meeting House, Olde Mistick Village, Coogan Boulevard, Mystic; free; oldemistickvillage.com.

Light Up City Hall — 4:30-6 p.m., City Hall plaza, Norwich.

Santa’s Arrival — 6 p.m., Dixon Square, High and Broad streets, Westerly; if bad weather, event held at Westerly Armory; (401) 596-7761.

SATURDAY

Holiday Stroll — 3-7 p.m., downtown Niantic; free; discovereastlyme.com.

Tree Lighting and Holiday Lighted Boat Parade — 6 p.m., Mystic River Park, Cottrell and West Main streets, Mystic; parade begins 6:20 p.m.; Santa arrives by tugboat at 2 p.m.

Winterfest Parade — 1 p.m., leaves from Chelsea Parade, ends at Franklin Square and Main Street, Norwich.

SUNDAY

Ledyard Light Parade — 5 p.m., Ledyard Center School, 740 Colonel Ledyard Highway.