One of the best new holiday traditions has been the advent of light parades. There's something wonderfully festive about the procession of vehicles bedecked with beams and bulbs and of people draped with blinking lights, all making their way through the dark evening.

So it'll be on Saturday when Groton stages its 14th annual Holiday Lights Parade. (The East Lyme Light Parade rolls on Dec. 9.)

Businesses, clubs, organizations, band members and community members step off at 5 p.m. and head down Route 1. The parade of decorated cars, trucks and floats ends at the Groton Shopping Plaza, where Santa Claus will light a tree on the green. He'll pose for photos with youngsters, too.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

Groton Holiday Lights Parade, 5 p.m. Saturday, along Route 1 and ending at the Groton Shopping Plaza; (860) 536-5680.