Santa Claus is coming to town. The jolly guy from up north will be making several area appearances, and many communities are holding family-friendly activities for the holiday season.

• BIDDEFORD — Heart of Biddeford is hosting a Holiday Festival and Holiday ArtWalk from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 1. Santa will arrive at city square at 5 p.m., followed by a tree lighting and music and dance performances. There will also be art work and shopping opportunities at local retail establishments from 5 to 8 p.m.
• KENNEBUNKPORT — Christmas Prelude will be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 with a host of activities. A tree lighting will be held at Dock Square at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. Saturday, Dec. 2, local merchants will be open with many Christmas shopping opportunities and the annual hat parade will be held downtown at 3 p.m.
• LIMERICK — Christmas in Limerick Village will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2. A Christmas parade will be held at noon with Santa at the fire house afterward and a tree lighting and caroling with cookies and hot chocolate will be held at 6 p.m. A craft fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., children’s activities will be held from 10 a.m. to  2 p.m. at the Brick Town Hall, where hayrides will take off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A blizzard bazaar and lunch will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Congregational Church. 
• OLD ORCHARD BEACH — OOB365 is hosting Christmas at the Beach at the American Legion Post #57, 14 Imperial St., from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. There will be a shopping area for children with items priced from 25 cents to $1. There will be crafter booths for parents. Children can have an instant picture taken with Santa. 
• OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce is hosting Celebration by the Sea  at 11 First St. from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. There will be a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, refreshments, face painting and a tree-lighting. 
• SACO — Saco Main Street is hosting the annual Holiday Festival and Parade of Lights downtown from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. Events will begin at the train station with a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will be crafts for children, s’mores, a trolly running down Main Street, horse drawn carriage rides, a live nativity, shopping, face painting and food. The evening kicks off with caroling and a tree lighting, followed by the Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m.
• SACO — Saco Museum, 371 Main St., is hosting the annual Festival of Trees through Dec. 30. Numerous decorated trees are on display. Santa will visit the museum from noon to 3 p.m. on Dec.  9.
• SANFORD — Holly Daze Parade is set for  5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1. Immediately following the parade, the city Christmas tree will be lit in Central Park. Santa will throw the switch to light the tree that is adorned by hundreds of LED lights. On Saturday, there will be horse-drawn wagon rides in the downtown area, activities including face painting and cookie decorating at the Trafton Center, and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Get Fired Up on Main Street. At 7 p.m. the Blue Note Big Band will be performing at St. Ignatius Parish Hall on Riverside Street.  

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].