Christmas is only four weeks away, so it’s time to celebrate the season with pretty lights and visits from Santa Claus. The communities of South Portland and Scarborough both have family-friendly holiday festivals planned as follows:

• Holidayfest, Friday, Dec. 5, 4:30-7 p.m., Millcreek Park, South Portland. Enjoy pizza, hotdogs, popcorn and hot chocolate while listening to Christmas carols sung by the South Portland High School chorus. Take the kids to get their photo taken with Santa at City Hall or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park. The masters of ceremonies will be Erin Ovalle and Meghan Torjussen from Channel 8.

The event includes carriage rides

from 5-6:30 p.m.; Santa at City Hall

5:45-6:15 p.m.; and Christmas carols and tree lighting at

6 p.m. Holidayfest is free and open to the public. Call 767-7650 for more information.

• Tree Lighting and Santa in the Park, Saturday, Dec. 6, 5-6:30 p.m., Memorial Park, Scarborough. This event is sponsored by Community Services and includes a tree lighting, a visit from Santa, free hot chocolate, fire pits and a fireworks display. Attendees are also asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Project GRACE donation box.

The schedule is as follows: 5 p.m. wagon rides to the park from the high school parking lot; 5:15 p.m. the arrival of Santa by fire truck; 5:20 p.m. tree lighting; 5:25 p.m. personal meetings with Santa; and 6:30 p.m. fireworks.

This event is free and open to the public. Call 730-4150 for more information.