Finding your way to local parades, tree lightings and community fun.

Dover: The Holiday Parade strolls down Central Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. The event is hosted by St. Mary Academy, www.saintmaryacademy.org. The second annual Festival of Trees lights up on Friday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dover City Hall Auditorium, featuring 25 elaborately decorated Christmas Trees on display that will all be up for auction. The event will also offer raffle prizes, local choral performances and a special visit from Santa Claus. Proceeds benefit City Lights, the illumination of downtown trees throughout the holiday season.

Eliot: The Eliot Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted by the Community Service Department, will feature a visit from Santa along with hot chocolate, cookies, and a sing-along with the Marshwood High School Choir, Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Suggested donation is $1 per person or $5 per family.

Exeter: The holiday season starts with the Festival of Trees, with 50 decorated trees at Exeter Town Hall on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Then, illuminated floats, horse-drawn wagons, colorful marching bands, several beauty queens and yes, Santa Claus, travel together from Portsmouth Avenue to Water Street in the 54th annual Holiday Parade, themed “A Night of Lights,” Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m., www.exeterholidayparade.org.

Hampton: Gather by the gazebo to witness the Tree Lighting and enjoy the sounds of holiday carolers, take a hay ride with your crew, sample a sweet treat, and meet entertainers performing in the street, Friday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m., courtesy of the Hampton Recreation Department. The Hampton Holiday Parade takes place on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m., along Route 1.

Kittery: Walking units, marching bands, floats, antique cars, fire trucks, police cars, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Color Guard, church units and civic organizations, Boy and Girl Scouts, Little League members and school cheerleaders are all among the groups who have participated in the Kittery Holiday Parade. Hosted by Kiwanis Club of the Seacoast (www.seacoastkiwanis.com), the troupe steps off from Post Office Square Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. and continues to the Tree Lighting in John Paul Jones Park. This year’s theme is “A Season of Giving,” and canned goods will be collected at the tree lighting for distribution to food pantries.

Portsmouth: On Saturday, Dec. 3, the annual Tree Lighting in Market Square begins at 5 p.m. with holiday music performed by Portsmouth Middle School Band. Then, at 6 p.m., the Holiday Parade, themed “A Caring Christmas,” steps off from Plaza 800 on Islington Street and travels toward the parade reviewing stand in Market Square. Grand Marshals representing local food pantries will lead the parade of eight marching bands, 11 floats and more than 40 vehicles and walking units. Volunteers will push shopping carts along the parade route to collect food from parade-goers. Hosted by the city, www.cityofportsmouth.com or 603-610-7281.

Rochester: Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies and carolers at the Tree Lighting in Central Square on Friday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. “A Christmas Carol” Holiday Parade steps off Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m., from Spaulding High School through downtown Rochester to the Rochester Commons. The events are hosted by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, www.rochesternh.org.

Rye: Trophies go to the winning entries in the Rye Holiday Parade, Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m., along Washington Road from Webster at Rye to the junior high school. The event is hosted by the Rye Fire Department Association.

York: The Holiday Parade steps off down York Street to the Village Elementary School on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m., but the Festival of Lights runs all day with fairs, caroling, Santa Claus, Gingerbread Houses at York Public Library, church suppers and more. The season starts with the Lighting of the Nubble, Saturday, Nov. 26, with festivities running 5 to 7 p.m. (parking shuttle from Short Sands Beach runs 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.). The full schedule is at www.parksandrec.yorkmaine.org.