ROCKLAND — Now that we’ve all had time to digest our Thanksgiving feasts, it’s time to kick off the holidays in style and Rockland is the place to be this weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

The annual Festival of Lights officially begins at noon, when Santa Claus arrives at the Rockland Waterfront via Coast Guard boat. He lands at Middle Pier in Buoy Park, where kids and kids-at-heart will surely be gathered to greet him.

Santa will lead the parade of kids up to his workshop in Mildred Merrill Park, near the Lobster Trap Tree, where he will spend time listening to children’s wishes for Christmas. Santa will be holding court in his workshop until 3 p.m. Friday, returning from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. He might also get out and stretch his legs a little, so be sure and watch for him on Main Street this weekend.

Friday night at 6 p.m. Santa will be delivered to the Lobster Trap Tree for its lighting, and he hopes to share cocoa and cookies with the kids that join in the festivities.

Saturday the Festival of Lights continues, with shops displaying gingerbread houses in their storefront windows. The Farnsworth Art Museum will host family activities and music from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while a horse-drawn wagon will be providing rides downtown.

Bundle up and head back downtown after dinner, or enjoy dinner at a downtown restaurant, because the annual Festival of Lights Parade starts at 6 p.m. Word has it that the best viewing of the parade down Main Street will be between Park and Summer streets.

Main Street will be closed to traffic until 8 p.m. Saturday. There will be cocoa stations set up along the parade route to ward off the chills, with proceeds benefiting various local nonprofits. There will not be a bonfire this year at the end of the parade. Instead, the parade floats will return to Main Street, where voting on favorites will again be conducted by canned good tally. The donated food will go to the Salvation Army.

Sunday will be the final day of the Festival of Lights, and its a chance to have breakfast with Santa at the Tradewinds Chowder House. Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for children, and is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

The full schedule, courtesy Rockland Main Street Inc., follows:

Friday, Nov. 29

Noon — Santa Claus arrives by Coast Guard boat at Buoy Park/Middle Pier and Santa parades to his workshop in Mildred Merrill Park near the Lobster Trap Tree.

12:30-3 p.m. — Santa is at his workshop in Mildred Merrill Park (top of the hill in Harbor Park near the Lobster Trap Tree).

12:30-3 p.m. — Horse-drawn wagon rides, pick up near Rustica across from Planet Toys for a ride around downtown.

6 p.m. — Lobster Trap Tree lighting. Santa arrives by trolley to light the tree and greet the kids.

Saturday, Nov. 30

All day — Gingerbread gazing on Main Street. Look for gingerbread houses in the shop windows, stroll Main Street, shop and dine and enjoy the festive decorated windows and lights.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Share the Wonder at the Farnsworth Art Museum: Family activities and music

Noon-3 p.m. — Santa is at his workshop greeting kids or strolling Main Street.

1-3 p.m. — Horse-drawn wagon rides, pick up near Rustica across from Planet Toys for a ride around downtown.

6-8 p.m. — Festival of Lights Parade. Floats return to Main Street. Vote for your favorite by placing canned goods on the float for the Salvation Army.

Sunday, Dec. 1

8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Festive family breakfast with Santa Claus, $2 kids, $5 adults at the Chowder House at The Tradewinds.

For a rundown of holiday events, shows and more, visit PenBayPilot’s Ringing in the Holidays promotion page, which includes a continuously updated list of events through New Year’s Eve and pages with special offers and holiday information from Affiliates and advertisers.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.