The holiday season kicks off in earnest this weekend in both Madison and Killingworth, with events starting on Friday, Dec. 1 in both towns.

Madison

Madison’s annual Tree Lighting leads off the town’s celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 on the Madison Green. The town has arranged a special visit from Santa and Rudolph to help light the tree. Participants can also enjoy music by Larry Stevens and Van Manakas and hot chocolate provided by Troop 490 of Madison, which will also have wreaths available for sale. For more information, visit www.madisonct.org.

On Saturday, Dec. 2, North Madison Congregational Church hosts its Holiday Crafts Fair & Cookie Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 1271 Durham Road. Admission is free to see more than 40 artisans offering food, gifts, and more than 4,000 homemade cookies. For more information, call 203-421-3241.

Later that night, First Congregational Church of Madison hosts the Cappella Cantorum Masterworks Chorus Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. at the church, 26 Meeting House Lane. Christmas carols will be sung at the end. The cost is $30 at the door; free for students. For more information, call 860-526-1038 or visit www.cappellacantorum.org.

Madison’s annual Santa Visits and Holiday Celebration happens on Sunday, Dec. 3. Santa will arrive at Café Allegre at 2 p.m. via a horse-drawn wagon; he’ll take visitors on the café porch from 2 to 4 p.m. Many town organizations and downtown merchants will provide festive support: The Shoreline Chorale will perform live caroling, Madison Earth Care will provide free hayrides, R.J. Julia Booksellers will coordinate letters to Santa from 1 to 2 p.m., Madison Newcomers will run a cookie decorating station, and the E.C. Scranton Library will host gingerbread house displays, among other activities. For more information, visit www.madisonct.com.

The afternoon will be capped by the ABC annual Holiday Concert at 4:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 26 Meeting House Lane, Madison.

Killingworth

The Saint Lawrence Church, 7 Hemlock Drive, offers a full weekend of activities with the St. Lawrence Christmas Fair on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The fair features a silent auction, gifts and gift baskets, basket raffle, and evergreen decorations. On Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m., children can get their photo taken with Santa and there will be an antique fire engine. Food includes homemade pies, soup, hot dogs, pizza, meatball grinders, and more. For more information, contact 860-663-2576 or stlawrencec@yahoo.com, or visit www.stlawrencechurch.com.

On Saturday, Dec. 2 the Farmhouse at Parmelee Farm hosts the Historical Society Christmas Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the farm, 465 Route 81. For info, visit www.parmeleefarm.org.

There’s more at the farm: That afternoon, the Killingworth Chamber of Commerce brings Christmas at the Farm to the Parmelee Pavilion at Parmelee Farm from 3 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, email peg@killingworthct.com or visit www.killingworthct.com.