Celebrate the start of the Holiday Season in the Wildwoods with a Weekend of Festive Events for the whole family Dec. 4 and 5.

Enjoy two Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, a fun-filled holiday parade and free holiday movies and activities for the whole family during the Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration.

The festivities start on Dec. 4, when the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse hosts a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the lighthouse courtyard. Santa Claus will make a special appearance and refreshments will be available.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and is free.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is at First and Central avenues, North Wildwood.

The Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration starts with the Greater Wildwood Jaycees holiday parade on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.

Bring a blanket or chairs and some hot cocoa, and enjoy a festive holiday procession along the streets of the Wildwoods.

The parade steps off from 16th Avenue in North Wildwood and heads south along Central and Pacific avenues through the Holly Beach Station Mall to Heather Road in Wildwood Crest, then proceeds left onto Ocean Avenue, as the parade makes its way north ending at the Wildwoods Convention Center where the traditional tree-lighting ceremony will take place.

Afterwards, make your way inside the Convention Center for some holiday warmth as the Wildwoods Convention Center hosts an evening of family fun.

Parade line-up and registration will take place from 5:30-6:15 p.m. at the North Wildwood Recreation Center, located at 10th and Central avenues. There is no fee to submit an entry for the parade. Trophies will be awarded later in the evening at the holiday parade awards ceremony inside the Wildwoods Convention Center at 8 p.m.

Awards will be given in the following divisions: Community Service, Commercial, Marching Bands and Public Service. The rain date for the Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 6, with the parade starting an hour earlier, at 6 p.m. If the weather is uncertain, tune in to 98.7 ‘The Coast’ or visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com for more information.

Immediately following the Greater Wildwood Jaycees Holiday Parade, the fun continues at the Wildwoods Convention Center with a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

A shopping bazaar featuring holiday-themed crafters offering unique, one-of-a-kind gift items will begin at 6:30 p.m. After the tree lighting ceremony, head inside the Convention Center and warm up with free hot chocolate and cookies. The Christmas Parade awards ceremony will begin at 8 p.m.

On Dec. 5, the free Wildwoods Family Holiday Celebration continues at the Wildwoods Convention Center from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with a full day of shopping, crafts, face painting, local school children’s choruses and band performances, music, martial arts, gymnastics and cheer performances, a magician, free holiday movies with free popcorn provided; and, last but not least, a special visit from Santa Claus! The exciting and fun-filled entertainment schedule is as follows:

All Day: (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) Children’s Craft Making Table & Face Painters

All Day: (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) Shopping Bazaar, Holiday Movies & Fun Entertainers

10 a.m. - Performance by Villas Kum Sung Martial Arts School

10:30 a.m. - Performance by For Kids Only Preschool

11 a.m. - Performance by St. Ann’s Choir

11:30 a.m. - Performance by Margaret Mace Choir

12 p.m. - Santa Claus arrives!

12:30 p.m. - Magician Ken Northridge

1:30 p.m. - Performance by Glenwood Choir

2 p.m. - Performance by Wildwood Choir

2:30 p.m. - Performance by Avalon String Band

3:30 p.m. - Art of Gymnastics & Cheer

4 p.m. - Wildwood Catholic High School Chorus singing songs from “The Sound of Music”

Grab a seat and some free popcorn, and enjoy some of the most festive holiday films in one of three separate viewing rooms playing free holiday movie classics, The movie schedule is as follows:

Viewing Room 1

10:30 a.m. - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

11:30 a.m. - Frosty the Snowman

12:30 p.m. - Santa Claus is Coming to Town

1:30 p.m. - Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol

2:30 p.m. - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version)

3 p.m. - A Charlie Brown Christmas

3:30 p.m. - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Viewing Room 2

10:30 a.m. - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version – PG)

12:30 p.m. - Polar Express (G)

2:20 p.m. - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version – PG)

Viewing Room 3

10:30 a.m. - It’s a Wonderful Life

12:50 p.m. - Miracle on 34th Street

2:45 p.m. - Polar Express (G)

Don’t miss your chance to take part in a fun-filled free holiday weekend celebration.

Bring the entire family and create holiday memories that will last a lifetime.

This is one holiday event that should not be missed. For more information call 609-729-9000 or visit www.WildwoodHoliday.com.