While the winter holiday events season in the Sarasota area started all the way back in early November with Santa's Grand Arrival Parade at University Town Center, December is really when it kicks into full gear, with all this weekend's Top 5 events being holiday festivities.

Two of those events — a holiday parade, and a Christmas tree lighting that also serves as the latest edition of the free street party series Fresh Fridays — will take place right in the middle of downtown Sarasota.

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