Govee's smart string light upgrades are among the best, with several design changes we particularly like. These lights -- which have Matter support and work with Google Home or Alexa -- ditch the hanging bulbs for a string light design, making them a whole lot easier to place in a holiday tree, wrap around a wreath and so on.

A Saturday event, including 'Shop Local,' the parade leaves Branford High School at 6:30 ends at Town Green for the holiday tree lighting.

The first of three tree-lighting events will kick off the holiday season in The Villages. The Christmas celebration will begin Saturday at Lake Sumter Landing. The tree will be lit at about 8 p.m. that night. There will be plenty of entertainment leading up to the tree lighting as the Live Effect Band will be performing on the pavilion.

Locals in the know jockeyed for spots at the center’s Town Center Park in front of the Westin Hotel South Coast Plaza Thursday, in a countdown to a 43rd annual holiday tradition at the Costa Mesa retail complex.