This past weekend’s sunny weather helped to draw record crowds to Saturday’s Gloucester Citizens Christmas and Holiday Parade. Organizers of this weekend’s Mathews Christmas Parade are hoping that the good weather continues.

The parade in Mathews is expected to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, starting from Thomas Hunter Middle School to the Bank of America building. This year’s parade theme is “Ringing in the Christmas Season,” with prizes given for the best entry.

This weekend’s holiday celebration in Mathews begins on Friday afternoon, when Santa Claus will be visiting the Mathews Visitor and Information Center from 4-7 o’clock.

Parents are welcome to take their own photos of their children sitting on Santa’s lap while they read their Christmas lists to him. Holiday books will be given to the first 40 children to arrive and MCVIC will be open for shopping.

On Sunday, the Bayside Youth Ballet will present “The 12 Days of Christ...