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Weekend Planner: It All Leads Up to the Big Parade

It's a busy three days with the Kris Kringle Market, Santa at the museum and the Hometown Christmas Parade.

Posted Thu, Dec 1, 2011 at 4:16 am ET|Updated Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 3:18 am ET

The weekend is here! All week we have helped you count down to the weekend. Here is a recap:

Where/When: The parade begins at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads. It travels south through downtown Rochester to Third Street.
Cost: Free.
Why go: The popular Christmas parade is celebrating 60 years with a fitting theme: "Six Decades of Christmas Joy." The parade is one of the largest in the state and features floats, bands, dancers — and Santa. Rochester Patch will be bringing you stories of the parade all week long (and how fitting that we'll actually be a part of the parade this year).

Where/When: The streets of downtown Rochester, today from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday from 12-9 p.m.
Cost: Free to browse.
Why go: The Kris Kringle Market is back: this European style open-air market will feature fresh greens & wreaths, handcrafted gifts and specialty foods and entertainment.

Where/When: , Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets: Available at the event.
Cost: $4 for museum members; $7 for nonmembers. Adults are free with a paid child.
Why go: Start your visit at the Dairy Barn and check in to await the wagon that will take you to the farmhouse to talk with Santa and Mrs. Claus. After your visit with Santa, you will enjoy cookies freshly baked in the 1930s oven. The wagon will transport you back to the Dairy Barn to view the museum's holiday exhibit on the Rochester Christmas Parade.

Where/When: , today, Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.
Tickets: Available for purchase at the door.
Cost: Adults $20, OU Staff $12, OU students $5, children 17 and under $5, children 2 and under are free.
Why go: Meadow Brook Hall will host its 40th annual Holiday Walk. You can take a self-guided tour around this beautifully decorated estate. Knole Cottage will also be available to tour, which is new this year. Kids can decorate a cookie in the Courtyard Room.

And because we know that you like options, here are a few more:

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