If you are looking for some great holiday family activities this weekend, you're in luck. There are many great festivals with parades and holiday celebrations focusing on traditions. From a German Christmas to Hanukkah to life on the farm or celebrations from years gone, by there is so much to see and do around the Ann Arbor area this weekend. Take a look at just a few of these fun activities for mom, dad and the kids!

On Saturday there are two night-time parades celebrating hometown traditions. Each centers on the holidays, great entertainment and helping the community to remember to buy local. The Hometown Holiday weekend in Chelsea has plenty of activities for the entire family including a parade on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. The Hometown Holiday Light Parade processes down Main Street from the corner of Old US-12 to Clocktower Complex. To help the needy, those attending the parade are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to marching volunteers. There will be so much more to do in Chelsea throughout the weekend, too, so be sure to check it out.

Holiday parades are the perfect way to enjoy family time and local traditions.

File photo

The second great holiday parade on Saturday is Milan's Ole Fashioned Christmas Parade beginning at 6 p.m. Find plenty of great entertainment including school band, animals, costumes, the Christmas Parade queen, special vehicles, floats and much more. The parade is sure to bring smiles to young and old alike. The parade will march East down Main Street, ending at Santa's Headquarters' within the "Old Fire Barn" (chamber office). As a bonus, children can get a free photo with Santa! The lighting of the City Christmas Tree will take place across the street from Santa's Headquarters after the parade.

If your family is interested in different ways to celebrate, there are several traditional celebrations throughout the area that include Kindlefest on Friday, Dec. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. in Kerrytown and the traditions of a German Family Christmas at the Kempf House Museum on Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Families should also consider learning more about how life on the farm affected family holiday traditions by visiting Christmas on the Farm at the Waterloo Farm Museum. The special holiday re-creation of traditions will include tours of the 10-room farmhouse, the authentic log house, eight outbuildings and the one-room Dewey School. The event is on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 5 from noon to 4 p.m.

Even though it's several nights into Hanukkah, Barnes & Noble will also be hosting a Hanukkah party. This free event is geared for children ages 3 to 8 and will feature Hanukkah stories, games, songs and more! It would be a great way to introduce kids to something different or to just relax together and celebrate the Festival of Lights.

There are so many more activities and family events this weekend, from shopping locally to craft shows, visits with Santa and even many free craft projects, so be sure to check out the AnnArbor.com events calendar to see what this weekend and future weekends have in store!

Tammy Mayrend is a Ann Arbor search marketing professional and mother of two who blogs on low-cost local activities, events, and Ann Arbor area freebies for families at annarbormom.com.