“It’s a good time to be in Suffolk.”

Never is that sentiment more true than during December, when Christmas trees and Santa Claus, nativity scenes and candy canes help set the appropriate festive Christmas tone.

And this is a big weekend for folks who love Christmas with all the fixin’s.

On Saturday, two wreath-laying events will be held to honor veterans. The Horton Wreath Society will hold its event beginning at 9 a.m. at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road. Wreaths will be laid from 9 to 9:30; light refreshments, coffee and hot cocoa will be available until 11:30; and a Wreaths Across America ceremony will be held by the Civil Air Patrol at noon. A wreath-laying ceremony sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery at noon that day.

The big event on Saturday will be the Suffolk Holiday Parade, which traditionally celebrates the upcoming Christmas holiday. This year’s theme is “Magic on Main Street,” and this will be the third year in a row the event has been held at night, so expect to see lots of glittering lights on the floats and other parade entries. There will be floats, equestrian units, marching bands and festive vehicles heading down West Washington Street, along North Main Street and ending on Prentis Street. Arrive early for the best viewing positions.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will hold Ballet Virginia’s popular “The Nutcracker” at 3 p.m., with the Sugar Plum Tea preceding at 1:30 p.m. Guests at the Sugar Plum Tea will get the chance to taste sweets, meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and dancers from the ballet, and make a craft. Visit www.suffolkcenter.org for tickets or more information.

And on Sunday, the Suffolk Division of Tourism will host its holiday artisan craft fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Center Pavilion. Music and refreshments and complimentary crafts for children will be available, with Santa coming for photos from noon to 3 p.m. Gift-wrapping will be available, with proceeds benefiting the United Way.

And Santa Claus will be at the Visitor Center for photos on Sunday.

All in all, this weekend really will be a good time to be in Suffolk.