Santa Claus is coming to the Twin Cities this weekend in an evening parade from Auburn to Lewiston.

The Twin Cities Holiday Celebration and Parade of Lights will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. The parade will start on Elm Street in Auburn and stop at Festival Plaza on Main Street before heading to Kennedy Park in Lewiston.

The theme is Winter Wonderland, Jasmine McLoughlin of the Auburn Recreation Department said. The parade will include several walking groups and 26 floats by local businesses and organizations.

“It’s a pretty big parade,” McLoughlin said. Floats will be judged in several categories, including best business entry, best youth entry and best nonprofit entry.

On tap for the evening are pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Christmas tree and menorah lighting, float judging, entertainment, wagon rides, crafts and refreshments.

Center Street Dental is the main sponsor of the parade.

Elm, Spring and Main streets in Auburn, and several streets in Lewiston will be shut down for the parade.

The parade will stop at Festival Plaza in Auburn where Santa will light the tree after the crowd joins him in a countdown.

At Kennedy Park in Lewiston, the Christmas tree and menorah will be lit. Greetings will be given by several dignitaries, including Rabbi Sruli Dresdner of Temple Shalom.

Photos of children with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the gazebo will be provided free by Photo Finish.

During the festivities in both cities, the Auburn Business Association will hand out free mittens and gloves.

In Lewiston, refreshments will include coffee, hot chocolate and doughnut holes donated by Dunkin’ Donuts. In Auburn, the Auburn Business Association will provide free Dunkin’ Donuts treats.

From noon to 4 p.m. Lewiston and Auburn will observe Small Business Saturday, a national campaign to support small businesses the day after Black Friday.

“Most of the foot traffic begins at noon Saturday,” McLoughlin said.

Many businesses will have decorated storefronts and windows, and businesses and organizations will offer specials or have visiting on-site vendors. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Dance Center Interactive Family Dance Presentation with Ryan Morrill will be held at the Lewiston Public Library.

Wagon rides begin at 5 p.m. at Lewiston’s Kennedy Park.

“It’s a great, free community event to start the holidays,” McLoughlin said. “There are lots of things for families and kids. The photos with Santa are popular. It’s a great opportunity to get out.”

Her favorite part of the celebration is “the community aspect, seeing everyone out and about.”

There will be free parking in Lewiston garages Saturday.

The celebration is sponsored by the Lewiston Downtown Holiday Celebration Committee, Auburn Business Association and the Union of Maine Visual Artists-LA.

Other organizations helping or providing contributions are the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, The Hive, Wicked Illustrations, and welding and sheet metal students from Bob Steward’s class at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center and Temple Shalom.