They haven't all been around long enough to earn real "tradition" status, but this weekend brings several of Durham's holiday-season opening rituals.

For the second year in a row, the Bull City's holiday parade comes in the "mini-" variety Saturday, along with a downtown festival sponsored by the city. That follows the American Tobacco Tower Lighting from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday when strings of colored lights running up and down its Lucky Strike tower are turned on. A ritual since 2005, the renovated factory complex lights up with acrobats and singers, and entries in a tree-decorating competition.

Three other observances this weekend have longer pedigrees.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Duke Homestead State Historic Site holds its "Christmas by Candlelight" open house at the Duke family's 1850 homeplace. A custom dating back at least to the early '90s, the candlelight tour is repeated Dec. 9. See bit.ly/vPhk5G

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the Historic Stagville State Historic Site holds its ninth annual "Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters" period piece, reenacting an 18th-century holiday at the Bennehan plantation home and an 1850s celebration at the Horton Grove slave village. See bit.ly/ctw2Lf.

And for anyone dreaming of a full-fledged parade, the Parkwood neighborhood has been holding one since the late 1990s. The 2011 renewal begins at 2 p.m. Sunday on Pelham, Sedwick and Revere roads.

Downtown

Last year's was Durham's first Holiday Fun Fest, but it got a dusting of tradition - in the form of an unexpected snowfall. Forecasts indicate a repeat is unlikely this year, but the event is similar otherwise. There will be singers and dancers in the park from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, along with sledding on (presumably artificial) snow, a petting zoo, a tricycle race, a tent in which kids can exercise construction skills and a campfire singalong.

Meantime, up Foster Street at the "North Pole" (aka the Armory), Santa will meet-and-greet and craft vendors will vend, while "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" flicker on a movie screen.

For decades, Durham had a Christmas - later, "Holiday" - Parade of some description; in conjunction for several years "Light Up Durham" festival spread around downtown. Interest dwindled, however, and in 2010 city authorities replaced it with what was originally described as "a winterfest event." By December, it had been re-dubbed a "Fun Fest" and, for tradition's sake, included a parade for anyone who wanted to walk around in a celebratory procession.

This year, the mini-parade starts at 5 p.m. and proceeds from Corporation Street up to the Loop, turns right to Morris Street, and comes back down the hill to Corporation. For more , see bit.ly/uM5EVe.