These are busy days for Kris Kringle in Cloquet, but at least he should feel at home with all the snow turning Carlton County into a winter wonderland.

Cloquet's Santa's Home for the Holidays festivities kicked off Wednesday with a little Elf Bingo and a free chili feed courtesy of the Cloquet and Fond du Lac police departments.

Thursday saw both stories with Santa at Dunlap Island and visits with Santa at the Pine Knot News office, as detailed in last week's Pine Knot News.

Today, Friday, Dec. 6 there's more fun and free photos with Santa, along with children's holiday music, crafts and dinner at Queen of Peace Church 4:30 to 7 p.m.

But the biggest day for Santa - and everyone else who wants to have some winter fun - is Saturday in Cloquet.

Saturday's Santa's Home for the Holidays schedule goes like this:

• 8:30-10:30 a.m. Pancake breakfast at Churchill Elementary, sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 171. Adults $5, children $3.

• 1-4 p.m. Decorate a Christmas cookie at Cloquet Ford Chrysler, watch a magic show and then take a hayride around town and head to MCCU for more fun, or vice versa.

• 1-4 p.m. Members Cooperative Credit Union will host live reindeer 2-4 p.m., visits with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, face-painting by Maura, cookies, hot dogs and the hayride.

• 3-6 p.m. Nelson Funeral Care will make kids' IDs; or just stop in for hot chocolate and cookies.

• 4 p.m. Warm up and make a s'more around a Cloquet Area Fire District fire pit before the parade.

• 5 p.m. Santa's Home for the Holidays parade starts down Cloquet Avenue from 18th to Eighth Street, followed immediately by fireworks launched from Veterans Park. No need to move from your parade spot to enjoy.

• Following the parade: The folks at Common Ground coffee shop will have free hot chocolate and live Christmas music with headliner Chris Sligh, a former Top 10 singer on American Idol, and other Christian music artists who will also perform original music. Admission: by freewill offering.

• 7 p.m. Alumni Hockey Game between Lumberjacks and Greyhounds alumni at Northwoods Credit Union Arena. Students, wear hockey gear and get in free.