As many in the community look forward to the Thanksgiving feast, Whidbey Island is preparing for a wide variety of Christmas events this December.

Here is a list of activities happening on The Rock this holiday season.

North Whidbey

From 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, Barrington’s Irish Bar & Grill welcomes people to take a seat, enjoy some food and drinks and have fun painting some winter trees, no matter how skilled or unskilled you are. The Paint ‘n Sip event will also include aprons, easels, a canvas, instructions and a lot of encouragement.

From 2 to 3 on Thursday, Dec. 5, the Slapdash Puppet Company presents Welcome to the Jingle!, featuring two professional puppeteers who will entertain families and audiences of all ages with stories at the Oak Harbor Library.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the day will start with a Teddy Bear Breakfast at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge. Seating starts at 10 a.m., and the event will include photo opportunities with Santa Claus and his helpers, live entertainment by Magician JR Russell, raffles and a teddy bear parade. Guests are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal that will be donated to children in a crisis situation with the help of local emergency services. Tickets cost $5 for children aged 12 and under and $15 for anyone aged 13 and older.

The Christmas Concert, brought by folk-pop duo Handsome and Gretyl, will warm spirits on the Whidbey Playhouse’s stage. The concert will include an opening act performed by Beth Whitney at will take place at 2:30 and at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at 730 Southeast Midway Boulevard in Oak Harbor. Tickets cost $15 and can be found at whidbeyplayhouse.com.

The Santa Parade and Tree Lighting event will take place at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in historic downtown Oak Harbor and is presented by the Oak Harbor Main Street Association.

The Oak Harbor Yacht Club’s annual Lighted Boat Parade will leave the Oak Harbor Marina between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 7 and head to Penn Cove. Community members can enjoy the show from Flintstone Park in Oak Harbor or from the Coupeville Wharf.

Adults over the age of 21 can attend the third annual Mingle with Kringle at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge on Dec. 7. The event, hosted by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County, runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, dancing, a silent auction and a costume contest. Guests are encouraged to wear casual, cocktail or holiday attire. Tickets cost $25 ad can be purchased at bbbsislandcounty.org/events.

Ace Hardware in Oak Harbor will host Holiday Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, Dec. 7, featuring big green egg samples, soup tasting, hot cider, cookies, discounts and more. For updates on time, visit Oak Harbor Ace on Facebook. The store is located at 150 Southeast Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor.

On Dec. 12-22, the Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor presents A Christmas Carol. The story by Charles Dickens and adapted by Stan Thomas will be shown at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For more details visit whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Aspiring architects and builders who can keep their sweet cravings at bay can build graham cracker houses at the Oak Harbor Library’s Build Your Own Gingerbread House event. From 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 14, kids and caregivers can join the fun for free, with supplies offered by the library.

The fourth annual Holiday Toy Drive will take place Saturday, Dec. 14 from noon to 3 p.m. at 1250 Southwest Erie Street in Oak Harbor. Visitors are invited to bring new toys, games and clothes that will be donated to children in need. The event will feature Anania Asphalt & Site Work’s trucks, raffles, hot dogs, hot chocolate and other family-friendly activities.

Children and adults with special needs will get a chance to meet Santa at an upcoming sensory-friendly Holiday Party that will include potluck and arts and crafts. The event, hosted by the Island County Parent to Parent, takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at The Center, located at 51 Southeast Jerome Street in Oak Harbor. For more information, call 360-632-7539.

At 5 p.m. on Dec. 14, Santa will fly to the North Whidbey Fire and Rescue station to attend the North Pole with Santa event, which runs until 7 at 2720 Heller Street in Oak Harbor. The party is free to all and will include music, snacks, hot cocoa, a food drive and an opportunity to donate a toy to Toys for Tots.

The Ballet Slipper Conservatory presents The Nutcracker at 2 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Oak Harbor High School, located at 1 Wildcat Way in Oak Harbor. For more information, call 360-929-5828.

At 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, Barrington’s Irish Bar and Grill invites crafters of all skill levels to a sea glass art event in partnership with Nauti Mermaid Designs. Participants can build a Christmas tree, a gnome-Christmas tree or an angel-Christmas tree, with all materials and instructions provided on site. The workshop costs $60 and tickets can be found by searching Nauti Sea Glass Tree on eventbrite.com. For more information, contact nautimermaiddesigns@outlook.com.

Central Whidbey

On Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7 and 8, the Holiday Markets and Farm Lights Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Greenbank Farm. Explore a variety of local artisans while sipping a warm drink and enjoy the Christmas decorations at the farm. The tree lighting will take place Saturday, Nov. 30, when Santa is scheduled to visit.

The Greening of Coupeville Parade is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. The traditional Christmas parade, featuring Santa and holiday floats, starts at First and North Main Street, and culminates at the library. After the parade, enjoy the lighting of the tree and Christmas carols at Cooks Corner Park. Weather permitting, visitors can catch the Oak Harbor Christmas Boat Parade of Lights from the Coupeville Wharf.

The Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation, also known as WAIF, is bringing its own Christmas patron, “Santa Claws.” From noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 7, pet owners can bring their own fluffy critters for a photo with Santa Claws, which will be sent digitally. The Pet Photos with Santa Claws cost $10 and can be bought at the event.

At 2 p.m. on Dec. 7, Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra and students from local schools will perform traditional carols, holiday classics and many surprises. A Very Merry Whidbey Christmas will take place at the Coupeville High School Commons. Community members feeling generous can donate a new and unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots donation box at the event.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and military and free for students 17 and under. For online tickets and more information visit sowhidbey.com or call 360-929-3045.

South Whidbey

Starting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 1, the Freeland Chamber of Commerce invites community members to the Holiday Fun & Tree Lighting at the corner of Harbor and Main in Freeland. Visitors can witness the lighting of the tree and have fun with kid activities, meet Elsa and Olaf from Disney’s “Frozen” and Mr. and Mrs. Claus, sway to some caroling while enjoying some free hot cocoa and checking out the vendors.

Need a Christmas wreath? At Hierophant Meadery you can learn to make your own. The Holiday Fresh Wreath Workshop takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5586 Double Bluff Road in Freeland.

Langley finds its “inner elf” as the town presents its annual Holly Jolly Parade, 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 7. Afterwards, shop and stroll and enjoy the unique flavor of this seaside town. Musicians, service and youth groups, pets, families and floats will march up and down First and Second streets. Participating stores will be open late.

The Holly Jolly extravaganza is followed by the Holiday Whobilee, which takes place noon to 3 p.m. at the Whidbey Island Fairgrounds, 819 Camano Avenue in Langley. The Whobilee is a free event inspired by Dr. Seuss’ whimsical world.

Enjoy a holiday lights display while catching a glimpse of Santa Claus from the warmth of your car at an event hosted by South Whidbey Fire/EMS. From 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 5-6 and 5-8:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Santa’s Sleigh, a drive-thru experience at the 5579 Bayview Road fire station, will be in full swing. Follow the bright Christmas lights to where the big jolly red guy sits on his sleigh. The fire district’s annual event is a reversal of the old days, when Santa used to visit different neighborhoods. Now he’s in one place, and instead of him driving around, cars can drive around him.

Donations for Good Cheer Food Bank and Toys for Tots are welcomed during the event. Kids will receive a goody bag of fire safety items.

Still on Dec. 7, families can catch a showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 2 p.m. at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, located at 565 Camano Avenue in Langley. The Muppet Christmas Carol will start 2 p.m. on Dec. 14. Standard tickets are $15 and WICA Star tickets are $25. Kids 18 and under enter for free.

Later on Dec. 7, they can stroll the streets of the Village by the Sea and take in the local art scene. Langley’s First Saturday Art Walk runs 5-7 p.m. in the downtown core.

The Whidbey Island Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker in the South Whidbey High School Auditorium, located at 5675 Maxwelton Road. Come experience the magic with this traditional holiday ballet with a South Whidbey twist. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22.

From 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 14, the Whidbey Island Music Festival presents A Celtic Christmas with the Beggar Boys at St. Augustine’s in the Woods Episcopal Church at 5217 Honeymoon Bay Road in Freeland. The Beggar Boys bring traditional Christmas music from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to the Pacific Northwest.

From 4 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 14, Critters and Co. will transform into a winter wonderland, where pets can pose with Santa for a professional photo. The third annual Christmas Party will feature s’mores by the fire, hot dogs, raffle baskets, music and a food drive for Queen-Bee Pantry. Critters and Co. Pet Center and Rescue is located at 11042 WA-525 in Clinton.

From 10 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 21 at the Freeland Library, crafters aged 5 and older can learn to build different types of lanterns to light up the shortest and darkest day of the year. The Lantern Lights for the Winter Solstice is free to all participants.