The 2016 holiday season is full of festivities in and around the Greater Houston area. Whether you’re looking for an event that celebrates Christmas with German traditions or want to view Santa’s Wonderland by horse and carriage, there are plenty of activities to take part in during December.

Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival
Dec. 9-11
The annual “Weihnachtsmarkt, Texas Style” combines German traditions with holiday festivities. The weekend will include live entertainment on four different stages, more than 175 street vendors selling souvenirs, crafts and antiques, a petting zoo and street performers. Traditional German food and beverages will be available in addition to festival favorites, and Kinderfest will host children’s activities. Festival admission, parking and shuttle service are free. 6-10 p.m. (Dec. 9), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Dec. 10), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Dec. 11). Free. Old Town Tomball, 201 S. Elm St., Tomball. 281-379-6844. www.tomballgermanfest.org

WinterFest at Typhoon Texas
Nov. 25-Dec. 31
This inaugural holiday event takes place inside Texas’ newest water park and includes The Miracle of Christmas 4D Show, train rides, a giant slide, petting zoo, pony and hay rides, ice skating and admission to Santa’s workshop. Typhoon Texas Waterpark season passes are not valid for admission to WinterFest, and the park will be closed on Christmas. 6-9:30 p.m. (Sun.-Thu.), 6 p.m.-midnight (Fri.-Sat.). $24.95 (adults), $19.95 (ages 3-12), free (ages 2 and younger). Typhoon Texas, 555 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy. 832-426-7071. www.typhoontexas.com/winterfest

Santa’s Wonderland: A Texas Christmas Experience
Nov. 11-Jan. 1
This Texas tradition features a spectacle of millions of lights that can be seen by hayride tour or horse and carriage, shopping, photos with Santa Claus, train rides, a mechanical bull, petting zoo and pony rides. Santa’s Wonderland also has snow machines, an outdoor movie screen, and hosts live music nightly. There are also four different “Cocoa for a Cause” events benefiting various organizations throughout December. 6-11 p.m. (Mon.-Thu.), 6 p.m.-midnight (Fri.), 3 p.m.-midnight (Sat.), 3-11 p.m. (Sun.). $19.95-$37.95 (Santa’s hayride tours), $37.95-$47.95 (horse and carriage tours). 18898 Hwy. 6 S., College Station. 979-690-7212. www.santas-wonderland.com

Jingle on the Boardwalk
Dec. 2-24
The Kemah Boardwalk tradition takes place every weekend in December and includes live holiday music, holiday movies, a toy drive, snow patch, Santa’s Workshop and photos with Santa Claus. The Christmas Boat Lane Parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10, and a New Year’s Eve family celebration will feature fireworks and live entertainment. noon-7 p.m. (Mon.-Thu.), noon-9 p.m. (Fri.), 10:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. (Sat.), 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (Sun.). $18.99-$24.99 (all day ride pass). Kemah Boardwalk, 215 Kipp Ave., Kemah. 281-535-8100. www.kemahboardwalk.com/landing/jingle-on-the-boardwalk

Festival of Lights
Nov. 12-Jan. 8
The 15th annual Moody Gardens tradition features more than 1 million lights—including 100 sound-enhanced animated displays—an outdoor ice skating rink, Arctic slide, train rides, photos with Santa Claus and nightly live entertainment. Festival admission includes ice skating admission, and the festival is free for children 3 years old and younger. 6-10 p.m. $10.95. Moody Gardens, One Hope Blvd., Galveston. 1-800-582-4673. www.moodygardens/festivaloflights