It’s that time of year when you need to keep your reindeer on the ready, your sleigh bells polished, and plenty of marshmallows on hand for those extra cups of hot cocoa for all the holiday events planned this season. The secret is not to overload yourself with sugar cookies and eggnog to enjoy as many of these festive programs as possible.

• Parade of Trees, through Dec. 31, Spring Park in Green Cove Springs, dusk to 10 p.m. Walk through the park and see the 225 trees decorated by families, organizations and businesses.

• A Night of Wonders, Dec. 5-8, Dec. 12-23, Dec. 26-29, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Orange Park Mall parking lot near JCPenney. Enjoy ice skating, a live nativity, a vendor village, children-friendly live shows and entertainment, rides, a beer and wine garden, snow globe rentals, food and photo opportunities.

• Hometown Holiday at Clarke House Park, Dec. 6-7, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., 1039 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park. The Town of Orange Park and the Historical Society of Orange Park will provide an old-fashioned holiday celebration that features a shopping village, hay rides through a decorated trail of lights, live entertainment, Clarke House tours, photos with Santa and more.

• Christmas on Walnut Street and Christmas Parade, Dec. 7, featuring Hometown Hero Caeleb Dresel. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and will proceed between Governors Creek and Walnut Street. The night ends at Spring Park with the city’s Christmas tree lighting.

• The Historic Houses Christmas Tour, Dec. 7, presented by the Green Cove Springs Preservation Society in conjunction with the City’s Celebration of 150 Years, will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Tours start at 25 S. Palmetto St.

• Lightwire Theater: A Very Electric Christmas will be performed on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets, starting at $29, are available at the box office or thcenter.org.

• Concert on the Green’s Cocoa and Carols, Dec. 13, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. East Kingsley Road and River Road behind Moosehaven with free parking at Moosehaven and complimentary trolleys to the river where you can walk along River Road. Enjoy food trucks, vendors, and the sounds of the season while sipping cocoa with several Clay County students performing music on five stages of the holiday season.

• Journey to the Nativity, Dec. 13-15, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., River Christian Church, 5900 U.S. Highway 17, Fleming Island. Stroll through the live experience to see the story of Christ’s birth. The free guided walking tour through the nativity includes actors and live animals. When you return, enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, and fellowship at the campfire.

• Clay County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Luncheon, Dec. 13, at 11:30 a.m., at the Hilltop Club and Restaurant, 2030 Wells Road, Orange Park. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for J.P. Hall Children’s Charities.

• Whitey’s Lighted Boat Parade, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m., 2032 County Road 220, Fleming Island. Reserve a seat at Whitey’s or watch from the bridge or along the dock. Afterward, join the festivities inside and bid on the hundreds of auction items, raffles, food, drinks and live music to benefit the Safe Animal Shelter.

• Middleburg Christmas Parade and Festival, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 3829 Sgt. Bradley Crose Road (County Road 215). The route starts at Clay County Outdoor Adventure Park (shooting range) and will turn left onto CR 215 toward Camp Blanding for 1.5 miles. Then, the route will turn around and return to the gun range.

• Keystone Heights Christmas Parade, Dec. 14, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Keystone Beach/Geneva Jungle and along Lawrence Boulevard downtown.

• Christmas Market at the Clay County Fairgrounds, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pick from more than 80 vendors selling Christmas décor, candles, décor, jewelry, clothing, handmade goods and food trucks.

• Keystone Heights Christmas Market, Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Keystone Heights Historic Pavillion, 565, S. Lawrence Blvd. The city presents the market with festive shopping, food, crafts and holiday cheer.

• Woodcut Forever Gingerbread House Decorating, Dec. 14, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Art Room, 408 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs. Learn how to decorate a FAUX gingerbread house made of laser-cut wood.

• Oakleaf Christmas Parade, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Event includes vendors, food trucks and hot cocoa, all leading up to the 6:30 p.m. parade, which will start at the Oakleaf Baptist Church on Oakleaf Plantation Parkway, turn north on Plantation Oaks Boulevard and end at Oakleaf High.

• Community Christmas Dinner, Dec. 15, noon to 3 p.m., at Clay County Rescue Mission, 526 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park. See Santa Claus so children can enjoy music and dinner. For more information, contact Linda Hamilton at (904) 383-9596 or Amy Houston at (904) 501-4555.

• Free Santa Photos at Dalton’s Sports Bar and Grill on Dec. 16, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 2808 Henley Road, Lake Asbury.

• Christmas with the Celts, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets, which start at $29, are available at the box office or thcenter.org.

• Orange Park Firetruck Parade, Dec. 20, 6 p.m. The parade involves the town’s firetrucks and other emergency vehicles, all decked in festive lights. It starts from Town Hall, weaves through town streets and returns to the station.

• Christmas with Craig Seaton, Dec. 20, 12:30 p.m., Revels Senior Center, 604 Walnut St. in Green Cove Springs.

• Merry Melrose Christmas Parade, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Melrose Heritage Park, 201 State Road 26. Photos with Santa Claus are from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the flag-raising is at 5 p.m. The parade starts at 6 p.m. There will be gift vendors, free crafts for children and a history presentation.

• J.P. Hall Children’s Charities Christmas Party, Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to noon, Clay County Fairgrounds. The drive-through event will provide a bag of toys to every Clay County child, 14 and younger, in the car who’s in line by noon. Complimentary bicycles are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. More than 1,400 children received toys a year ago, and more than 700 bicycles were given away.

• Wehner’s Christmas Spectacular, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets, which start at $20, are available at the box office and thcenter.org.

• Holiday Cookie Decorating at the Art Room, Dec. 21, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Art Room, 408 Walnut St. in Green Cove Springs. Local cookie artist Katie Haymore will teach tricky techniques for flooding, filling and designing cookies using Royal icing. Cookies take a day to dry and harden. Bring a container to transport them home where they won’t be stacked.

• The Howlin’ Wolf Christmas Party, Dec. 21. 7 p.m., The Howlin’ Wolf, 1701 State Road 100, Melrose. Bring your favorite appetizer and wear your most festive attire.

• Mission of the Dirt Road Christmas Party, Dec. 24, 11 a.m., 7790 State Road 110, Keystone Heights. Food, games and gifts for everyone.