Don’t let this festive season pass without gathering family and friends to share in the many holiday events offered around Oahu. Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite Christmas activities, many of them free. For complete details and more listings, see our special four-page Holiday Happenings guide.

1. DECORATED BOATS FLOAT ON PARADE

You don’t need a marina-front home to make the Hawaii Kai Festival of Lights Boat Parade a tradition, so round up the extended family and plot a game plan now for the Dec. 20, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. event. Many secure a spot along the waterfront — either with restaurant reservations or with cooler and picnic in tow — at Hawaii Kai Towne Center, where boat-judging festivities are held, or at the Koko Marina or Hawaii Kai shopping centers. Miniparks along the route have good views, too. Last year a caravan of 28 boats lit up the night. Past participants include an "Avatar"-themed boat with a blue Neytiri romping on a mast-high platform and a "007" entry complete with silhouetted go-go girls. Small-boat entries are a big part of the fun, with heart and soul poured into the decor and the crew hollering a hearty "Happy holidays" to those on shore. Visit www.hawaiikaimarina.com for more information. — Ruby Mata-Viti

2. BUILD AFFORDABLE EDIBLE HOUSING

No matter how lopsided or jumbled a gingerbread house turns out, it always looks perfect. For nearly 10 years my family has crafted our annual candy-coated creation at the Gingerbread Family Fun Festival. Sure, you can pick up a kit for about $20 at the grocery store, but the real fun of the festival is seeing the infinite possibilities that all originate from the same kit. We always bring a stash of leftover Halloween candy to give it extra pizazz and buy some gingerbread men ahead of time to populate our house and satisfy our urge to consume our masterpiece.

Each kit costs $39 and includes gingerbread pieces, frosting, candy and a decorative cellophane bag to carry your house home. Reserve your kit by calling 888-295-2626 or go to www.gingerbreadhawaii. com. There are two seatings, 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Dec. 14 at Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall. Proceeds benefit Easter Seals Hawaii. — Donica Kane­shiro

3. FIND PERFECT TREE AT WAHIAWA FARM

We might not have wintry weather, but we can still search for the perfect Christmas tree at Hele­mano Farms. Once you choose a Norfolk pine or Leyland cypress, farm workers cut it down for you. Since they don’t pull the tree from the ground or chop it at ground level, it’s a good feeling to know the stumps will continue to grow.

Prices start at $45. The farm, at the end of Whitmore Village in Wahiawa, is open noon to sunset Wednesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to sunset weekends. Visit www.hele­mano­farms.com. — Nancy Arcayna

4. WAIKELE FAMILIES LIGHT THE NIGHT

If you love Christmas lights, you ain’t seen nothin’ if you ain’t been to Ana­pau Place in Wai­kele, where festive neighbors pre­sent a light show synchronized to holiday music. It all started with the Yoshida house at 94-226, where mastermind Keith Yoshida began the tradition. Slowly but surely, his neighbors found the joy of synchronization, and this year nine homes on the cul-de-sac will be blinking in time to more than a dozen holiday songs (plus "Let It Go," from the movie "Frozen"). Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. weekdays and until 11 p.m. weekends. As it gets closer to the holidays, hours will extend to 11 p.m. nightly. For a preview, search YouTube for "Wai­kele Christmas Lights." — Joleen Oshiro

5. PHOTOS BRING PET INTO FESTIVITIES

Making a trip to the Hawaiian Humane Society to take a "Santa Paws" photo has become our annual family tradition. It’s a way of commemorating that magical day, five years ago, when we adopted Kona, a mostly Springer spaniel, at the shelter. Since those early times of chewed-out window screens and other escapades, she’s grown into a loving and protective family member with a penchant for people food.

For a $30 donation ($25 in advance), your pet or the whole family can pose for a portrait with Santa. A professional photographer takes the photos and hands you an electronic copy on a disc, ideal for making holiday cards. Photo sessions are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 7 at the Hawaiian Humane Society, 2700 Wai­alae Ave. Call 356-2225 or email events@hawaiianhumane.org for more information. — Nina Wu

6. FAIRY-TALE VILLAGE CENTERS ON CASTLE

While enjoying a holiday dinner in Wai­kiki, I always drag whomever I’m with to Sheraton Princess Kaiu­lani Hotel’s gingerbread village by executive chef Ralf Bauer and his team. This year, Bauer, pantry chef Amie Tungpalan, executive sous-chef John Hightower and the hotel’s engineering department are paying tribute to Neusch­wan­stein Castle in Germany, making it the focal piece of their "From Hawaii to the World, a Fairytale Christmas" display. Bauer’s edible version of the 19th-century castle will be 10 feet long and over 6 feet tall. Altogether, more than 140 pounds of dark chocolate, 80 pounds of white chocolate, 300 pounds of icing and 80 sheets of gingerbread will be used to build the entire display, which can be seen through the first week of January in the main lobby near the Pikake Terrace Restaurant.

I can’t wait to see Bauer’s masterpiece. — Michelle Ramos

7. TAKE IN LIGHTS ON TROLLEY TOUR

Once the annual Hono­lulu City Lights display opens Saturday, you’ll see people checking out the action via all modes of transport. Some like to walk the route on South King Street at Honolulu Hale and the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center grounds to get an up-close look at the festive displays. Others jump onto their bicycles or into their cars to cruise along and admire everything from a distance.

Me? I prefer to let someone else do the driving. Ward Village’s Hono­lulu City Lights trolley tours are convenient, with plenty of free parking just a short distance away from the designated pickup/drop-off point near Pictures Plus at Ward Warehouse. Tickets are $6.50 per person and are available only online; visit www.wardcenters.com/events.

You can even make a night of it — grab dinner at Ward Village followed by a trolley ride, or plan a Saturday night around 7 p.m. concerts by John Cruz (Saturday), The Green (Dec. 13) or Kuana Torres Kahele (Dec. 20) at the Ward Warehouse amphitheater stage. — Jason Genegabus

8. HELP ART SCHOOL THROUGH SALE

Students and artists from the Hono­lulu Museum of Art School offer up their works each year for a holiday sale to benefit the school. It’s a great chance to get an eyeful of beautiful works by local artists and to snap up holiday gifts at prices ranging from $5 to $200. Look for jewelry from the metals studio; glass sculptures, plates, containers and jewelry; baskets and weavings from the textile studio; and ceramic sculptures, plates, sake cups, ikebana containers, vases and beads.

Vince Hazen, director of the Hono­lulu Museum of Art School, says the sale is not just about buying gifts. "It’s a good way for collectors with small budgets to find meaningful pieces," he said.

Money made supports the school’s art classes, free outreach programs and summer art camps. The sale runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Dec. 7 at the Art School, 1111 Victoria St. — Elizabeth Kiesz­kowski

9. A NEW KIND OF ‘WONDERFUL’

It’s hard to believe that Frank Capra’s "It’s a Wonderful Life" bombed when it premiered in 1946. I remember first viewing this now-beloved Christmas classic on late-night TV while baby-sitting, way back in the day, and I make a point of watching it every holiday season. Zuzu’s petals, Clarence the bumbling guardian angel, George Bailey’s joyous romp through Bedford Falls ("Merry Christmas you wonderful old Building and Loan!") and the tear-jerking finale leave a lasting impression of warmth and optimism. Only while in the midst of watching Jimmy Stewart’s shattering performance as a desperate man driven to suicide do you realize how dark and terrifying the story really is, and how its themes of dreams abandoned and economic predation still ring true today.

"It’s a Wonderful Life" will air on NBC on Dec. 6 and 24, but experience it anew at Manoa Valley Theatre’s "live radio play" — based on a 1940s broadcast — Dec. 11-14. Tickets are $10-$20; call 988-6131 or purchase online at manoavalleytheatre.com. — Christie Wilson

10. GET THE HOLIDAYS CRACKIN’ AT BALLET

Although going to see "The Nutcracker" was not part of my childhood Christmas routine, Ballet Hawaii’s annual staging of Tchaikovsky’s best-known ballet is something I look forward to each year. The production is Hawaii’s biggest and most elaborate, with spectacular sets and principal dancers from some of the biggest national companies who perform to the music of a live orchestra rather than recorded music tracks.

This year’s "Nutcracker" — Dec. 19-21 at Blaisdell Concert Hall — will certainly be another marvelous experience. Margaret Severin-Hansen is dancing the roles of Snow Queen and Dew Drop, with Gabor Kapin as the Snow King and Jared Angle as the Cavalier. Hawaii favorite Joa­chin De Luz is returning to dance the role of the mechanical soldier, and Timour Bour­ta­sen­kov is back to play Clara’s father and the Spanish dancer. From Australia, Steven Heathcote will reprise his portrayal of the mysterious Drosselmeyer. And watch for Hawaii resident Derek Daniels as the giant Mother Ginger and the ill-fated Rat King. Tickets are $35 to $99 at www.ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. — John Berger

11. GO SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES

One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is swing by Hono­lulu Hale to see all the creatively decorated trees on display in the courtyard. Every year, the various city departments try to outdo each other in a good-natured competition — though bragging rights are not to be denied.

Last year’s theme was anime, with a gigantic Pikachu made out of recyclable materials taking the top prize. This year it’s "Enchanted Forest," so you’re likely to find fairies, pixies, elves and unicorns hiding among the trees. Twenty-three departments are participating, according to Sheri Kaji­wara, director of the Department of Customer Services.

The tree display opens to the public during Saturday’s Hono­lulu City Lights kickoff and will remain on display through New Year’s. — Stefanie Naka­sone

12. SYMPHONY SOUNDS JOY OF THE SEASON

For a rousing good time, and a universally recognized expression of the spirit of the holiday season, there’s nothing like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor. From the opening fanfare to the famously uplifting "Ode to Joy" that ends the work an hour later, the piece contains more familiar musical quotes than an episode of "Frazier" has of Shakespeare, but it’s nice to hear them in the context of the entire work.

A performance of the work was a holiday tradition of the old Hono­lulu Symphony that has been adopted by its successor, the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra. Artistic director JoAnn Falletta will conduct this year’s Dec. 28 and 30 performances at Blaisdell Concert Hall, with guest vocalists Rachel Schutz, soprano; Maya Hoover, mezzo-soprano; Kaweo Kanoho, tenor; Timothy Jones, bass-baritone; and the mighty Hono­lulu Choral Society. Also on the program are selections from Wagner’s "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg." Tickets are $32-$90; visit hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org or call 946-8742. — Steven Mark