As the New Year approaches, holiday celebrations are taking place across Maui.

Every Friday through Sunday through Dec. 28, Whalers Village in Kaanapali is hosting Holiday Movies Under the Stars. The event features holiday favorites like “Elf,” “The Santa Clauses,” and other classics. It’s a unique way to celebrate the season — just like watching from your couch, but under the stars.

As Maui’s theater community continues to grow, the historic Iao Theater in Wailuku is welcoming audiences for its annual holiday performances.

The theater will present “Nutcracker Sweets” with showtimes at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at mauionstage.com at $25 for general admission and $20 for students under 18.

Mark your calendars for Dec. 16, when the infamous lights come alive at the Grand Wailea during its annual tree-lighting ceremony and holiday market.

The event will feature local vendors and holiday-themed festivities throughout the hotel entrance, along with the lit tree in the lobby. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with live entertainment, followed by the lighting around 7 p.m.

Next door at The Shops at Wailea, Max Angel will be hosting a free Christmas Eve concert, the Mele Kalikimaka Show. A ukulele musician and entertainer since the age of 9, Angel has earned awards and released a debut album. This year, giving back to the Maui community by inviting everyone to enjoy live music with a Hawaiian style addition.

For those who love to carol during the holidays, there’s a festive option in Kihei. Maui Walking Tours is hosting a sunset stroll along the Kihei coastline on Dec. 19, beginning at 4 p.m. at Kalama Park. Participants are encouraged to dress in holiday attire as they sing and spread cheer throughout the walk, sharing the joy of the season with the community around town.

Heading into town, Jake Shimabukuro–another celebrated ukulele talent–will be performing at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $37 to $97, with a limited number of premium seats available for $137 at the Castle Theater. His performance promises a Hawaiian-style Christmas evening filled with music that will accentuate the holiday spirit.

Waking up on Christmas Eve and heading back down to Wailea, you can catch Santa’s annual arrival at Wailea Beach at 8 a.m., where he comes in by outrigger canoe. It’s a unique and memorable island-style holiday tradition that brings fun to the whole family.

For those who love the water, what better way to celebrate the holiday season than with a sunset dinner cruise–right in the heart of whale season–on Christmas Day? The Aliʻi Nui catamaran offers a relaxing and scenic evening on the Pacific from 4:45 to 7:15 p.m. At $299 per person, including luxury beverages and meals, this holiday excursion provides a one-of-a-kind way to end Christmas Day with the joy of this season.