Magnolia and Tomball are preparing for Christmas festivities during the upcoming weekend. Magnolia will host its annual Hometown Christmas, Parade and Chili Cook-Off and Tomball will host its annual German Christmas Market.

The Magnolia Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) and Magnolia Historical Society (MHS) will team up once again to host the annual Hometown Christmas, Parade and Chili Cook-Off Dec. 10.

The  19^th annual parade will start at Unity Park Drive at 10 a.m. and move east on Nichols Sawmill Road, south on Commerce Street, west on Sanders Street and end at Magnolia Junior High School. The parade will showcase floats from the entire community including businesses, Magnolia ISD, non-profit organizations, clubs, congregations and more. Those wanting to watch the parade are encouraged to arrive before 9:30 a.m. when road closures begin.

Pictured is one of last year’s floats in Magnolia’s Christmas Parade.

Following the parade, MHS will offer its Hometown Christmas festivities to patrons at the Magnolia Depot. Santa will be available for pictures along with the popular Cookie Express, Christmas Trolley, horse-drawn carriage rides and new this year, a snow play area and hill.

Santa will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for photos. Admission to the snow play area is $5 per person. The Christmas Trolley is provided by the Gullo family and tickets are available for $5.

Christmas music, including live performances by local vocalists will be aired throughout the afternoon and the Magnolia West High School Color Guard will perform at 2:30 p.m.

The movie “Polar Express” will be shown under the pavilion at dusk, free of charge. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets for the showing.

MACC will kick off the third annual Christmas Chili Cook-Off. Those signed up for the chili cook-off will set up at 8 a.m. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. and winners will be announced at 5 p.m. Public participation is encouraged to help choose the winners, according to MACC.

Magnolia ISD will host the Employee Jingle Bell Run/ Walk for the first time this year before the parade.

Also the Montgomery County Pct. 5 Constable’s Office is hosting a Toy Drive on behalf of the Society of Samaritans at the depot from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

For more information about the Hometown Christmas, Parade or Chili Cook-Off, visit depotday.org or magnoliatexas.org.

The annual Tomball German Christmas Market − once again dubbed “Weihnachtsmarkt Texas Style” − is set for Dec. 9-11 at the Train Depot Plaza in downtown Tomball.

This year's event will coincide with the Christmas on Commerce St. event as well as the dedication of the new splash pad and fountain feature at the Depot.

There will be five music stages, an estimated 150 street vendors, ethnic and festival food, beer, wine, a petting zoo, street performers, souvenirs, arts and crafts and antiques.

Three German tents and music stages will house biergartens decorated with German themes and Christmas lights. Tables and chairs will allow you to relax with your Dunkles Bier (dark beer), or a warm cup of Glühwein. There will also be a traditional Dutch Santa, Elf, live Christmas tree, clowns, juggler, strolling entertainers and Santa Claus himself. There will also be free photo opportunities with the characters as well.

A kinderfest (kid's area) will provide entertainment for children, as well as a hayride and Christmas lights tour at the museum.

Free parking is available at the former Klein's Supermarket lot and shuttles are available to take riders from there to the events.

For more information, visit www.tomballgermanfest.org.

Tribune Reporter Caleb Harris contributed to this article.

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