Santa visits Oak Bluffs this Saturday to help the town celebrate the beginning of the holiday season.

The annual lighting of the tree in Healey Square takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, but the fun begins much earlier thanks to planning by the Oak Bluffs Association.

Saturday’s events start at noon when Saint Nick arrives for photos. Throughout the afternoon, there will be hot chocolate, live music and reindeer games — sack races and the like — in Ocean Park.

There will also be a snowflake scavenger hunt and an artisans market at the Strand Theatre, open on Friday and Saturday.

“There’s something for everybody,” said Billie Sullivan, the executive director of the Oak Bluffs Association. “It’s one thing after another.”

The horse drawn carriage rides return this year with a larger carriage to accommodate growing demand, according to Ms. Sullivan. Rides cost $10 and children under 10 ride for free.

“Timmy and Texas, they are just beautiful animals. They have no problems pulling 16 people in the wagon,” Ms. Sullivan said. “You hear the clip clop of their hooves and they go around the block and it gets people really in the spirit.”

Ocean Park will be lit up at 6:15 p.m. followed by the Christmas tree lighting in Healey Square at 6:30 p.m. Santa joins the evening festivities, arriving by fire truck.

“Once the lights go on, people wait for the firetruck to come up with Santa, and everyone wants to take pictures and have hot cocoa.... It’s a wild hour,” said Ms. Sullivan.