What To Do This Weekend - enjoy a MEGA-CHRISTMAS -FUN-PACKED-DAY!

This time of year there is so much to do! It is hard to fit in the "regular stuff" ... I'm trying to get all the chores done on the weeknights - makes them more hectic, I know, but at least you'll be free to enjoy all this fun stuff with the kids!

The festivities for December 9-11, 2011:

• Friday: Stop into the Christmas Tea & Sale at the Anna Templeton Centre (starting at noon) for a quick bite and to browse local arts & crafts. Finish up in time to take the kids to the Christmas Story time and Tree Trimming at the Michael Donovan Library (3:30PM), and after supper, bring the children to the PowerHouse Christmas Party at the Park Avenue Pentecostal Church (7:15) where they can enjoy an evening of Christmas fun, games, music, crafts and stories (email parkave@nf.aibn.com for info). 

• Saturday: Early-risers can head to Paradise for the Holy Innocents Church Breakfast With Santa, and partake in face-painting, pictures with the man-in-red, a lollipop tree, fun and prizes (8:30-12:30); the Christmas Tea & Sale at the Anna Templeton Centre continues (until 4:30 PM), and there is a Hobby Horse Workshop from 10-2 as part of the Mummer's Festival (www.mummersfestival.ca for more details). Bring the kids over to the Fluvarium Saturday or Sunday at 1:30 for the Kids Program: O Christmas Tree, where they can learn where this popular holiday tradition comes from and why evergreen trees are important to our forest and river friends throughout the winter! And, that night, sign them up for Parents' Survival Night at the Little Gym - the kids will be entertained and you can go shopping! (To register: 754-ROLL (7655); for children 3-12; you do not have to be a member)

• Sunday: OK - this is the MEGA-CHRISTMAS -FUN-PACKED-DAY:
• Pop over to Signal Hill between noon and 4PM for Signals to Santa .... sounds enticing! For more information contact the Visitor Centre at 772-0284.
• If you haven't yet seen Santa, he does have another stop on the Avalon before he heads back up North: The Paradise Santa Parade starts 1PM at the City Sand and Gravel Parking lot, proceed up Topsail Road and finish at the Town Hall on McNamara Dr. 
• The Mummer's Festival preparations continue with an Ugly Boot Worshop at the Vistoria Park Pool house from 1 – 5pm. An ugly stick is about four feet long, on which bottle caps, tin cans, small bells and other noisemakers are attached. It is played by thumping the stick, and striking its attachments with a drumstick. It might have a boot! So, go make an ugly stick to bang around at the Mummers Parade! 
• More Christmas Fun at The Rooms (2-4PM)- the theme of this week's Family Fun is Trimming the Tree or Decking the Halls and children will be able to create unique ornaments and decorations to celebrate the holidays. At 2:30, see an actor/musician's interpretation of the local book Bella’s Tree, about a young girl and her struggle to find the perfect Christmas tree for her Nan. 
• Enjoy another tradition at the George Street United Church's 6th Annual Holiday Wassail - Christmas Fundraiser (2PM) - this is a family event, where the community can get together and sing carols led by well known folk performers. This year's line up includes Sean McCann, Sandy Morris, Erin Best, Gordon Quinton, Katie Baggs, Fergus O'Byrne, Anita Best, Pamela Morgan, Kelly Russell and Matthew Byrne just to name a few. 
• And last but not least, from 3:30-5:30, head over to Bannerman Park for the much anticipated Christmas in Bannerman Park: All ages are invited for hot chocolate, mulled apple juice, a short carol sing led by the Inclusion Choir, and some Christmas stories. At twilight, there will also be a walk through the streets around the park to see the stained glass windows and Christmas Lights. Mummer's Costumes welcome! Bring a food item for the Food Bank. 

Don't forget to check the calendar frequently for details on these and other events. Upcoming this week we also have: a gift mug class, Tuesday night at Clay Cafe; then on Wednesday there is Christmas Joy at the Mt. Pearl Library, Christmas Family Story time and A Very "Tacky" Christmas After school Program at the A.C. Hunter Library, and Christmas Cards with a Twist at Clay Cafe; and a Pre-School Christmas Story Time at the A.C. Hunter Library on Thursday AM. 

Have a Fun One and Good Luck getting your To-Dos done!


.