Things to do

Today

Santa Express - For age 4-12. Kids can find fun, inexpensive gifts with the help of volunteer elves who also will help them wrap the gifts. Prices range from 50 cents to $7.50. Money raised is donated to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Today-Tuesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Crescent Building in the skywalk level at corner of Main and Wall streets, just east of Spokane Teachers Credit Union, downtown Spokane. (509) 535-3155.

Santa in a Big Red Fire Engine Toy and Food Drive - Santa on a fire truck with a thousand lights, and members of the Coeur d’Alene fire and police departments will be making the rounds through the streets of Coeur d’Alene to collect toys and food for Christmas For All and the food bank. Today, 4:30-8:30 p.m., east of U.S. Highway 95, north of Appleway; Tuesday, 4:30-8:30 p.m., west of U.S. Highway 95, north of Appleway. Donations of nonperishable food and new, unwrapped toys accepted. (208) 769-2320

Tuesday

Santa’s Parade and Food Drive - Proceeds benefit the Spirit Lake Food Bank. Donations can be made to Jo’s Hole, Miller’s Foods, Blanchard Tavern, White Horse Saloon, Spirit Lake Books and Coffee, Stoneridge Resort building 6, Old West Hardware, Spirit Lake Dental and Main Pizza. Sponsored by the Spirit Lake Fire Protection District. 7 p.m., Spirit Lake and Blanchard, Idaho. Food donations accepted. (208) 623-5800

Saturday

Eagle Watching Cruise - All ages. Observe eagles in their natural habitat while taking a two-hour cruise around the northern bays of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Hot or cold drinks, hot dogs and other snacks will be available for purchase. Saturday-Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Boardwalk Marina at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Coeur d’Alene. $19/age 13 and older; $12/age 6 to 12; Free/children age five and younger. (509) 625-6200

Free Movie Day at Colfax Library - Children of all ages welcome to a free showing of “Underdog” (PG). A lab accident gives a hound named Shoeshine some serious superpowers. Drinks and snacks provided. Running time is 82 minutes. Sponsored by the Friends of Whitman County Library. 10:30 a.m., Colfax Library, 102 S. Main St., Colfax, Wash. Free. (509) 397-4366

Spokane Chiefs Hockey - Vs. the Tri-City Americans, with Buck Night, sponsored by SuperCuts and KZZU 92.9-FM. 7 p.m., Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. $9-$17. (800) 325-SEAT

Youth Book Group - Discuss “The Mysterious Benedict Society” by Trenton Lee Stewart. For ages 8-13. 2 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, conference center, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206

Ongoing

Campbell House Holidays - Visitors can tour the historic house on their own, listen to student pianists live, watch historic cooking demonstrations in the kitchen, and check out the special display of historic artifacts including period dresses and World War I mementos. Continues through Jan. 1. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. $7/adults, $5/seniors/students, free/age 5 and younger. (509) 456-3931

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build Off and Display - Enormous gingerbread structures will be on display 24 hours a day through Tuesday. The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Free viewing. (509) 954-0554

Corbin Art Center Holiday Camps - For children 3-11. A variety of camps will be offered through Dec. 30. Preregistration is required. Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. $14-$29. (509) 625-6677

“Journey to the North Pole” Holiday Lights Cruises - 40-minute lake cruises to view a Victorian Village adorned with more than 5,000 lights and Santa’s North Pole Toy Workshop. Reservations required. Boat leaves daily at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. (boards 30 minutes prior to departure) through Jan. 1. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, east side of the Boardwalk Marina, Coeur d’Alene. $15.75/adults, $14.75/seniors, free/age 12 and younger (maximum of two children per adult). (208) 664-7268

Riverfront Park Ice Palace - Ice skating outdoors. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays and nights before holidays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Riverfront Park. $4.25/adults; $3.25/children ages 3-17 seniors and military; $3/skate rental. (509) 625-6601

Beginning Ice Hockey - For children 4-8. Learn the fundamentals. Participants must have a hockey helmet, mouth guard, hockey gloves, shin pads and hockey stick. Riverfront Park Ice Palace. $59, includes skate rental and five free public skate passes. (509) 625-6200

Ice Skate Lessons - For children 4 and older. Learn basic skills. Helmets and outdoor clothing recommended. Riverfront Park Ice Palace. $59, includes skate rental and five free public skate passes. (509) 625-6200

Ice Skate Parent and Tot Lessons - For children 3 and older. Learn to skate with your child. Helmets and outdoor clothing are recommended. Riverfront Park Ice Palace. $39/parent and child, includes skate rental and five free public skate passes. $18/additional person. (509) 625-6200

Tae-Kwon-Do Classes - For all ages. Improve your fitness, flexibility, coordination, strength and learn self-defense techniques. Beginner class offered Mondays and Wednesdays and advanced class offered Fridays. 6:30-8 p.m., Cooper Elementary School Gymnasium, 3200 N. Ferrall St. Cost: two cans of food per month. (509) 482-0708

Valley Youth Soccer - For ages 4-7. Register for spring 2009 by Feb. 28. Call for location. $35. (509) 924-7661

After School Camp - For ages 5-12. Children will be transported to the Northeast Youth Center II for a snack, games, computer play, arts and weekly field trips. Schools serviced include: Arlington, Bemiss, Cooper, Lidgerwood, Linwood, Logan, Longfellow, Ridgeview, Regal, Stevens, Whitman and Willard. Mondays-Fridays. 3-6 p.m., Northeast Youth Center II, 2121 E. Wabash Ave. $53/week. State pay accepted. Scholarships available. (509) 482-0708

Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant - Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:15-5:45 p.m. and Fridays, 12:30-2:30 p.m. with take-out from 1-3 p.m. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1620 N. Monroe St. (509) 324-1995