Family calendar

Today

Liberty Lake Winter Festival 2011 - Annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony with free activities including crafts, storytime, mini snow golf, picture with Santa, carriage rides and performances by area choirs and orchestras. 5 p.m. Liberty Lake City Hall, 22710 E. Country Visa Drive, Liberty Lake. (509) 755-6726.

Ongoing

Riverfront Park Ice Palace - Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.; Fridays-Saturdays and nights, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Special events: Tuesdays: skating 7-8:30 p.m. is $2; Wednesdays: skating 7-8:30 p.m. is $1; Thursdays: $1 skating sponsored by The Inlander; skate rental extra; School’s Out, Tuesdays-Fridays from 2-5 p.m. for $4.50, includes skate rental. Riverfront Park Pavilion. Age 13 and older: $4.50/Tuesday-Thursday, $5.50/Friday-Sunday and holiday; Seniors/military with ID/youth ages 3-12/$3.50; skate rentals are $3.50 (not included with admission). Season passes are $44.99. (509) 625-6601.

Santa Express - Through Dec. 23. With the help of Santa’s elves (volunteers), young shoppers ages 4-12 choose inexpensive gifts priced from 50 cents to $8 for everyone on their list and wrap each gift so it’s ready to go under the tree. Vanessa’s Village, located in the entry of Santa Express, welcomes shoppers of all ages and reasonably priced. Fundraiser for Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Open Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Downtown on the skywalk level of Crescent building, 707 W. Main Ave. varies. (509) 448-2900.

“Legally Blonde the Musical” - Thursday-Saturday and Dec. 8-10 at 7 p.m. nightly. Tickets available at the door. 7 p.m. Lewis and Clark High School, 521 W. Fourth Ave. $10. (509) 354-6907.

“Little Women” - Scott Davidson’s theatrical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. Presented by Theater Arts for Children. Shows Friday, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at 4 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. $10/general, $8/children ages 12 and younger. (509) 995-6718.

Christmas Tree Fundraiser - Saturday-Dec. 17. Children living at the Hutton Settlement Children’s Home have been growing Christmas trees for years. Proceeds will benefit the programs for children at the home. Hours are from Tuesdays-Fridays, 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The settlement driveway is a mile east of Argonne on Upriver Drive. Pre-cut, U-cut and live trees for sale. Hutton Settlement Home, 9907 E. Wellesley Ave., Spokane Valley. (509) 926-1027.

Book and Gift Fair - Monday-Dec. 9. Books and gifts for all ages with proceeds benefitting Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Foster Parenting. Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Rock Pointe III, 1330 N. Washington St. Free admission. (509) 953-3246.

Friday

Millwood Christmas Tree Lighting - Sponsored by Inland Empire Paper Company. West Valley High School band will be performing along with Jonna’s The Company Ballet. Bring the kids to see Santa count down to our tree lighting. Cookies and hot chocolate will be available. 6 p.m. Free.

Saturday

East Valley High School Winter Craft Fair - 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Benefiting the EVHS band students. East Valley High School, 15711 E. Wellesley Ave., Spokane Valley. Continues Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (509) 893-2839.