Family calendar

Today

Books Are Fun Book and Gift Fair - Books and gifts for all ages at discounted prices with proceeds benefiting Chase Youth Foundation. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Spokane City Hall, main lobby, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Free admission. (509) 953-3246.

Ongoing

Holiday Memories at Green Bluff - Cut your own Christmas tree, take pictures with Santa and purchase fresh fruits, food items, candy and wine. Held through Christmas. For more information, visit www.greenbluffgrowers.com.

Santa Express Holiday Store - A holiday retail store for children and a fundraiser for Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. With the help of volunteers, young shoppers ages 4 to 12 choose gifts for everyone on their list and wrap each gift so it is ready to go under the tree. All gifts are priced from 50 cents to $8. Open through Dec. 23. Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 707 W. Main Ave., Skywalk Level. Free admission. (509) 220-5907.

Waste-to-Energy Facility Tours - Walk-in tours of the Waste to Energy facility will not be offered through February. Tours for groups of 10 or more will still be scheduled according to staff availability. Call (509) 625-6521 to schedule a group tour. Walk-in tours will resume March 6. Spokane Regional Solid Waste System, 2900 S. Geiger Blvd. (across from the Washington State Patrol). Free.

Christmas Tree Elegance 2012 - 30th annual fundraiser to benefit Spokane Symphony. View and purchase raffle tickets for 12 trees at the Davenport Hotel on the mezzanine through Dec. 8 and another six trees at River Park Square (808 W. Main Ave.) on the second floor corridor. Thursday, 11:30 a.m., 30th Anniversary Celebration luncheonnsemble, Grand Pennington Ballroom, reservations required, (509) 458-TREE (8733), $50/person. Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Mobius Kids Santa Breakfast, Grand Pennington Ballroom, reservations required to (509) 624-KIDS. Sunday, 7 p.m., “An Evening with Eckart and Friends,” Isabella Ballroom, $20/general admission at the door. Monday, Tuesday and Dec. 7, 11:30 a.m., Holiday Hat Luncheon, sponsored by the Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, reservations required to (509) 789-6808; $25/person. Featuring music on Tuesday by Whitman Elementary Zingmarimba Band and Chorus. Dec. 6, Christmas Tree Elegance Strolling Fashion Show and Lunch, with fashions from Apricot Lane, Chico’s, Fring, Old Navy, Swank, Berg’s Shoes, in the Grand Pennington Ballroom, reservations required at (509) 458-TREE, $50/person. Dec. 8, 9:30 p.m., winning ticket drawings for hotel trees in hotel lobby; winners notified that evening. Dec. 9, 4 p.m., winning ticket drawings for mall trees at River Park Square, winners notified that afternoon. The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Raffle tickets are $1 each. (509) 458-TREE (8733).

Riverfront Park Ice Palace - The outdoor covered skating rink is open for the season until March 3. Tuesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m., closed Mondays. Extended holiday hours. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. $4.50/adults; $3.50/children, senior, military; $3.50/skate rental. (509) 625-6601.

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” - Musical presented by Lewis and Clark High School. Shows today-Saturday and Dec. 6-8 at 7 p.m. Directed and choreographed by Greg Pschirrer; musical direction by Benjamin Bentler and Caryssa Gilmore. For more information, visit www.tigerdrama.com. Lewis and Clark High School, Auditorium, 521 W. Fourth Ave. $10 at the door. (509) 354-7043.

“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” - A holiday musical presented by Spokane Civic Theatre. Directed by Yvonne A.K. Johnson. Shows Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Runs through Dec. 21. 7:30 p.m. Spokane Civic Theatre, Main Stage, 1020 N. Howard St. $11-$29. (509) 325-2507 or (800) 325-SEAT.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” - Interplayers presents this family classic as a live radio play, written by Joe Landry and directed by Jeffrey Sanders. Shows today and Friday, Wednesday-Dec. 8, Dec. 12-15, Dec. 19-22 and Dec. 26-29 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Interplayers Theatre, 174 S. Howard St. $28/adult, $22/senior and military, $15/student. (509) 455-7529 or (800) 325-SEAT.

Friday

Books Are Fun Book and Gift Fair - 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Spokane City Hall, main lobby, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Free admission. (509) 953-3246.

Free Carriage Rides - 3-8 p.m. Presented by Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Corner of Wall Street and Main Avenue.

Operation Spokane Heroes Free Carousel Party - For all children of military personnel. Enjoy pizza, soda and hot chocolate and meet Santa. For more information, visit www.operationspokane heroes.org. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Riverfront Park Carrousel, 507 N. Howard St. Free. (509) 325-9656.

“Family Dinner” - Blue Door Theatre Players will improvise a family dinner using audience suggestions. All ages welcome. 8 p.m. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. $9/general admission, $7/children, seniors, military and students with valid ID. (509) 747-7045.

Saturday

Jingle Bell Run/Walk - Raise funds to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. 5K run/walk or 1K run with the elves for children. Registration and packet pick-up at River Park Square. Register at: www.spokane jinglebellrun.kintera.org. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. $35/T-shirt, with timing chip, $30/T-shirt, no chip; 1K run: $10/T-shirt, free/no shirt. (206) 547-2707, ext. 119.

Free Carriage Rides - Noon-5 p.m. Presented by Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Corner of Wall Street and Main Avenue.

Breakfast with Santa - Enjoy a pancake breakfast and a variety of children’s games, crafts and other activities; have your picture taken with Santa. Hosted by Spokane Valley Rotary Club. Proceeds benefit Rotary College Scholarships Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and other Rotary service projects. Registration encouraged. 9-11 a.m. CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. $5/person at the door. (509) 688-0300.

Old Fashioned Christmas Bazaar - Features art, crafts and baked goods. Lunch will be available for purchase beginning at 11 a.m. with proceeds benefiting the North Palouse Community Food Bank. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fairfield Community Center, 304 E. Main St.

Sunday

Free Carriage Rides - Noon-5 p.m. Presented by Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Corner of Wall Street and Main Avenue.

Tuesday

Zentangle Workshop - Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. 7 p.m. New Moon Family Wellness, 906 S. Cowley St. $35/adults; $25/kids under 16, includes supplies. (509) 995-1647.

Wednesday

College Information Night at SFCC - Learn about career training, liberal arts transfer opportunities, financial aid and how to choose a program of study. 6 p.m. Spokane Falls Community College, SUB, Building 17, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Free. (509) 533-3500.

Ready, Set, Go! Workshop - In partnership with 4-H and Operation: Military Kids, the American Red Cross is pleased to offer two Ready, Set, Go! workshops, designed to build networks of support for military kids. These free workshops are open to the first 35 participants. The training is perfect for educators, child care providers, youth group leaders, Scout leaders, after-school club leaders and any others who may work with military children in the community. Pre-registration is required. 6-8 p.m. American Red Cross, 315 W. Nora Ave. Free. (509) 326-3330, ext. 202.