What’s happening

Christmas Tree Elegance 2013 31st annual fundraiser to benefit Spokane Symphony. View and buy raffle tickets for 12 trees at the Davenport Hotel on the Mezzanine through Sundayand another six trees at River Park Square (808 W. Main Ave.) on the second floor corridor. Tickets sales are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at both locations. Saturday, 9:30 p.m., winning ticket drawings for hotel trees in lobby. Sunday, 4 p.m., winning ticket drawings for mall trees at River Park Square. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Raffle tickets are $1 each. (509) 458-TREE (8733).

Free Horse and Carriage Rides A 15-20 minute ride that holds an average of eight people with children receiving candy canes, presented by Spokane Teachers Credit Union and Downtown Spokane. Fridays, 3-8 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays, noon-5 p.m., through Dec. 21; Christmas Eve hours noon-3 p.m. No reservations required. Corner of Wall Street and Main Avenue. Free. (509) 456-0580.

Winter Wonderland at Bowl and Pitcher Meet Santa, view holiday light displays, enjoy hay rides, hot beverages, snacks and more. Continues through Sunday, 6-8 p.m. Riverside State Park, 4427 N. Aubrey L. White Parkway. $5 a person. No Discover Pass required. (509) 465-5064.

Living Nativity Experience the first Christmas from the warmth of your car and a CD-guided tour of Bethlehem. The whole Christmas story told in 13 scenes brought to life with live actors and animals, including camels. Friday, 6 p.m., Amazing Grace Fellowship, 416 W. Betz Road, Cheney. Free. (509) 990-2916.

Wreaths Across America Day Spokane Valley civic and veterans groups invite the public to join in honoring veterans. Specially designated wreaths for all military branches and for POW/MIAs will be placed on memorials during the ceremony. Additional wreaths purchased by individuals and organizations will be placed at veterans’ gravesites in the cemetery. Saturday, noon, Pines Mausoleum, 12113 E. 16th Ave. (south side of 16th Avenue, near Pines Road), Spokane Valley. (509) 891-8588.

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-Off Ninth annual gingerbread house build-off from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Hall of Doges. Culinary teams decorate huge gingerbread structures in three hours as the public watches. Also, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Grand Pennington Ballroom, children can make their own mini-gingerbread house for $7, with proceeds benefiting Christ Kitchen. No reservations required. Sunday, The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Viewing is free. (509) 325-4343.

Odyssey Youth Center Open House and Year End Celebration Meet new staff and learn about Odyssey’s Safe Schools and homeless youth prevention programs. Also grab a tag from the Giving Tree to give a gift to a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning youth. Sunday 1:30-4 p.m., Odyssey Youth Center, 1121 S. Perry St. (509) 325-3627.

Mayors’ Day at the Kettle Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem and other local mayors will be manning the kettle at Fred Meyer Coeur d’Alene to raise money for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. Fred Meyer is matching all donations made at the mayor’s kettle, up to $5,000. All donations stay in Kootenai County and help local families in need. Saturday, 10 a.m., Fred Meyer, 560 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 667-1865.