Idaho Family calendar

Ongoing

“Journey to the North Pole” Holiday Lights Cruises - 40-minute lake cruises to see holiday lights and visit 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). Runs daily through Dec. 31. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, east side of the Boardwalk Marina, Coeur d’Alene. $14.75/adults, $13.75/seniors, free/ages 12 and younger (maximum of two children per adult). (877) 765-4653.

Riverfront Park Ice Palace - Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays and nights before school holidays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Runs through March 3. Riverfront Park. $4.25/adults and teens; $3.25/children, seniors and military; $2.75/skate rental, $34.99, plus tax for season pass. (509) 625-6600.

Santa Express - For ages 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 $8. Money raised is donated to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Runs through Dec. 23. Crescent Building in the skywalk level, just east of Spokane Teachers Credit Union, downtown Spokane. (509) 535-3155.

Vanessa’s Village - For age 12 and older. A boutique in the entry of Santa Express with stocking stuffers and gifts for the family, friends and secret Santas. Money raised is donated to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Runs through Dec. 23. Crescent Building in the skywalk level, just east of Spokane Teachers Credit Union, downtown Spokane. (509) 535-3155.

South Pole Skating Village - Coeur d’Alene - Ice skating Monday-Thursday, sessions held 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, sessions are noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30, 6 , 7:30 and 9 p.m. Sessions are 1 hour and 15 minutes each. Open through Jan. 6. Located outside the Coeur d’Alene Resort near the Clocktower, Coeur d’Alene. $8/adults, $4/ages 12 and younger, $3/skate rental. (877) 765-4653.

Today

Building Holiday Gingerbread Houses Kids Activity - For ages 5-12, pre-registration required. 6:30-7:30 p.m., Post Falls Library, 821 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. Free. (208) 773-1506, ext. 27.

Friday

“Christmas in Reverse,” Kootenai Humane Society Fundraiser - Friday, 7 p.m. and Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Performed by ages 6-18, produced by Bonnie Haleen. Proceeds benefit the Kootenai County Humane Society. Candlelight Christian Fellowship, 5725 N. Pioneer Drive. $10/general admission. (208) 818-1633.

Saturday

“Christmas in Reverse,” Kootenai Humane Society Fundraiser - Continues today, 2 and 7 p.m. Performed by ages 6-18, produced by Bonnie Haleen. Proceeds benefit the Kootenai County Humane Society. Candlelight Christian Fellowship, 5725 N. Pioneer Drive. $10/general admission. (208) 818-1633.

“The Velveteen Rabbit” - Musical of Margery Williams’ story of love and friendship. Presented by Spokane Children’s Theatre. Saturdayat 1 and 4 p.m.; Sundayat 7 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Dec. 15 performances will be signed for the hearing impaired. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. $8-$10. (509) 325-SEAT.

Angel Tree Gift Wrap Extravaganza - Help Auntie’s Bookstore wrap books to be given to less fortunate children during the holiday season. Recommended for children ages 12 and older. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, Second Floor Conference Room, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206.

Family MACFest: Old-Fashioned Holidays - Experience Campbell House Holidays and other winter holiday celebrations. Sponsored by Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Noon-3 p.m., Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. $10/per family (includes all activities, galleries and Campbell House). (509) 456-3931.

Holiday Party Etiquette for Children - For ages 6-10. Learn Jingle Bell Greetings, Winter Wonderland Gift Giving, Deck the Halls Dress and Grooming, and make your own Joy to the World thank-you notes. Cookie included. 2-5 p.m., Davenport Hotel, Palm Court Dining Room, 10 S. Post St. $32. (509) 209-6394.

Jingle Bell Run and Walk - To benefit the Arthritis Foundation Pacific Northwest Chapter. Registration at River Park Square at 7 a.m., Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists’ Children’s Run with the Elves 1K run and costume competition begins at 8:30 a.m.; Jingle Bell Run and Walk begins at 8:50. Riverfront Park. $10-$25. (206) 547-2707.

Sunday

“The Velveteen Rabbit” - Musical of Margery Williams’ story of love and friendship. Presented by Spokane Children’s Theatre. Continues Sundayat 7 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Dec. 15 performances will be signed for the hearing impaired. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St. $8-$10. (509) 325-SEAT.

Author Brokenlily James - Reading and book signing by this Republic, Wash., children’s author of her books “The Greatest Caravan Adventure of All Time” and “Pine Needle Shoes.” Noon-2 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, Main Floor, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build Off and Display – Iron Chef-style event features renowned local chefs teaming up with equally renowned local architects to create enormous, impressively stunning, gingerbread structures. Build Off of Houses will be Sunday , 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Mezzanine level. The gingerbread structures will be on display 24 hours a day through Dec. 23. Kid event where kids decorate their own mini-gingerbread houses on Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Grand Pennington Ballroom, $10. Benefits Christ Kitchen, a job-training ministry for Spokane women living in poverty. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Free viewing. (509) 954-0554.

Hay and Sleigh Rides - For all ages Sunday and Dec. 16. Free coloring books and candy canes. Noon-4 p.m., Forever Green Tree Farm, 500 Forever Green Drive, St. Maries. (208) 245-2440.

Santa Buffet Breakfast - Meet St. Nicholas, enjoy live music, special treat for children. Reservations requested. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Madeleine’s, 707 W. Main Ave. $12/adults, $7/ages 3-12, free/age 2 and younger. (509) 624-2253.

Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa - 22nd annual event, all-you-can-eat breakfast includes sausage, eggs, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, coffee and orange juice. Proceeds will benefit 2-year-old Ashley of Hayden Lake who has cancer. 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Hauser Lake Fire Station, Hauser. $3/person, $10/family. (208) 446-1775.

Spokane Youth Symphony - Presenting “Celebration Around the World.” 4 p.m., The Fox Theater, W. 1001 Sprague Ave. $12/adults, $10/seniors, $8/children. (509) 624-1200.

The Art of Holiday Etiquette and Dining for Children - For ages 7-12. Children enjoy a three-course meal while learning the tools of the table, dress and grooming, and presenting a toast. 2:30-6:30 p.m., Davenport Hotel, The Palm Court private dining room, 10 S. Post St. $59. (509) 209-6394.

Monday

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build Off and Display - View gingerbread structures created Iron Chef-style by renowned local chefs teaming up with equally renowned local architects to create enormous, impressively stunning, gingerbread structures, on display 24 hours a day through Dec. 23. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Free. (509) 954-0554.

Taylor Park Motor Company Gallery - “The Art of Human Rights,” young artists in grades 7-12 exhibition of human rights-themed art and literature. Opening reception Monday, 5:30 p.m., refreshments served. Music provided by the Sandpoint Middle School students. Sandpoint. (208) 255-4410.

Tuesday

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build Off and Display - View gingerbread structures created Iron Chef-style by renowned local chefs teaming up with equally renowned local architects to create enormous, impressively stunning, gingerbread structures, on display 24 hours a day through Dec. 23. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Free. (509) 954-0554.

Wednesday

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build Off and Display - View gingerbread structures created Iron Chef-style by renowned local chefs teaming up with equally renowned local architects to create enormous, impressively stunning, gingerbread structures, on display 24 hours a day through Dec. 23. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Free. (509) 954-0554.