Family calendar

Today

Christmas Tree Elegance - Benefits the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, presented by the Spokane Symphony Associates. Free viewing of 12 trees and gifts on the Davenport Mezzanine, through Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday at noon, Macy’s Style Show and Luncheon; Saturday, Raffle drawing in lobby of trees. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. $1/raffle tickets for trees. 458-TREE.

The Singing Nuns - “The Angels’ Story” with special guests. Shows Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. $20/adults, $16/seniors and students. 325-SEAT.

Ongoing

After-school Camp - Hosted by the Northeast Youth Center. For children age 5-12. Children will be transported from school to the Northeast Youth Center II for a snack, games, computer play, arts and weekly field trips. Schools served include: Arlington, Bemiss, Cooper, Lidgerwood, Linwood, Logan, Longfellow, Ridgeview, Regal, Stevens, Whitman and Willard. Held Mondays-Fridays. Runs through June 20. 3-6 p.m., Northeast Youth Center II, 2121 E. Wabash Ave. $53/week. State pay accepted. Scholarships available. 482-0708.

Beginning Ice Hockey - For children age 4-8. Participants must have a hockey helmet, mouth guard, hockey gloves, shin pads and hockey stick. Runs through Feb. 14. Riverfront Park Ice Palace. $59, includes skate rental and five free public skate passes. 625-6200.

Carriage Rides – Through Dec. 24. Rides through downtown Spokane to view lights and holiday decorations. Sponsored by Spokane Teachers Credit Union and Downtown Spokane. Fridays, 3-8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon-5 p.m.; Dec. 24, noon-3 p.m. Corner of Main Avenue at Wall Street. Free. 344-2231.

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-Off and Display – Sunday-Dec. 25. Iron Chef-style event features local chefs teaming up with local architects to create enormous, impressively stunning, gingerbread structures. Build-off will be Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Mezzanine level of the Davenport Hotel. The gingerbread structures will be on display 24 hours a day through Dec. 23. Benefits Christ Kitchen, a job-training ministry for Spokane women living in poverty. Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. Free viewing. 954-0554.

Holiday Lights at Gaiser Conservatory - Friday-Dec. 21. Manito Park’s conservatory will be decorated with poinsettias, mums and more, with more than 40,000 lights. Conservatory hours are 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Best viewing is after 4 p.m. Open house Saturday-Sunday from 4-7:30 p.m. Manito Park. Free. 456-8038.

Ice Skate Lessons - For children age 4 and older. Learn basic skills. Helmets and outdoor clothing are recommended. Runs through Feb. 14. Riverfront Park Ice Palace. $59, includes skate rental and five free public skate passes. 625-6200.

Ice Skate Parent and Tot Lessons - For children age 3 and older. Learn to skate with your child. Helmets and outdoor clothing are recommended. Runs through Feb. 14. Riverfront Park Ice Palace. $39/parent and child, includes skate rental and five free public skate passes. $18/additional person. 625-6200.

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. Runs through March 1. Riverfront Park. $4.25/adults; $3.25/children ages 3-17 seniors and military; $3/skate rental. 625-6601.

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 $7.50. 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., through Dec. 23. Crescent Building in the skywalk level at corner of Main and Wall streets, just east of Spokane Teachers Credit Union, downtown Spokane. 535-3155.

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. Runs through June 20. 6:30-8 p.m., Cooper Elementary School Gymnasium, 3200 N. Ferrall St. Two cans of food per month. 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. Runs through Sept. 25. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1620 N. Monroe St. 324-1995.

Friday

The Singing Nuns - “The Angels’ Story” with special guests. Shows Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. $20/adults, $16/seniors and students. 325-SEAT.

Spokane Area Children’s Chorus Concert - “Peace.” Shows Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. Westminster Congregational Church, 411 S. Washington St. $7/general, $5 students, youth and seniors. 624-7992.

Saturday

“A Christmas Story” - Christian Youth Theater-Spokane presents this 1983 Christmas classic involving Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun, a leg lamp and other family antics, 3 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. Visit www.cytspokane.com or call for tickets. Runs through Sunday. Trent Elementary, Adamson Auditorium, 3303 N. Pines Road. $9/adults, $8/children and seniors, $7/group, $6/discount matinee Dec. 6. 487-6540.

“Gremlins” - Rated PG. 3:30 p.m., The Cretin Hop, 1317 N. Howard St. Free. 327-7195.

“Madeline’s Christmas” - Presented by the Spokane Children’s Theatre. Shows Saturday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1810 N. Howard St. $10/adults, $8/age 18 and younger. 325-SEAT or 328-4886 for information.

2008 Hillyard Holiday Festival – . Craft and gift vendors, holiday treats, and Santa pics for $5. Proceeds from the event benefit the local neighborhood nonprofit organizations. Along historic Market Street the businesses will be participating in the annual decorations contest. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Hillyard North Pole, 5101 N. Market St., in Old U.S. Bank Building. 998-1404.

Cookie Mouse Visits Auntie’s - Mouse, of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” fame, will be here all day. Get some of your books autographed and get your picture taken. Story times with Mouse will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Auntie’s Bookstore, Children’s section, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. 838-0206.

Family Macfest: A Toy Story at the Mac - Celebrate various holidays around the world and our “Toys! Toys! Toys!” exhibit. Make holiday arts and crafts related to different cultures, listen to stories and even make your own toy. Sponsored by Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Noon-3 p.m., Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. $15/family. 456-3931.