Family events calendar

Wednesday

Music - Intro to Orff - For children ages 4-5. Develop musical skills through Orff instruments, games and activities. Held Mondays from 1:30-2:30 p.m., today-Jan. 5. Preregistration is required. Kids Make Music Studio, 904 W. Comstock Court. $60. (509) 625-6200.

Storytime - For ages 2-5. Library locations include: Medical Lake, 321 E. Herb St. (509) 893-8330; Argonne, 4322 N. Argonne Road. (509) 893-8260; Cheney, 610 First St. (509) 893-8280. 10:30 a.m. Free.

Thursday

Mom and Me: Snow Princess - For girls ages 2-4 and their parents. Create a tiara, magic wand, glittery wings and snowflakes. Preregistration is required. 9:30-11 a.m., Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. $12. (509) 625-6200.

After School Specials (Moran Prairie) – “Master Artists.” Create your own masterpiece. For school-age children. A different activity will be offered each month. 4 p.m. Moran Prairie Library, 6004 S. Regal St. Free. (509) 893-8340.

Friday

Journey to Bethlehem - Dec. 3-5. Reception, live entertainment and caroling indoors; journey through historical events leading to the night Christ was born outdoors. Tonight, 6-9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 5-9 p.m. South Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church, 5607 S. Freya St. Free. (509) 448-6425.

Homemade and Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar - Today and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Unity Church of North Idaho, 4465 N. 15th St., Coeur d’Alene. Free admission. (208) 664-1125.

Teddy Bear Teas (Hillyard) - Join in celebrating the teddy bear and bring your favorite bear along. Toddler Storytime at 10 a.m. and Preschool Storytime at 10:30 a.m., Hillyard Library, 4005 N. Cook St. Free. (509) 444-5331.

Rock Cooperative on Ice Free Skating - Free ice skating, live rock ’n’ roll, Rock Santa and food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring a nonperishable food item to donate and get free skates and skating time, concert admission and a Rock Santa photo. Presented by the Credit Unions of Washington. 7-10 p.m., Riverfront Park Ice Palace, 507 N. Howard St. Free. (509) 625-6601.

Saturday

Holiday Open House - Begins at 10 a.m. with Santa arriving on horseback at 10:15 a.m. to pass out sweet treats and talk to young visitors. Santa’s Appaloosa will be available for petting and children can decorate their own Appaloosa cookie. Visitors are welcome to tour the museum, listen to holiday music and enjoy cookies, cider and hot coffee. Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center, 2720 W. Pullman Road, Pullman. Free. (208) 882-5578, ext. 279.

East Valley High School Winter Craft Fair - Today and Sunday. Over 70 vendors. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Benefits the EVHS band students. 15711 E. Wellesley Ave., Spokane Valley. $1. (509) 893-2839.

Snowshoe Class - For ages 14 and older. Learn the basics. All levels welcome. Two times to choose from: 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. Preregistration is required. Mt. Spokane. $29, includes snowshoe rental. (509) 625-6200.

Snowflake Faire - Crafts, baked goods, handmade items and raffle from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch served 11 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 501 W. Wallace Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free admission.

Franklin Elementary School Craft Fair - Unique gifts, locally handmade crafts, Storybook-themed Christmas tree will be raffled and poinsettias will be available for sale. 8 a.m.-7 p.m., 2627 E. 17th Ave. Free admission. (509) 624-2281.

Mobius Kids Santa Breakfast Fundraiser - Breakfast, festive activities and a visit with Santa. 8:30-10:30 a.m., the Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post St. $25 per person (free for children age 1 and younger). (509) 624-KIDS, ext. 0.

Breakfast with Santa - Enjoy breakfast and a variety of fun-filled children’s games, activities, goody bags and entertainment. Hosted by Spokane Valley Rotary Club. 9-11 a.m., Centerplace Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. $4/person at the door. (509) 688-0300.

Friends of Turnbull Winter Festival - Featuring elk tours, a live raptor program presented by the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center beginning at 11 a.m., chili, cornbread and warm beverages. Holiday gifts will be available for purchase at the Friends of Turnbull Store. Call (509) 235-4531 for elk tour reservations. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. Smith Road, Cheney.

Sunday

Handel’s Messiah Concert and Community Sing-Along - For community singalong singers, there is a pre-concert rehearsal at 2:30 p.m. Please arrive by 2:15 p.m. to check out a score (or bring your own) and get seated; concert at 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar St. Free. (509) 747-1058.

Cross-Country Ski Family Lessons - For ages 6 and older. Class will be taught by Professional Ski Instructors of America certified instructors. Preregistration is required. 10 a.m.-noon, Mount Spokane. $99/family of four; $25 each additional person. (509) 625-6200.

Giant Lego Menorah - Families are invited to help in the construction of a giant Lego Menorah during the annual Chabad Chanukah celebration. 1-3 p.m., Southside Senior Activity Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. $8 suggested donation. (509) 443-0770.

Ongoing

“A Christmas Story!” - Presented by Spokane Children’s Theatre. Shows Thursday and Dec. 11 at 1 and 4 p.m.; Friday and Dec. 12 at 1 p.m.; signing will be provided for the hearing impaired during Thursday performances. Spokane Community College, Lair Auditorium, 1810 N. Greene St. $12/adults, $10/children. (800) 325-SEAT.

A Coeur d’Alene Christmas Variety Show - The Coeur d’Alene Resort presents a holiday-themed live show for the whole family, featuring the region’s top performers ages 7 to 83. See juggling and magic, sketch comedy, music and dance. Hear and sing along to your favorite Christmas tunes, watch an abridged version of “A Christmas Carol” and experience a tap-dancing reindeer. Seating begins 20 minutes prior to show. First come, first served. Get your tickets in advance. Shows at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Dec. 10-11, 21-25 and 28-30 at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Dec. 19 and 26 at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Shore Lounge, 115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene. $10/general, $5/ages 6-12, free/age 5 and younger. (208) 664-7268.

Christmas Tree Sale - Runs through Dec. 19. Children living at the Hutton Settlement Children’s Home will harvest their own trees for sale and offer you-cut trees as well. Hours are from 1-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The settlement driveway is a mile east of Argonne on Upriver Drive. Hutton Settlement, 9907 E. Wellesley Ave. (509) 926-1027.

Coeur d’Alene Resort Holiday Light Show - Runs daily through Jan. 2 with the Journey to the North Pole Cruise. The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Coeur d’Alene. North Pole cruise: $15.95/general, $14.95/seniors, free/age 12 and younger. (877) 765-4653 or (208) 664-7268.

Santa Express - 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. Fundraiser for Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, a safe shelter for kids who are at risk of neglect or abuse. Open Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., through Dec. 23. Downtown on the skywalk level of Crescent Building, 707 W. Main Ave. (509) 448-2900.