Events

Today

Book and Gift Fair - Books and gifts for all ages with proceeds going to the Department of Social and Health Services foster parenting programs. Today through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Rock Pointe III, 1330 N. Washington St. Free admission. (509) 953-3246.

Toddler Play and Learn Storytime (Valley) - For ages 18 months-3 years. Enjoy stories, songs and fingerplays that explore the concepts of math, science, art and literacy. Parents and caregivers are asked to join in for the entire 60 minutes. 10:30 a.m., Spokane Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave. Free. (509) 893-8400.

Tuesday

Pinehurst Lighting Ceremony - Pinehurst elementary students will sing holiday songs at 5:45 p.m. Santa arrives on a fire truck at 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Pinehurst-Kingston Community Building. Free.

Wednesday

Teddy Bear Teas (Shadle) - 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., Shadle Library, 2111 E. Wellesley Ave. Free. (509) 444-5331.

Holiday Film Festival - 1 and 4 p.m., “How the Grinch Stole Christmas;” Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 769-2315, ext. 438.

Free College Information Night at SFCC - Learn about career training, liberal arts-transfer opportunities, financial aid and how to choose a program of study. 6-8 p.m., Spokane Falls Community College, SUB Lounges A and B, Building 17, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Free. (509) 533-3500.

Thursday

Play and Learn Storytime - For ages 2-5. Enjoy stories, songs and fingerplays that explore the concepts of math, science, art and literacy. Parents and caregivers are asked to join in for the entire 60 minutes. 10:30 a.m. Library locations are: Otis Orchards, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. (509) 893-8390; Airway Heights, 1213 S. Lundstrom St. (509) 893-8250. Free.

After School Specials - “Winter Wonderland.” For children in grades K-5. Library locations are: Cheney, 610 First St. (509) 893-8280; Otis Orchards, 22324 E. Wellesley Ave. (509) 893-8390. 4 p.m. Free.

Winter Carnival - Food, crafts, games and prizes. Proceeds will benefit local youth. 5 p.m., Liberty Lake Elementary, 23606 E. Boone. (509).

Friday

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.

Book Signing - Book signing of “Sarah Elizabeth Plans a Tea Party.” 3-6 p.m., Hastings Books - South, 2512 E. 29th Ave. (509) 535-4342; also Sunday. 2-4 p.m., Hastings - Spokane Valley, 15312 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley. (509) 924-5555.

Storytime - The Coeur d’Alene Public Library children’s staff is reading stories while Santa takes a break. 3 p.m., Silver Lake Mall, Silver Lake Mall, 200 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (509) 475-3031.

Saturday

Spokane Chiefs Hockey - Teddy Bear Toss Night to benefit The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. 7:05 p.m., Spokane Arena, 720 W. Mallon Ave. (800) 325-SEAT.

Friends of Turnbull Winter Festival - Featuring an elk tour at 9 a.m.; live raptors presented by the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center from 11 a.m.-noon; chili, cornbread, muffins, cookies and warm beverages. Call (509) 235-4531 for elk tour reservations. Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, 26010 S. Smith Road, Cheney.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”- Spokane Children’s Theatre will present this play about ill-behaved kids who take over a church’s annual Christmas pageant. Shows today at 1 and 4 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. Both performances today will be signed for the deaf. Spartan Theatre, Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. $10/child, $12/adult. (800) 325-SEAT.

Breakfast with Santa - Hearty breakfast, face painting, photos with Santa. Advance ticket purchase required. 9 a.m., First Church of the Nazarene, First Church of the Nazarene, 9004 N. Country Homes Blvd., Spokane. $5/adults, $4/age 12 and younger. (509) 467-8986.

Aunt Violet Storytime – Auntie Violet will read some holiday tales. 11 a.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, Children’s Section, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206.

Free Carriage Rides in Coeur d’Alene - Sponsored by STCU. Meet at First Street and Sherman Avenue. No reservations needed. Noon-4 p.m., Downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Santa Paws Holiday Pictures - Bring your pets. Noon-5 p.m., Five Mile Prairie Grange Hall, Five Mile Prairie Grange Hall, 3024 W. Strong Road, Spokane. $5. (509) 998-0322.

Author Cora Cole - The Coeur d’Alene author will sign copies of “The Adventures of Angel Skylet and Clarence Cloudy.” 1-3 p.m., Love at First Bite, 11305 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley. (509) 891-2501.

Sunday

Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-Off - Gingerbread house build-off from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., children can make their own mini-gingerbread house for $7, with proceeds going to Christ Kitchen. The Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. (509) 954-0554.

Author Aunt Kimmie Bebo - Children’s author signs copies of her picture books including her most recent, “The Goosie’s New Pond.” 1-3 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave., Spokane. (509) 838-0206.

Ongoing

Campbell House Holidays - Part of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, admission tickets includes the exhibit galleries and a tour of the house. Guests can tour the house at their leisure from noon-4 p.m., Dec. 21-24, 28-31 and Jan. 1. 2316 W. First Ave. $7/adults, $5/seniors and students. (509) 456-3931.

Christmas Tree Fundraiser - Runs through Dec. 17. Proceeds will benefit Hutton Settlement. Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays, 5-7 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The settlement driveway is a mile east of Argonne on Upriver Drive. 9907 E. Wellesley Ave., Spokane Valley. (509) 926-1027.

Coeur d’Alene Resort Holiday Light Show - Runs through Jan. 2. More than 1.5 million lights sparkle across Lake Coeur d’Alene. Ride one of the Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise boats for a trip across the water to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole workshop. Nightly cruise departure times: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Reservations required. Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene. $16.95/adults, $15.95/seniors, free/age 12 and younger. (208) 664-7268.

GI Holiday Jukebox - USO tribute show presented by Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre. Shows Wednesday- Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Runs through Dec. 23. Coeur d’Alene Resort Theatre, Coeur d’Alene. $20/adults, $25/premiere, $18/children. (208) 769-7780.

“Little Women”- Presented by Theater Arts for Children. Shows this Friday and Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.; Saturday and Dec. 17 at 4 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m., Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. $10/general, $8/children ages 12 and younger. (509) 995-6718.

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 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 The Crescent building, 707 W. Main Ave. (509) 448-2900.

Send information about events at least two weeks in advance by email to features

@spokesman.com; by fax to (509) 459-5098; by mail to Our Kids Calendar, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; or submit online at www.spokane7.com

/events/submit.