December is a month full of fun events, many associated with the holiday season. After finals, I often find myself with nothing to do. If you find yourself not-so-patiently waiting for the holidays, here are some events that will keep you busy.

• The North Pole Experience

Happening November 17- December 28, bring the entire family to Santa’s workshop! Take the Snowball Express to Santa’s workshop, where you can help the elves create toys for the good children, tour Santa’s infamous factory, eat magical bakery treats, and even meet Santa himself! This is a fun adventure for the whole family.

• Peoria’s Old Town Holiday Festival

Take a trip to Peoria and visit their annual Holiday Festival! With over three decades of experience, this free festival is fun for all ages! Families can enjoy live entertainment, play in the imported snow, and even meet Santa! This event is happening Friday, November 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

• A  Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail

Looking for an inexpensive play to see with the whole family? Take a trip down to the Valley Youth Group play, while Pooh, Piglet, Kanga, Baby Roo, and Owl search to help Eeyore find his tail. This $20 musical is sure to bring joy to people of all ages.

• APS Electric Light Parade

This Saturday, December 1, APS is holding their annual Electric Light Parade. This free parade showcases dozens of floats decorated with lights, music, and sometimes even performers! This year’s parade theme is “Magic of the Holidays”, and the parade goes from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This parade “starts at Central and Montebello avenues, heads east on Camelback Road and ends at Seventh Street and Indian School Road”.

• Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade of Lights

This annual ceremony, happening this year on December 1, showcases a silver, sparkly tree, made entirely out of tumbleweeds! This event includes many vendors, including food vendors, starting at 4:30 p.m., a parade starting at 6:45 p.m., and the actual tree lighting starting around 8:00 p.m. The event ends at 9:00 p.m. With activities for the whole family, this is an event you won’t want to miss! The Tumbleweed Tree Lighting is an event that has been held for 60 years, and contains fun for all ages! The tree itself contains over 1,000 local tumbleweeds, gallons of paint, and 65 pounds of glitter and lights. This southern tradition is an Arizona icon you won’t want to miss!

• The Nutcracker

Presented by Ballet Etudes, The Nutcracker has various showtimes between November 23- November 25, and

November 30- December 2. Presented at the Chandler Center for the Arts, this magical journey shows Clara’s adventures as she encounters “life-size mice, swirling snowflakes, dancing confections and the Sugar Plum Fairy”. Come join Ballet Etude’s 32nd production of the Nutcracker, an entertaining play for all ages!

• Santa Visits

Have you been dying to meet the Big Man himself? Well, you’re in luck! Santa will be visiting Downtown Chandler Saturday, December 1 from 4:30-9:00 p.m., Thursday, December 6 from 5-7 p.m., Saturday, December 8 from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, December 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Pictures will be closed during the parade, but will open after! Make sure to arrive early in order to avoid the line to meet Santa!

• ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo

ZooLights is a creative tradition that the Phoenix Zoo puts on. This tradition involves millions of lights strung around the park, over 700 dazzling displays! This spectacular light show is fun for all ages and also includes light displays that incorporate music. ZooLights is open nightly from November 21- January 13 from 5:30 to 10:30. Ticket prices vary at the ticket booth, depending on age.

Knights, December is full of amazing events that are great for the whole family! Make sure to stop by one of these fantastic attractions for a night to remember.