Festivities

Bunny Angels at Borders—This holiday season, Borders features a Christmas tree decorated with Bunny Angel ornaments designed by Sylvia Long, renowned illustrator of children's books. The Bunny Angels will bear the names and ages of needy children, supplied by the Salvation Army. Holiday shoppers can select a Bunny Angel from the tree and choose a gift from among hundreds of thousands of books, CDs, videos/DVDs, and other items throughout the store. Borders will then gift-wrap the items using the Bunny Angel as a tag; the Salvation Army will deliver the presents to the children; and your good deed will be complete. Borders Books, 1501 Fourth, 622-4599.

Star Power—On sale now: The Bon March駳 Holiday Star ornament. Buy one of these beauties at your local Bon and partial proceeds go to the Starlight Children's Foundation of Washington. $30 each plus tax. Call 506-4FUN for more info.

Northwest Boychoir—Their "Festival of Lessons and Carols" features multiple performances in multiple venues. Hear the voices of angels, we mean children, as they sing traditional favorites and holiday hymns. Purchase tickets in advance or at the door. $10 adults/$5 children. Arrive early, as concerts generally draw capacity audiences. Epiphany Church, 38th and Denny. 12/8 at 7:30. Trinity Episcopal Church, 2301 Hoyt, Everett. 12/9 at 7:30. Cedarcrest Performing Arts Center, 29000 NE 150th, Duvall. 12/10 at 7. Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd SW. 12/15 at 7:30. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 4805 NE 45th. 12/16 at 7. Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 6211 NE 182nd, Kenmore. 12/17 at 7. Benaroya Hall, Mark Taper Auditorium, Third and Union. 12/21 at 7:30. Call 524-3234 for more information or advance tickets.

A Christmas Carol—It's A Contemporary Theater's 25th annual presentation of Charles Dickens' classic, and once again, Ebenezer Scrooge, the stingiest man in London, discovers the true spirit of Christmas. A Contemporary Theater, 700 Union, 292-7660. $16-$35/ $13.50-$29 seniors and children. Thu 12/7-Sun 12/24, call 292-7676 or visit www.acttheatre.org for times.

Argosy Christmas Ship Festival—Hop on board The Spirit of Seattle, the official Christmas ship, decked with thousands of white lights and other holiday decorations. Aboard ship, the Northwest's finest choirs sing holiday greetings; on shore, revelers gather around roaring bonfires. The Argosy Christmas ship Festival cruises to over 45 waterfront locations throughout Seattle, Lake Washington, and the Puget Sound area and benefits The Seattle Times Fund for the Needy, which supports several Puget Sound charity organizations and social service providers. Call 623-1445 or visit www.argosycruises.com for times and locations. Christmas ship: $26.50/$16.50 children; Argosy follow boats: $17/$12. Thu 12/7-Sat 12/23.

Nordys Giving Trees—Select a gift card from a Giving Tree at any Washington Nordstrom store and purchase the requested item for local charities to distribute. Each store selects a local charity in their community to support. For more info, call your local store: downtown Seattle (628-2111), Northgate (364-8800), Bellevue (425-455-5800), Southcenter (246-0400), Tacoma (253-475-3630), and Alderwood (425-771-5755). Thu 12/7-Sun 12/24.

Santa Castle Outside Nordys—Read your wish list to and take a photo with Mr. Claus inside the snow-covered castle outside the downtown Seattle Nordstrom. "Santa, I'd like to reinvent myself." African-American Santa and American-Sign-Language Santa will be there, as well. Sixth and Pine, call 628-1000 for more info or to schedule an appointment. Thu 12/7-Sun 12/24.

Wells Fargo Magic Season—Only three weeks left of Bellevue's holiday events and festivities. Some highlights: The Wells Fargo Ice Arena (Downtown Park, 10201 NE Fourth, Bellevue, 425-453-1223; $5 plus $2 for skate rental; 12/7-12/31) offers Nutcracker on Ice performances, special appearances, and private parties. Over 200,000 lights dress the Bellevue Botanical Garden in the Puget Sound Energy Garden D'Lights (Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main, 425-451-3755 or www.bellevuebotanical.org; $3 donation; 12/7-12/31). Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides in Old Bellevue (Wells Fargo Ice Arena, call 425-453-1655 for prices; 12/7-12/30) deliver you from Main Street to Bellevue's past. Sponsored by Wells Fargo, Puget Sound Energy, STAR 101.5, 570 KVI, Eastside Journal, and the City of Bellevue. For more info, www.magicseason.com.

Poinsettia Festival—Surround yourself with 38 varieties of Molbak's-grown poinsettias and celebrate the season with a slice of Danish pastry and coffee compliments of the store. Every hour, there'll be a drawing for a free poinsettia. Molbak's, 13625 NE 175th, Woodinville, 425-483-5000. 12/7-24, Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 9-6. Also at Molbak's, University Village, 754-6500. 12/8-10, Fri 9-9, Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 9-7.

Festivals of Light—Light up the short days of winter with Seattle's annual Festivals of Light, which showcase the holiday traditions of diverse cultures. Festivals include Hanukkah (12/7-8), Santa Lucia (12/9-15), American Christmas: German Roots (12/16-22), and Kwanzaa (12/23-31). Seattle Center, the Children's Museum, call 441-1769 or visit www.thechildrensmuseum.org for event details. $5. Museum hours: Mon-Fri, 10-5; Sat-Sun, 10-6.

Holiday Ceramics Sale—A nonprofit arts organization that offers classes in ceramics and serves as studio space for local artists, Seward Park Art Studio showcases these artists' work at a fund-raising event for the organization. Seward Park Art Studio, 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, 722-6342 or www.sewardparkart.org. Free. 12/7-24, weekdays 10-8, weekends 10-6.

Merry Chris Mouse—It's a couple of days before Christmas, and a family of mice, without a piece of cheese to their name, arrives at its new home. Twins Christine and Christopher scamper out of their hole in the wall to scavenge in a child's room. They find a caged white mouse and a big dog! Includes Sue Ennis' song "Carving the Christmas Cheese." Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center, 104 17th S, 684-4757. $5; 3pm show costs $8/$6 seniors and children. Thu 12/7 at 10:30am and 5, Sun 12/10 at 3, Tue 12/12 at 10am.