The holiday season is in full effect, and there are celebrations all over the Island: Christmas tree lightings, festivals, a LEGO-menorah-building event, shows--even a weekend-long Charles Dickens festival, complete with period costumes, horse-and-carriage rides, and, of course, productions of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. And if you are ready for an outing to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree, we've got you covered. There are also some fun and educational non-holiday-oriented shows at the Long Island Children's Museum. And Saturday's National Cookie Day, don't you know? So cut the kids some slack this weekend, and while you're at it, take them to the Whaling Museum in Cold Spring Harbor for a Sea Cookie Workshop!

We've rounded up a list of the top events happening around the Island to suit whatever you're looking for--holiday themed or not.

And if you have a moment, check out the wonderful food drive that Mommy Poppins herself has spearheaded and Help Us Feed 10,000 NYC Children This Holiday Season. It's an easy process, and may be the start of an important discussion with your kids.

It's December! See some fun holiday shows, win free tix to "It's a Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Play" or just ease into the holiday spirit with gingerbread house tutorials, craft fairs, fests and loads and loads of shopping. A fan of the Elf on the Shelf? Be sure to check out the Elf Movie Special Author signing in Westfield to get the details on the sneaky elf-turned movie star. And have fun! It is the most Wonderful time of the year, after all.

For many of us, watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” is as much a holiday tradition as hanging stockings or baking cookies for the full-figured man in red. I have seen the film many times and consider myself a “IAWL” purist, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about a different version. Happy to report that the consistently excellent Mile Square Theater won me over with their charming “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”. Read on for my review and a chance to win tickets to this Wonderful show.

There’s no denying it: the Christmas season has started. So Cal kids have already been exposed to snow, ice skating and an average of 2.7 Santa Clauses*, so we at Mommy Poppins suggest you go with the flow and embrace the season of giving. And in that spirit, we offer you our first giveaway, our gift to you, in this holiday season.

This weekend, kids can learn about fire, fashion, and penguins; good little children can visit with Santa for breakfast, storytime, or a vintage train ride. Families can enjoy Big Band music, classic Disney cartoons, a party with Cirque du Soleil, and any number of Nutcracker ballets.

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend, and to learn about our great big giveaway!

(*Figure entirely made up)

It’s that time of year, when there are more seasonal activities than hours to do them. Santa has set up shop at many locations around town, and neighborhood tree lightings are in full swing. Plus, you can take your pick of holiday shows like A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker.

There are other events going on as well. The Boston Children Theatre presents The Velveteen Rabbit and Concord Youth Theatre stages Anne of Green Gables. Read on for all of our picks and remember, you can find additional options in our Events Calendar.

Enjoy!

Here are some questions to answer to determine if you should take the time to read this article:
1. Do you spend more than two minutes a day looking for ANYTHING?
2. Does accessing any daily needed item require you to move something else to reach it?
3. Do you have visions of night gnomes merrily tidying while you sleep and magically making the stress inducing piles disappear?

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, read on.

With the delicious holiday of Thanksgiving behind us, we are entering the most beautiful winter period of the year: the time of preparation and expectant waiting for Christmas itself. There is no other theatrical event than the two-act ballet of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker that more suitably expresses the beauty of the season.

Tchaikovsky's music is easily accessible for all: the dreamy costumes and gracious dance appeal to all little would-be prima ballerinas, the enchanting props and scenery mesmerize young and old alike. The action-packed scenes never fail to amaze our young grade school boys either.

Throughout the month of December, this classical ballet will be performed in many towns across Connecticut. The shows will be as diverse as our communities: young aspiring ballet students from dance conservatories, amateur and professional companies will put up their own interpretations of the show. Some perform the traditional plot and choreography, others dream up new readings of the original story and new dances to the well-known music. Below you can read a round-up of upcoming shows. Please, check the venues' or companies' websites for exact show times and ticket prices.

Do you have grand ideas of getting that special tree this weekend? Don't cut down a thing until you've read our round ups of Cut Your Own Tree Farms in both Litchfield and Fairfield Counties. If you are just looking for pure kid fun without celebrating the holidays just quite yet, the LEGO Kidsfest is happening all weekend in Hartford. You can also learn about shelter dogs at the Stepping Stones Mutt-i-grees event or catch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs playing in Bridgeport.

Rumor has it that you can see Santa for breakfast at the Bushnell and then later on at Angevine Farm this weekend. Many towns are hosting their own Christmas tree lightings and Ridgefield, Stamford, Riverton, Mystic and Kent are no exception.

Hop aboard a Holiday train ride at one of these great places: Essex Steam Train Museum, Connecticut Trolley Museum or the Danbury Railway Museum or just watch a free screening of Polar Express at the Avon Theatre! It's Gingerbread Day all weekend at the Noah Webster House, Visions of Gingerbread in Stamford and an entire Gingerbread Festival awaits you in Kent. For those of you who feel like making something, Pratt Nature Center is creating holiday crafts or you can attend this Wreath Making Workshop in Norfolk. Lest we not forget our troops over the holidays, join No Drama Mama & Papas at the East Norwalk Library as they create cards to send overseas this Holiday Season.

Remember to like us on Facebook and Twitter for daily reminders of cool events happening around town. Here's our weekend list of activities: