The season of spending is upon us. While there are lots of splurge-worthy holiday performances and dinners, we present a list of free ways to celebrate.
Monday:Listen to a reading of the Dr. Seuss classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana Center at 4 p.m. Coloring and activities will follow. If you’re lucky, a relative can keep an eye on the kids while you start your holiday shopping. Visit www.barnesandnoble.com.
Tuesday: Kids ages 6 to 14 can make tiny Lego gingerbread houses at the Lego Store’s monthly Mini Model Build at 5 p.m. Call 942-5346.
Wednesday: Castle Medical Center hosts its community tree-lighting program at 7 p.m. with Nathan Aweau in concert at 7:30 p.m. There will be keiki activities, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and trolley rides through Kailua town. Visit castlemed.org.
Thursday: Most communities have a Christmas parade each year. In Kaimuki, the festivities begin at 6 p.m. and wind from Saint Louis High School to Koko Head Avenue. Visit www.kbpahawaii.com.
Friday: Kroc Center Hawaii presents A Touch of Christmas from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at its Kapolei facility, where families can make gingerbread houses, check out the live Nativity scene, make crafts, take a ride on a "reindeer" and more. The Kroc Center is at 91-3257 Kualakai Parkway. Call 682-5505.
Dec. 6: The city Christmas tree will be lit in front of Honolulu Hale at 6:30 p.m. as the Electric Light Parade makes its way from Aala Park down King Street. Honolulu Hale will be open until 11 p.m. to give visitors time to check out the trees and wreaths on display. Or come back Dec. 13 for ornament making from 6 to 8 p.m. and free photos with Santa from 7 to 9 p.m.; on Dec. 19 for free milk and cookies; or on Dec. 20 for another chance at free photos with the man in red from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 768-3391.
Children get free admission to Wet ‘N’ Wild Hawaii from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a donation of a new, unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more. Toys will be donated to a homeless shelter.
Dec. 7: Listen to the Central Union Oratorio Choir and Chamber Ensemble sing "Hallelujah!" in the church’s 67th annual presentation of Handel’s "Messiah." The performance at Central Union Church starts at 7 p.m. Call 941-0957.
Dec. 8: It’s time to send your wish list to St. Nick. Do it at the Windward Mall Dear Santa Letter Writing Station (open through Dec. 24) and include a postage stamp to receive a reply. Or take part in Macy’s Believe campaign by mailing your letter at Macy’s stores in the North Pole Mailbox, or log on to macys.com/believe to write and send your letter digitally. For every letter received, Macy’s donates $1 to Make-A-Wish.
Dec. 9: Design an ornament for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s annual Keiki Kalikimaka contest.
Dec. 10: One of the most earnest ways to spend the holidays is to attend a school Christmas pageant, filled with the sweet (if not always pitch-perfect) voices of students and the sounds of budding musicians. St. John Vianney School in Kailua invites the public to its holiday concert at 6:30 p.m. at St. John Vianney Church, 920 Keolu Drive. Call 261-4651.
Dec. 11: From 9 a.m. to noon, deaf keiki can deliver their wish lists to Santa using American Sign Language at Pearlridge Uptown. Visit www.pearlridgeonline.com.
Courtyard Cinema, which screens films outdoors on the second Thursday of each month, will show "It’s a Wonderful Life" at 6 p.m. in the IBM Building Ward Village Courtyard. To reserve free tickets, visit www.wardvillagecourtyardcinema.com.
Dec. 12: Pedal Hawaii hosts a bike ride from the Queen Kapiolani Hotel in Waikiki past the Honolulu City Lights from 6 to 9 p.m. Riders can borrow bikes for free and are encouraged to wear their holiday best. RSVP to Hawaii@pedalbiketours.com or arrive at the hotel by 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 13: Kids can feel the chill of winter at Salt Lake Shopping Center’s Frosted Fantasyland from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a donation of a canned good, keiki can take a ride around the center in a Victorian horse carriage or play in 8 tons of icy snow. An ice queen and Santa will be on hand for photo ops, or kids can build snowmen at the crafts tent. The shopping center is at 848 Ala Lilikoi St. Visit saltlakeshoppingcenter.com.
Dec. 14: Local reggae band The Green will entertain shoppers with a holiday concert at Windward Mall’s Center Court from noon to 1 p.m. While you’re there, check out the Snow Flurry Tree in the Sears Wing of the mall. It blows down foamy "snow" for 15 minutes at the top of each hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 24. Visit www.windwardmall.com.
Dec. 15: Karol’s Karolers will perform a 45-minute program of international Christmas music at 6:30 p.m. at Ewa Beach Public & School Library. Call 689-1204.
Dec. 16: Take a ride on the "The Polar Express," airing at 6:30 p.m. on ABC Family as part of the network’s 25 Days of Christmas programming. If you prefer the book by Chris Van Allsburg over the Tom Hanks movie, Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana will have a special storytime with activities for keiki at 7 p.m. Friday. Visit www.barnesandnoble.com. For a full listing of ABC’s holiday shows, visit abcfamily.go.com.
Dec. 17: Photo packages are pretty pricey these days, but it’s still free for keiki to sit on Santa’s lap and whisper their wishes in his ear at malls around the island. They might even get a candy cane.
Dec. 18: Puppeteer Christy Lipps performs a 45-minute holiday show that will tour several public libraries. Catch her at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 11 at Aina Haina, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Kapolei, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 17 at Ewa Beach and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18 at Kaneohe. Visit librarieshawaii.org.
Dec. 19: Waimanalo Country Farms hosts a live Nativity show at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20, kids can walk around the farm, visit the animals and walk through the bubbly "snow" tunnel. Other crafts and activities are available for a nominal fee. Call 306-4381.
Dec. 20: The expressive children of the Honolulu Boy Choir have been entertaining for 40 years, and once again they’d like to wish you the "Merriest Hawaiian Christmas" at 7 p.m. at Central Union Church. Call 941-0957.
Dec. 21: Family Sunday at Spalding House features ornament making and storytelling, while at the Honolulu Museum of Art kids can explore Filipino holiday traditions, including making parol stars and festive gift bags. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with activities ending at 3 p.m. It’s not quite free, but over at the museum’s Doris Duke Theatre, kids can let go their passion for Elsa and Anna at the "Frozen Sing-Along" at 11:10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is $3 general and $1 for kids 12 and under. Visit honolulumuseum.org.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ choirs young and old will perform a program of Christmas carols and holiday songs at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 at the Honolulu Tabernacle, 1560 S. Beretania St. Call 358-6935.
Dec. 22: Na Kama will perform an hourlong holiday concert at the Waikiki Beachwalk Fountain Stage at 6 p.m. accompanied by a hula performance by Halau ‘Olapakuikala‘i ‘O Hokuaulani. Visit www.waikikibeachwalk.com.
At the Ewa Beach Public & School Library, settle in for a Christmas movie marathon from 1 to 8 p.m., when librarians will screen "Arthur Christmas," "A Christmas Carol," "Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Elf" and "The Polar Express." Call 689-1204.
Dec. 23: Weldon Kekauoha wraps up the Kahala Mall concert series at 2 p.m. in Center Court.
The Hawaii State Library hosts winter break family activities including craft time for kids ages 4 to 12 at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23 and 30 and Jan. 6 in the Edna Allyn Room for Children. Call 586-3510.
Dec. 24: Take a stroll through Waikiki to check out all the beautiful decorations. Make sure to stop in the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani lobby to see this year’s gingerbread village created by Executive Chef Ralf Bauer. The sweet display took more than 140 pounds of dark chocolate, 80 pounds of white chocolate, 80 sheets of gingerbread and 300 pounds of icing to complete and will be up until the first week of January. Visit www.princess-kaiulani.com.
Dec. 25: Merry Christmas!
