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I think it’s safe to say we have passed the start of the holiday shopping season. The decorations and shopping specials have been prevalent for weeks.

As we turn the corner toward Thanksgiving, though, the community events that we so often associate with the start of the season are finally catching up. Christmas tree lighting and holiday parades take center-stage this weekend as we now find ourselves with fewer than 35 shopping days until Christmas.

Friday

The holiday sprit comes to life Friday morning as the Paine Art Center & Gardens opens its Nutcracker in the Castle event. The classical ballet comes to life in the Paine “Castle” with historic rooms elaborately decorated as the fantastic scenes of the beloved holiday fairy tale.

Self-guided tours begin on Friday, with tours guided by costumed dancers beginning on Saturday.

If a downtown event is more your speed, the Broadway District in Green Bay will celebrate the season with an official lighting ceremony for the holiday light displays that adorn the area. The event will include horse drawn carriages to tour the unique live window displays as well as carolers, live music, business specials and refreshments.

Saturday

Looking for a good laugh? Bob Newhart will perform his latest comedy routine during an appearance at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. A veteran of two successful TV series and more than a dozen films, he most recently reprised his role as Professor Proton on “Big Bang Theory.” He’s always good for a laugh or two or many.

Antiquarians interested in adding to their collection, or having that special piece appraised, will want to head to Green Bay for the 57th Annual Holiday Antique Show and Sale hosted by the Green Bay and De Pere Antiquarian Society. The events starts Friday and runs all day on Saturday.

If you are headed to Green Bay early, the Green Bay Holiday Parade steps off at 11 a.m.

Sunday

This time of year, Sunday’s are usually reserved for watching Green Bay Packer games. But if you are looking for an alternative, the Fox Valley Symphony’s Youth Orchestras have a show that will help you escape for a few hours. The youth orchestras will perform at Lawrence University’s Memorial Chapel and will feature works from Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Dvorak & Beethoven in the performance.

The Week Ahead

As we finally turn past the weekend and into Thanksgiving week, don’t forget the Downtown Appleton Holiday Paradeon Tuesday evening. Now hailed as Wisconsin’s largest nighttime parade, the event kicks off with the Santa Scamper, which is followed by more than 75 themed entries celebrating a storybook Christmas.

Still haven’t found what you are looking for? The FOX CITIES Magazine event calendar is constantly updated. Check it out!