Well it’s officially here.

The holiday season, that is.  

The streets are full of snow, the malls are getting busy, and our calendars are filling up fast! 

Having put out my tree and all my other decorations this past weekend I am in full blown festive spirit.  

So I thought I’d write about what there is to do in or around the Elmwood area to help you add to your holiday festivities.  

The third annual breakfast with Santa will be held at the Elmwood-East Kildonan Senior Centre at 180 Poplar Ave. from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 8.  The Elmwood Community Resource Centre plays host to this festive event and invites any and all families to join them.

Cancer Care Manitoba has stepped up for the second year in a row and volunteered its time to help set up, cook, decorate and more. There will be an array of food served including pancakes, bacon, coffee and juice. Arts and crafts will be available for kids, as well as cookie decorating. Last year this event attracted over 400 guests, and this year they expect to see at least that. Of course, among those 400 will be the big guy himself — Santa Claus!

There are always plenty of craft sales to go to at your community schools and churches. One sale I make sure to attend every year is the Miles MacDonnell Collegiate annual craft sale, which is this year being held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. The biggest school craft sale I’ve ever been to hosts numerous artisans and crafts. The lower-level hallways are strewn with tables, as well as both gymnasiums, so there is sure to be something for everyone!

Of course, this time of year doesn’t bring everyone great joy. To some, the holidays are emotional, burdensome and just not enjoyable. Don’t fret, though, there is something for you too.  Riverwood Community church is offering a Blue Christmas service on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. for people that feel this way leading up to the holidays.  They hope that anyone in need of a lift will join them.

As always ,Christmas is a time of giving, and there are plenty of worthy causes to donate to both her at home and abroad. I am, as I always do, filling shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse.

If you would like to help me, I will happily accept the donation of goods in an effort to fill more boxes than I did last year, when I was able to complete seven boxes on my own.

Imagine what I could do with the help of a community!

Here’s hoping you have a great holiday season!

Melissa Bigras is a community correspondent for Elmwood. You can contact her at paul_melissa_bigras@hotmail.com.