Seasonal festivities to enjoy this week

Winter Festival
Dec 17
Evergreen Brick Works

Lace up and help launch the winter season with the opening of a family-friendly outdoor skating rink, groove to some hot tunes and chill by the warm fire. Plus, join in cooking workshops and learn how to make delicious hot and spicy winter treats!

For more information, check out the Evergreen Brick Works website.

Lantern Making Workshop
Dec 17
United Steelworker's Hall

Consider this hour-long workshop a prelude to the annual Winter Solstice Parade that will take place in Kensington Market on Dec 21. Make lanterns and new friends while preparing for the longest night of the year.

For more information, check out the Red Pepper Spectacle Arts website.

Winterfest
Dec 17 to Dec 18
Waterfront BIA

The holiday season is magical at Toronto's Waterfront, there is so much for families to experience from the Santa Cruise to puppet and dog shows and skating.

For more information, check out the Waterfront BIA website.

Bed and Breakfast
Dec 17 to Dec 30
Tarragon Theatre Extra Space

Puppetmongers' return to the Tarragon with their charming adaptation of The Princess and the Pea, set in a magnificent miniature mansion of the Edwardian era. Older children are intrigued by the captivating detail -- tiny working period light fixtures and steaming bathtubs. Younger children are entranced by the story, transfixed by the power of make-believe. Humour abounds and everyone roots for the clever servants who conspire to create a happy ending for their employers.

For more information, check out the Puppetmongers website.

Bolshoi Ballet: Nutcracker
Dec 18 and Dec 19
Cineplex Odeon

Check out the Bolshoi's Ballet take on this seasonal classic, recorded live in Moscow.

For more information on the various Cineplex Cinemas screening this classic, check out the Cineplex Odeon website.

A Wonderful Life
Dec 16 (8 PM)
Toronto Underground Cinema

The quintessential Christmas film. The subject of countless parodies, rip offs and imitators, but when you look past that you`ll see a extremely well crafted and expertly put together film.

For more information, check out the Toronto Underground Cinema website.

Unsilent Night
Dec 17 (7 PM)
Meet at the ROM

Dust the dust off ye old boombox and head to the ROM to join in this experience that has been described as surreal, bizarre and strangely meditative. You play one of four tracks mixes of a track to create an outdoor soundscape. The organizers will hand out cassette tapes and CDs or you can download a track to play on MP3 player with speakers. However, you don't need to have a boombox to join in the fun.

For more information, check out the Unsilent Night website.

2nd Annual Latkepalooza
Dec 18
Caplansky's

Join in celebration of fried potatoes! Bonus -- you get to check out the weekly storytelling event.

Check out this wonderful description of the event at Toronto Life magazine.