Activities can help ease stress of holidays

Ready or not, the holiday season is officially upon us.

For most families, the next six weeks are fully booked with shopping excursions, dinner parties and other holiday festivities. No doubt, it’s a stressful time of the year.

If you need a break, here are some fun, family-friendly activities that will help lighten up your holiday season.

1. Skate away your stress.

After a day of shopping in Seattle, enjoy fresh crisp air during an outdoor skating session at the Group Health Ice Arena at Bellevue Downtown Park. The arena is a block south of Bellevue Square at Northeast First Street and 102nd Avenue Northeast, Bellevue.

A portion of the ice rink is covered for rainy weather, and spectators can stay warm in a heated tent. It is open daily from Nov. 28 to Jan. 11. Hours vary.

Admission is $7 with your own skates, and $10 with skate rental. Or stop by a Bank of America branch and pick up a free pass to skate on Mondays throughout the season.

For more information, call 425-453-1223 or go to www. magicseason.com.

If you’re looking for something a little warmer and closer to home, the indoor Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway also offers daily skating sessions. Hours vary.

Admission is $5 to $7 with skate rental, or $3 to $5 with your own skates. In addition, Sprinker offers Cheapskate Sessions (which include skate rental) for $4 on certain days. For more information, call 253-798-4000 or go to www. co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/ recreate/SPR-ice.htm.

2. Take in a light show.

Holiday light displays can brighten up some of the dreariest nights.

Here are some of the places that will be aglow for the season:

Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium features more than a half million lights. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. daily, Nov. 28 to Jan. 4. Cost is $7 a person.

For more information, call 253-591-5337 or go to www. pdza.org.

Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park boasts nearly 300 elaborate displays, and is the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest. Hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily, Nov. 27-Jan. 4. Cost is $13 per vehicle. For more information, including where to buy discount tickets, call 253-798-4000 or go to www.co.pierce. wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/parks/ flights.htm.

Thanks to the students and faculty in the Living in the Sacred Garden core program at The Evergreen State College, the Olympia college this year will host Gardens of Light, an outdoor exhibit of illuminated 3-D sculptures.

The public display will be up from Dec. 5 to Feb. 5 in Evergreen’s Red Square.

Students and faculty in the core program will curate the exhibit with artist Gene Walker.

For more information, go to http://academic.evergreen. edu/curricular/lsg/community. htm.

The Olympian’s Tour of Lights, a compilation of mostly amateur-made yet eyepopping light displays, is an annual South Sound tradition.

Watch for the guide of Thurston County’s most festive neighborhoods in an upcoming edition of The Olympian.

3. Visit with Santa Claus.

This time of year, The Jolly One and his look-alike helpers can be spotted just about everywhere.

And with the hubbub of the holidays, even grownups can benefit from a heart-to-heart with the head elf.

Here are a few of the upcoming South Sound events that will feature lap time and photo opportunities with the big guy:

Downtown for the Holidays, begins at noon Nov. 30, with entertainment throughout the day, a parade at 3 p.m. and a tree lighting ceremony at 4:45 p.m. at Sylvester Park in Olympia. the Olympia Downtown Association at 360-357-8948 or go to http://downtownolympia.com.

Lighting of the Holiday Tree, 6 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Huntamer Park, Seventh and Woodland Square Loop, Lacey. For more information, call 360-491-0857 or go to www. ci.lacey.wa.us.

Santa Welcome, 1 to 5 p.m., Dec. 7 at the Olympic Fight Museum, 7637-A Old Highway 99 S.E., Olympia.

Watch Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in South Sound by helicopter. Admission is $5 per person, or half-price with the purchase of a Santa photo.

For more information, call 360-705-3925 or go to www. olympicflightmuseum.com.

Breakfast with Santa, 8 to 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Westfield Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd., Olympia. Tickets, which are available until Nov. 30, are $5 per person.

Children 2 and younger are free. Proceeds benefit the Thurston County Food Bank.

For more information, call 360-754-8017 or 360-754-8098.

State Capital Museum Annual Holiday Celebration, noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 13. Cost is free with paid admission of $1-$2. Children 5 and younger are free. For more information, call 360-753-2580 or go to www.washingtonhistory.org.

Former Olympian reporter Lisa Pemberton is busier than ever with her three children, ages 1, 3 and 7. She can be reached at lisapemberton@ rocketmail.com.