The most wonderful time of the year is also one of the busiest times of the year.
The rest of the 2018 is packed with holiday-related events and celebrations of the new year.
Here’s a rundown of the happenings you can expect through the rest of December.
Recurring event
Gift Wrapping at the JAHC, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays, Monday through Saturday through Dec. 24, 350 Whittier St. Wrapping costs $2 per box if customers wrap or $5 per box if JAHC staff wraps.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Juneau Cabaret Holiday Extravaganza, 5-6:15 p.m., Centennial Hall Convention Center, 101 Egan Drive. Juneau Cabaret will have its third annual Holiday Extravaganza in Centennial Hall Lobby as a rush hour concert.
Holiday Season Potluck, 6-7:30 p.m., Northern Light United Church, 400 W. 11th St. Juneau Reentry Coalition invites members of the community to celebrate successful recovery and reentry into the community after incarceration. People with lived experience, family members and all community members are invited to come with or without a dish to share.
Thursday, Dec. 20
Happy Holidays Open House, 4-7 p.m., Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority, 5446 Jenkins Drive. There will be cookies, prizes and photos with Santa. All are welcome.
Friday, Dec. 21
Solstice Sound Bath, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Path, 5326 Shaune Drive. There will be toning, chanting and a crystal bowl ceremony led by Lindsay Foreman that will focus on the rebirth of the sun. Suggested donation is $20.
Christmas Light Flights, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Juneau International Airport, 1873 Shell Simmons Drive. At the North Wing of Airport Terminal Building there will be helicopter rides to see Christmas lights in Juneau. The event supports Children’s Tumor Foundation and Lions Club projects. 100 percent of ticket sales go to charity. The flights cost $30 per person and are purchased at the event.
Christmas Super Bingo, 6-10:30 p.m., T&H Bingo, 3235 Hospital Drive, Juneau. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the first session starts at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22
Photos with Santa,2-4 p.m., Nugget Mall, 8745 Glacier Highway.
Solstice Dance, 3-4:30 p.m., Rainforest Yoga, 174 S. Franklin St, Suite 202. The solstice dance is hosted by Sacred Dance: Juneau. No dance or movement experience is required. Attendees are welcome to bring any sacred objects for a collective altar space.
Santa Rides with Capital City Fire/Rescue, 6-8:30 p.m., Glacier Valley Elementary, 3400 Tongass Blvd. The parade then proceeds on Stephen Richards Memorial Drive to Riverside Drive to Long Run Road to Portage Boulevard to Aspen Avenue to Taku Boulevard to Thunder Mountain Road and ends at Glacier Valley Church of God.
Sunday, Dec. 23
“Scrooged” and pizza, 5-8 p.m., North Star Vineyard invited the public to the Walker House, 619 St. Anns Ave., Douglas. Chow down on pizza and watch the Bill Muray holiday classic“Scrooged.”
Live music, noon-2 p.m., Alaska Shirt Company, 489 S. Franklin St. Floyd Dryden eighth-grade orchestra will be busking to fund travel to a competition in Anaheim, Calif. They will also accept donations for Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE), the Glory Hall, Meals on Wheels and Southeast Alaska Foodbank.
Wellbriety Gathering, 306 p.m., Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, 320 W. Willoughby Ave. Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska will hose an event celebrating sobriety and wellness for Alaska Native people. The event will include an acknowledgment of participant sobriety time and loved ones lost to substance misuse. For more information contact (907)463-7197.
Photos with Santa,2-4 p.m., Nugget Mall, 8745 Glacier Highway.
Monday, Dec. 24
Santa & Torchlight Parade, 3-6:30 p.m., Eaglecrest Ski Area, 3000 Fish Creek Road. Santa will visit Eaglecrest with a parade at the Hooter and Porcupine chairlifts. There will be arts, crafts, story time, music, carols, milk, cookies and cider.
Sunday, Dec. 30
Open swim day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Dimond Aquatic Center, 3045 Riverside Drive. There will be three one-hour group sessions. Exact times and sign ups are pending.
Monday, Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Lupo, 6:30-9:30 p.m., In Bocca Al Lupo, 120 Second St. This is a six-course dinner for those 21 and older. Tickets are $120 per person, which includes wine pairings and gratuity. Vegetarian and gluten free options are available with advance notice. Toclets can be bought in person, over the phone by calling (907)586-1409 or online at www.squareup.com/store/inboccaallupo.
New Year’s Eve Barn Dance, 7:30-11 p.m., St. Ann’s Parish Hall, 430 Fifth St. Say farewell to the old year with live, foot-stomping music and friendly folks. There will be live old-time music by Rumbleshack — featuring Andy Ferguson, Jack Fontanella, Ian Putnam and Abbey Janes. Tom Paul will teach and call contra and square dances for all abilities. No experience or partner is needed. Admission for adults is $10, students and those 25 and under is $5, the event is free for JVs and Americorps. Tickets are bought at the door.
Swing in the New Year Gala, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, 350 Whittier St. Dance in the New Year with the Juneau Big Band and Gamble the the High Costa of Livin’. General admission is $30-$36, and ballroom tickets are $125. Tickets and are available at the JAHC, Hearthside Books & JJ&C jazzandclassics.org.
New Year’s Eve music, 10 p.m., The Alaskan Hotel and Bar, 167 S. Franklin St. The Psychotics will play to celebrate the big night.
Tuesday, Jan. 1
Polar Bear Dip, Jan.1, 1 p.m., Auke Bay Rec Main Shelter. Ring in the new year by dashing into the frigid water with your friends and neighbors. The event is free and registration is not required.
Juneauites board a Coastal Helicopter for the annual Christmas Lights Flights at the Juneau International Airport on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Mendenhall Flying Lions put on the event, which is a fundraiser for the American Children’s Tumor Foundation. Petro Marine Services and Coastal Fuel also support the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Jenny Rodriguez, right, and Gene Laughlin make use of the Christmas wrapping station at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center to finish off their gifts. For a donation people can find wrapping paper and all the trimmings. The JACC will be open every day and until 3 p.m. on Sunday, Christmas Eve. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Santa gives out candy canes to children waiting in line for the annual Christmas Lights Flights at the Juneau International Airport on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Mendenhall Flying Lions put on the event, which is a fundraiser for the American Children’s Tumor Foundation. Petro Marine Services and Coastal Fuel also support the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
