By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – The city of Pelham will have multiple opportunities to enjoy holiday festivities between now and Christmas Eve.

First up is the Christmas Open House, hosted by the city and the Beautification Board, at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena on Nov. 28 from 5-9 p.m.

The annual event will be a little different this year because of the ongoing construction of the Ice Arena’s main ice rink.

Residents are invited to the banquet hall at the Pelham Civic Complex to enjoy Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, provided by Pelham High School’s culinary program.

The event will feature light hors d’oeuvres, Christmas music and photo opportunities with performers from the upcoming Nutcracker ballet performance.

Members of the PHS Choir will sing Christmas carols in the main lobby of the banquet hall from 6-7 p.m.

The practice ice rink will feature free ice-skating and the concession stand will be open as well. The lobbies of the main arena and the banquet hall will feature decorated Christmas trees for those who would like to take family photos.

Pelham Beautification Board members will be on hand with this year’s commemorative ornament for the first 1,OOO families.

Shortly after the Christmas Open House, residents can enjoy South City Theatre’s comedic production “Dashing Through the Snow,” from Dec. 9-16. General admission tickets are $16 and $13 for students and seniors.

The fun begins four days before Christmas in the small town of Tinsel, Texas. A colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity.

South City Artistic Director Sue Ellen Gerrells said tickets for the show’s opening weekend are almost sold out already. For a full list of show times and dates, go to Southcitytheatre.com.

As Christmas approaches, the Grebel Center for Dance is preparing for its 12^th annual performance of “The Nutcracker” that draws at least 1,000 people every year.

The performance takes place Dec. 17-18 in Pelham High School’s auditorium. Ticket prices range from $5 to $15 and can be purchased online at Grebeldance.com/NUTCRACKER2016.html.

About 100 dancers are participating in the production, which is sponsored by the city and is expected to last for about an hour and a half.

To round out the holiday festivities, Santa Claus will visit the children of Pelham on Christmas Eve with the help of the Pelham Fire Department, which will escort Santa throughout the city on a fire truck.