Even though the turkey has yet to be carved and served for Thanksgiving dinner, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Queen City.

Mark the calendar for the following family friendly events to help make the yuletide season merry and bright.

MCM-Meridian 

Winter Wonderland is now open at Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian offering lots of fun activities for little ones. Decked out with twinkling lights, faux snow and an 18-foot holiday tree, the museum has been transformed into a winter-like landscape. Visitors can glide through sock skating in the Snowflake Village, take a photo in a giant snow globe, join in reindeer workshops or meet Santa in weekly visits.

Special programs planned at MCM-Meridian include “Tales from the North Pole Storytime with Mrs. Claus” at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7. Santa Claus will make appearances at Winter Wonderland from 2-4 p.m. on four Sunday afternoons, including Dec 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Dec. 22. For sensor friendly visitors, Santa will make a special visit from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Dec. 22.

MCM-Meridian will offer instructor-led winter day camps with themes centered around the museum’s educational initiatives. The camps will run from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and are appropriate for children in kindergarten through fourth grades. Themes will include Holiday Magic Camp on Dec. 23; Ice Ice Baby Camp on Dec. 27; New Year Around the World Camp on Dec. 30; and Camp Hogwarts on Jan. 3.

Special events planned for the children’s museum include a members-only Peppermint & PJs, an exclusive after-hours event on Friday, Dec. 6, to light the museum’s holiday tree while young visitors enjoy milk and cookies and snap photos with Santa. An adults-only fundraiser, Merry at the Museum, is planned for 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. With live music, tasty bites and elevated cocktails, guests will spend an enjoyable evening making merry, bidding on their favorite items in a silent auction and celebrating the season.

MCM-Meridian will close out the season at Noon Year’s Eve from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Dec. 31. With creative activities, do-it-yourself party gear crafts and a big burst of confetti at noon, children can ring in the new year early and in style.

Winter Wonderland will run through Jan. 5 at MCM-Meridian. For more information on the special day camps, holiday operating hours, Santa appearances or to purchase Winter Wonderland tickets, visit the museum’s webpage at mschildrensmuseum.org/meridian.

Ballet Magnificat!

On Tuesday night, Nov. 26, Ballet Magnificat! returns to the stage of the Temple Theatre presenting “Light Has Come — The Angels’ Story,” a ballet that depicts the story of salvation from the unique perspective of the angels. The performance, danced by the artists of Jackson-based Ballet Magnificat!, is a retelling from the beginning in the garden to the fulfilling promise of the Messiah Jesus. Doors of the Temple Theatre open at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ken Rainey at 601-934-1033.

Trees of Christmas

Trees of Christmas at Merrehope tours are now open at the historic home museum. With the theme “Merre & Brite,” the 56th annual Trees of Christmas features more than 60 decorated trees, holiday displays and festive exhibits. Merrehope is open seven days a week for the tours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Other events planned as part of the holiday tour include advent wreath making on Sunday, Dec. 1; Mimosas & Merrehope brunch on Dec. 7; Cocoa & Cookies with Mrs. Claus and Pictures with Santa on Dec. 8; Spirits of Christmas at Merrehope on Dec. 12; and Christmas yoga on Dec. 19.

Family holiday movies

The Temple Theatre has teamed up with Magnolia Beverage Co. to present a slate of family Christmas movies all ages can enjoy. The beloved classic “The Wizard of Oz” will be shown on Saturday, Nov. 30. The 1975 thriller film “Jaws,” about a massive killer shark, will be shown the following Saturday, Dec. 7. On Dec. 14, the animated Christmas adventure, “The Polar Express,” will delight both children and adults. Then on Saturday, Dec.. 21, see the heart-warming holiday favorite, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” on the big screen in a historic theater the way the movie was meant to be viewed. For more information or to view the schedule, visit thetempletheatre.com.

Todd Tilghman’s Christmas Homecoming

With Thanksgiving over, officially kick off the Christmas season at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, with Todd Tilghman’s Christmas Homecoming show at Meridian Little Theatre. Tilghman, of Meridian, is a pastor turned champion of Season 18 of NBC’s “The Voice” talent competition. All ticket sales from this special night of music will be donated to Hope Village for Children. Tickets are available online at www.ticketleap.events/tickets/toddtilghman/tilghmanchristmas2024.

CPKC Holiday Express

A beloved holiday tradition continues Sunday, Dec. 1, when the CPKC Holiday Express Train rolls into Meridian’s Union Station bringing Santa Claus and his elves. Part of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad, the festively adorned train is scheduled to stop from 4-8 p.m. Admission to tour the train and visit with Santa is free. A few thousand visitors are expected to turn out for the Holiday Express so organizers recommend getting in line early. The Meridian Railroad Museum also will be open during the train’s stop with a special guest, Mrs. Claus, expected to make an appearance. Admission to the museum will be free.

Meridian Tree Lighting and Parade

The City of Meridian will host a ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, to officially mark the holiday season with the annual lighting of the city’s 34-foot Christmas tree on the city hall lawn. Then on Saturday, Dec. 7, grab your family and friends and head downtown for the annual Meridian Christmas parade. One of the region’s largest nighttime holiday parades, this year’s theme is “A Whoville Christmas.” Lineup for the parade begins at 3 p.m. with the parade slated to kick off at 5 p.m.

Sip & Shop

Businesses in downtown Meridian will open their doors for a night of wine tasting and after-hours shopping with Sip & Shop Downtown from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5. Wine glasses (tickets) can be picked up outside Over The Moon at 5 p.m. Discounts will be offered at participating businesses.

Marion Christmas Parade

Festive floats, holiday music and the spirit of Christmas will be on full display as the town of Marion presents its annual “Jingle Around Marion” Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 6. The parade will start at 5:30 p.m. at Marion Drive and travel down Dale Drive.

Meridian Ballet

The Meridian Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Meridian Little Theatre. Under the direction of Justine Ward Hook, the performance will feature dancers John Mingle and David Odenwelder of the Alabama Ballet, as well as Rani Higgins, former prima ballerina and soloist for New Albany Ballet. Tickets are available at www.meridianballet.com.

Peppermint Pops

The Meridian Symphony Orchestra will bring the sounds and magic of the holiday season to the stage of the MSU Riley Center Saturday, Dec. 7, with its annual Peppermint Pops concert. “Christmas Joy” will be a heartwarming concert filled with beloved holiday music past and present. Joining the Meridian Symphony Chorus will be special guests, the Meridian High School Honors Choir. The performance begins at 7 p.m.; tickets are available online at meridianso.org/peppermint-pops.

Hartfelt Family Christmas Tour

On Thursday, Dec. 12, Mississippi country music trio Chapel Hart, who rose to fame two years ago on “America’s Got Talent,” will bring their special holiday show to the stage of the Temple Theatre for the Hartfelt Family Christmas Tour. Presented by the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation, the show will begin at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at jimmierodgers.com.

Collinsville Christmas

The Collinsville Christmas Association has a lineup of exciting family friendly events planned for    Saturday, Dec. 14, as the community celebrates Collinsville Christmas 2024. The day will kick off with Breakfast with Santa from 8-10 a.m. at the Collinsville Fire and Rescue Station. Tickets include a pancake breakfast, a professional digital photo download with Santa Claus and fun holiday activities for the whole family. Proceeds from the event will support Collinsville Fire and Rescue. The Collinsville Firehouse is located at 11710 Nancy Drive in Collinsville.

From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., attendees can browse gifts and vendors at a holiday market presented by Collinsville Hardware & Home Center and Plus 4 Creations. The outdoor market will be filled with vendor booths lining the access road from Collinsville Community Club to Collinsville Fire and Rescue. A Kids Zone featuring animals from Explorer Acres will be set up, as well as a Touch-a-Truck event, featuring big trucks, emergency vehicles and other large equipment.

Closing out the day will be the annual Collinsville Christmas Parade slated to begin at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “Light of the World” and is expected to be festive and bright.

For more information on Collinsville Christmas events, visit Collinsville Christmas Association on Facebook.

Postmodern Jukebox

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, a YouTube phenomenon with more than two billion views, will take the stage of the MSU Riley Center at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19. Bradlee, on piano, leads the group on his arrangements of modern-day songs reimagined in the classic genres of ragtime, 1920s jazz, country and western, swing, doo-wop and ‘60s soul. The show is sure to be a crowd pleaser. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit msurileycenter.com.