Families wanting to request Christmas gifts for their children through the Kiwanis Toy Drive need to do so by today, Nov. 26. Call Joyce Smith at 567-5563.

People donating toys to the drive can drop them in one of the many bins at various Island merchants until in the coming weeks.

People donating goods and services for Pamper Mom gift baskets for Island moms in need should drop off their gifts to The Little House or John L. Scott by Nov. 29.

For more information, call Heidi Richards at 567-0062.

The Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting will be at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.

The traditional holiday tree lighting will be at Ober Park around 6 p.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be taking “wish’’ letters and passing out candy canes.

There will be roasted chestnuts and a hand bell choir.

The Blue Heron Dance Company will offer its version of The Nut-cracker at 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Vashon High School.

Tickets are $10 for Vashon Allied Arts members and $13 for nonmembers.

Call VAA at 463-5131.

Holiday Nature Crafts will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, with Barbara Gustafson at the Vashon Library.

Fragrant evergreen wreaths, sparkling fir cones, watercolors, woven ornaments and more. Create lovely gifts for friends and family.

All materials are provided for this free annual holiday workshop, which is for ages 5 through 10.

Registration is required; call the library at 463-2069 to register.

Boy Scout Troop 294 will host its annual Christmas tree sale behind US Bank from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14.

The prices will be the same as last year, with many varieties available.All proceeds will help Vashon Boy Scout programs.

Photos with Santa will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and 13, at Santa’s Cottage behind US Bank.

The Annual Holly Daze Christmas Bazaar will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Vashon High School and hosted by Vashon’s Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital. A tasty lunch menu will be offered for busy shoppers.

Vashon Island Chorale’s annual holiday concert, “A Celebration of Carols,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Bethel Evangelical Free Church.

For more information on the concert, see the Arts page in this issue of The Beachcomber.

The Holiday Art Studio Tour will meet take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 6 and 7 and Dec. 13 and 14.

Artists on Vashon Island open their doors to the public for the holidays. Visitors may view artwork in the form of paintings, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, photography, garden art and more.

The Vashon Island Civic Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at Vashon High School for several performances in December.

The shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20, and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 20.

Tickets will be $8 for adults, $5 for seniors age 60 and over, $4 for kids ages 5 though 12 and free for kids 4 and under.

Breakfast with Santa will be at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

Call the Back Bay Inn for more information and reservations at 463-5355. The cost, $20, will include a breakfast, photo with Santa and donation to the Vashon Senior Center.

The Community Sing-A-Long will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at Vashon Theatre. Get in the holiday spirit with Vashon’s annual holiday caroling.