HOLIDAY COOKIE SALE | Gary

Altar and Rosary Society of St. Joseph the Worker Croatian Church has its annual Christmas bake sale before the 4:30 p.m. Mass Dec. 20 and before and after the 8:30 and the 10 a.m. Mass Dec. 21. The sale will be in the vestibule of the church is at 330 E. 45th Ave.

FYI: (219) 942-0095

FROSTY VISITS | Lowell

Frosty the Snowman will be the main attraction at the annual Yuletide Open House hosted by The Lowell Downtown Merchants Association. He will be passing out candy canes along the sidewalks of the downtown district and stopping in the businesses from 11 a.m. to 1:p.m. Dec. 20. Enjoy outdoor music, store sales, restaurant specials, holiday window displays and complimentary refreshments offered by many businesses. The downtown shopping district is on Commercial Avenue (Ind. 2).

FYI: (219) 696-6487 or ShopLowellIndiana.com

COOKIES WITH MRS. CLAUS | Chesterton

The Parents As Teachers of Porter County will host their third annual "Cookies with Mrs. Claus" from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at The Waterbird Banquet Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3 and older. Enjoy a light brunch, decorate holiday cookies, make a special craft and enjoy a story, songs and face painting and of course photos with Mrs. Claus.

FYI: (219) 395-8412

NEW YEAR'S PARTY | Merrillville

A family friendly New Year's Eve celebration with Paddles T. Otter will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Ice Skating Plaza at Deep River Waterpark, 9001 E. U.S. 30. Admission is $5 per person and regular skate rental fees apply for those who need to rent skates. Make a sparkling New Year's Eve pennant, hat or sash at Kid's Crafts from 5 to 8 p.m., count down to 2009 with a sparkling juice toast in the plaza with Paddles in "Paddle's Time Zone," which is 8 p.m. and enjoy music with a deejay, ice skating and concession items for sale throughout the event.

FYI: (219) 947-7850

LEARN TO OIL PAINT | Portage

An all day beginning oil painting class, taught by Susan Young, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Portage Public Library. The project is a snow scene in the forest. Fee is $55 and covers all supplies. Bring own lunch.

FYI: (219) 763-1508

DRIVE THROUGH NATIVITY | Griffith

First Christian Church of Griffith, 202 W. Pine Ave., will be hosting a free drive through nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 19 and Dec. 20. The scenes features live actors, live animals, and a recording describing each scene.

FYI: (219) 924-6840 or gfcc.net

FISH FRY | Portage

American Legion Post 260 holds a fish fry from 4 to 8 p.m. every Friday at the post, 5675 Mulberry Ave. the all-you-can-eat specials change weekly.

FYI: (219) 762-3541

HOLIDAY LIGHTS | Merrillville

Ross Township's annual Holiday Lights at the Lake will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 27 at Hidden Lake Park, 6355 Broadway. Almost 100 lighted displays feature 10 drive-thru arches, more than 20 animated displays and the 120-foot long Tunnel of America, featuring the largest U.S. flag in Northwest Indiana. Santa Claus will greet children at the gate nightly through Dec. 23 and Christmas music can be tuned in at FM 88.9 on the car radio.A fireworks display will be featured at 8 p.m. every Saturday. Cost is $5 per car or mini-van, $10 for a large van and $25 for a bus or RV. Advance tickets at $4 per car are available at the Ross Township trustee's office, 24 W. 73rd Ave.

FYI: (219) 769-2111

CHRISTMAS SHOP | Highland

Santa Paws Resale Shop is open at 2813 Jewett St. The store features toys, decorations and Christmas trees along with other seasonal items, all new or gently used. It benefits the Humane Society Calumet Area. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, through December. Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays. The store is a sister store to the Paws Resale Shop at 2817 Jewett St.

FYI: (219) 838-PAWS

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY | Washington Township

Porter County Expo Center will hold a New Year's Eve party beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at 215 E. Division Road. cost is $50 for dinner, open bar, dancing.

FYI: (219) 464-0133

SHARING MEMORIES | Hobart

Bring in the new year at "Sharing Memories, " a New Year's Eve Ball on Dec. 31 in the Jubilee Room at Hobart Elks Lodge 1152, 3580 W. 61st Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, dinner at 7:30 and dancing from 9 to 1. Music by the Dick Elliott Orchestra. Tickets are $65 and reservations are due by Dec. 19. This event kicks off a year of celebrating the 100th anniversary of Elks Lodge 1152.

FYI: (219) 942-1152

NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER | Munster

Calvary Community Church, 9900 Columbia Ave., will host a New Year's Eve Murder Mystery Dinner, "1928 Chicago Caper," at 7 p.m. Dec. 31. It's $40 per couple with proceeds going toward missions. 1920s dress is suggested. Paid reservations are required on or before Dec. 20.

FYI: (219) 973-6951

CHRISTMAS PARTY | Merrillville

VFW Post 1563 is hosting an Adult Christmas Party at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at the post home, 6880 Hendricks St. There will be a DJ and

dancing, and the public is welcome.

FYI: (219) 769-1563

FISH FRY | South Haven

American Legion Post 502 hosts a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec.19 at 429 W. County Road 750 North.

FYI: (219) 759-2121

SANTA LUCIA PAGENT | Chicago

5 p.m. Dec. 21 Lebanon Lutheran Church, 13100 S. Manistee Ave. in the Hegewisch neighborhood, will be having a combined Christmas program. A Santa Lucia Pageant will take place in the sanctuary followed by a musical program in Memorial Hall. The adult choir, junior choir and bell choir will all be participating. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

FYI: (773) 646-1747

SANTA IN THE CABOOSE | Griffith

Spike the Reindeer Engineer is inviting everyone to visit with Santa in a real caboose from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the Griffith Historical Park, 201 S. Broad St. Low-cost digital photo packages are available and visitors are treated to complimentary hot chocolate and cookies.

FYI: (219) 924-4026

A CHRISTMAS STORY COMES HOME | Hammond

The Indiana Welcome Center will feature six animated displays featuring scenes from the movie, "A Christmas Story" through Jan. 11. The displays include; Higbee's Department Store Window, Flick's Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It's a Major Award, Santa's Mountain at Higbee's, The Bumpus Hounds and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Macy's in New York City. Have your picture taken with Santa on top of Santa's Mountain, a replica of the one featured in the movie. Photos with Santa on Santa's Mountain are available every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Dr. Children have the opportunity to slide down the big red slide into a pillow of snow. Photos are $5. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m Sundays through Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

FYI: (219) 989-7770

WINTER DANCE WORKSHOPS | Portage

Winter dance workshops are offered at Woodland Park. The foxtrot and swing will be featured Jan. 5 beginning at 7 p.m. More workshops will be held at 7:15 p.m. at Long Beach Community Center in Michigan City. They will be Jan. 6, swing; Jan. 7, West Coast swing. Workshops at Toni's Dance Academy in Portage will begin at 9:45 and 11 a.m. Dec. 20 and Jan. 10 featuring swing, waltz, rumba, salsa, samba and tango. Workshops are $15 per person per workshop and all workshops are one hour. No partner necessary. Beginner to advanced levels welcome. Call to register.

FYI: (219) 680-9261

BARKER MANSION CHRISTMAS | Michigan City

The winter holiday season is considered by many to be the most wonderful time of the year. Barker Mansion celebrates the season with "Barker Mansion Presents: Christmas at the Movies." Hollywood has produced many movies to mark this season and ten are presented in the rooms of the Mansion, 631 Washington St. Enjoy the old fashioned warmth of "Miracle on 34th Street" as a department store Santa claims to be the real Kris Kringle. A ragged Christmas tree and Snoopy's dog house in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" are featured in the Butler's Pantry. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye starred in the glamorous movie "White Christmas" and a winter wonderland is created in the Dining Room. The value of family is underscored in "Home Alone II" and "It's A Wonderful Life". Also featured is LaPorte County's own "Prancer" about an 8-year-old girl who rescues an injured deer, believing he is one of Santa's team. Self-guided tours are noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 on Saturdays and Sundays and noon to 3 p.m.

Monday to Friday. Guided Christmas tours resume noon and 2 p.m. Dec. 22 through Jan. 15 on Saturdays and Sundays and10, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for youth under 18. Children 3 and under are free. The Mansion is closed Dec. 24, 25, and Jan. 1.

FYI: (219) 873-1520

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING | Lake County

Cross country ski rentals are available at Lemon Lake, Oak Ridge Prairie, and Stoney Run county parks (when snow conditions allow). Weekday hours are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Weekend hours are 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The last rental is at 4 p.m. and all equipment must be returned by 5 p.m. Closing times may vary due to darkness. Daily rentals are on a first come, first serve basis through Feb. 28 (March 31 at Lemon Lake). All equipment must be used on the park site only. The rental fee of $5 for two hours includes the use of skis, boots and poles. A valid driver's license or credit card is required as a deposit. Lemon Lake County Park, 6322 W. 133rd Ave. between Crown Point and Cedar Lake (219-663-7627), offers eight miles of easy to moderate trails in wooded areas with hills and flat open fields, ideal for beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers. Oak Ridge Prairie County Park, 301 S. Colfax St. in Griffith (219-884-7238), offers three miles of trail through flat open prairie and

wooded areas, good for those looking for an easy to moderate challenge. Stoney Run County Park, 142nd and Union Street in Leroy, (219-996-6500), has seven miles of easy to moderate trail winding though a wooded hilly area and flat open space, designed for intermediate to advanced skiers. Skiing is also permitted at Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Deep River Wood's Mill area in Hobart, and at the Grand Kankakee Marsh in Hebron after hunting season

FYI: (219) 769-PARK

PARK PROGRAMS | Hobart

Hobart Parks and Recreation Department has a full schedule of classes and programs starting now and detailed in a brochure available at the park office, 111 E. Old Ridge Road, as well as other locations in he community. Included are fitness classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the community center, porcelain painting classes on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings at the park annex building, a duplicate bridge learning program and scrapbooking classes for adults, as well as an activity program for preschoolers and a cheerleading program for youths.

FYI: (219) 942-2987

OPEN-SKATE | Flossmoor

H-F Ice Arena has open-skate sessions for practice or recreation from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 8 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is $6 per person. Families can attend open skate from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sundays. A family of four can skate for $20. Skate rental is available. The H-F Ice Arena, 777 Kedzie Ave., also offers youth hockey leagues, adult hockey leagues and clinics, a women's-only and girls-only hockey team (the H-F Novas), birthday parties and private rentals.

FYI: (708) 957-0100 or hfparks.com

STEPPIN' CLASS | Merrillville

Merrillville Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a Chicago-style Steppin' Dance class at the Pruzin Community Center, 5750 Tyler Place. Chicago-style steppin' is an urban-style ballroom dancing with intricate spins and turns to an eight-beat count. Wear leather-soled shoes to class. Cost is $45 for residents and $50 for nonresidents.

FYI: (219) 980-5911

NEW HORIZONS SINGLES CLUB | Hobart

8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Hobart Elks, 3580 W. 61st St. Admission is $5.

FYI: (219) 942-1152

DANCE LESSONS | Valparaiso

Just Us & Friends Dance Club is holding Beginners Line Dance Lessons from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays at the Valparaiso American Legion, 4 Monroe St. Cost is $3 per class per student. Classes will be ongoing and geared to the student who has little or no experience in this type of dancing. Jack and Roxanne Anderson will teach basic steps and beginner choreographed dances.

FYI: (219) 462-3874 or linson5678@verizon.net

FISH FRY | Westville

Westville United Methodist Church hosts Chef Charley and Crew's all-you-can-eat fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday. The menu is Alaskan pollock (baked or fried), French fries or baked potato, coleslaw, roll with butter, a drink (coffee, punch or water.) Shrimp, chicken strips and hot dogs also available. The United Methodist Youth will sell soda for 50 cents to fund mission projects. The United Methodist Women will have a variety of desserts for $1 each. The cost is $7.50 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4.50 for children ages 3-10, and free for children younger than 3.

FYI: (219) 785-2314

NATIVITY BINGO | Portage

Nativity of Our Savior offers bingo Monday evenings at the church hall, 2929 Willowcreek Road. Early-bird games start at 6 p.m., followed by regular bingo at 6:45 p.m.

FYI: nativitybingo.homestead.com