Here are the best Christmas 2019 events happening throughout metro Phoenix

You don't have to go over the river and through the woods to have a happy holiday season. Dozens of events all around metro Phoenix will add a little glow for your family and friends.

Feeling active? Try ice skating or a 5K, 12K or half-marathon race. If you like your holiday glittery, there are parades and lights displays galore. Adults can toast Christmas during a pub crawl.

A few places are offering "snow days" where kids can play in the white stuff. Just don't forget their mittens!

Some events are one weekend only; others last into January. So fill up your holiday calendar with some of these memory-making activities.

Phoenix

CitySkate Holiday Ice Rink: Hours vary; through Sunday, Jan. 5. CityScape Phoenix, 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix. $15. 602-550-9561, phxicerink.com.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Holiday Tea & Tour at Heritage Square: Times vary; Friday-Sunday, Dec. 6-8. Heritage Square, 602 E. Adams St., Phoenix. $40. heritagesquarephx.org.

F.Q. Story Holiday Home Tour and Street Fair: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Along Roosevelt and Portland streets from Seventh to 15th avenues, and along Latham Street from 11th to 15th avenues, Phoenix. $20; $1 off with a non-perishable food donation. fqstoryhometour.org.

APS Electric Light Parade: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Central and Montebello avenues to Seventh Street and Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. phoenix.gov.

Lights of the World: 5:30-10 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays until Jan. 12. Also open Dec. 24, 25, 30 and 31 and Jan. 1. Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. $14.99-$17.99; children 3 and younger free. phoenix.lightsoftheworldus.com.

Ignite Hope Candlelight Walk: 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. North High School, 1101 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Registration is $40, $10 for ages 4-12. 602-933-4483, phoenixchildrensfoundation.org/signature/ignite-hope-2.

Snow Much Fun Day: 9 a.m. until snow melts, Saturday, Dec. 14. Children's Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. Seventh St. $14.95 per person. 602-253-0501, childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.

Phoestivus Night Market: 5-10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, and Thursday, Dec. 19. Phoenix Public Market, 721 N. Central Ave. Free. phoestivus.com.

Bar Flies storytelling event: The theme is "Eating Christmas." 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St. $20 in advance, $23 at the door.  thevanburenphx.com.

Snow Week at the Arizona Science Center: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, to Wednesday, Jan. 1. Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. $14.95 and $19.95; buy tickets online for a discount. 602-716-2000, azscience.org.

ZooLights: 5:30-10:30 p.m. nightly through Jan. 19. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, $17.95-$19.95; free for age 2 and younger. $1 discount if tickets are purchased online. phoenixzoo.org.

Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek

Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights: 4:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Parade begins at 6:45; tree lighting begins at 8. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. chandleraz.gov.

Sippin' Santas Pub Crawl: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $20. 21 and older. 480-855-3539, visitchandler.com.

Holiday Balloon Glow: 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. SanTan Village, 2218 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert. Free admission; $20 for 25 Kids Zone tickets. shopsantanvillage.com/events.

12k's of Christmas: 10 a.m. races start Saturday, Dec. 14. 1045 E. Juniper Ave., Gilbert. Free for spectators; race registration fees vary. 12krun.com.

Queen Creek Holiday Festival and Parade: Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Parade starts at 3:30. Queen Creek Town Center, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road. Free. queencreekparade.org.

Christmas at Schnepf Farms: 5:30-10 p.m. daily through Saturday, Jan. 4. Prices vary. 24610 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek. schnepfchristmas.com.

Queen Creek Kids Christmas Car Show and Toy Drive: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Desert Mountain Park, 22201 S. Hawes Road., Queen Creek. Free. www.queencreek.org.

Snow Day at Mother Nature's Farm: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Mother Nature's Farm, 1663 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert. $10 for kids, $5 for adults. mothernaturesfarm.com.

Scottsdale and Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills Stroll in the Glow: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Free. Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills. fountainhillschamber.com.

Christmas at the Princess: 5-9 p.m. nightly through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive. Prices vary. scottsdaleprincess.com.

Snow Days at OdySea in the Desert: 10 a.m.-noon on select days beginning Saturday, Dec. 14. OdySea in the Desert, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, on the Salt River Reservation near Scottsdale. Free. odyseainthedesert.com.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights Train Ride: 6:30-9 p.m. nightly through Sunday, Jan. 5. Closed on Dec. 24, 25 and 31. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. $5. therailroadpark.com.

Tempe and Mesa

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Tempe Town Lake, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Free. Donations of peanut butter are welcome. downtowntempe.com.

Caribbean Christmas 5K Race: 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $40. 131events.com.

Merry Main Street: Through Saturday, Jan. 4. Times vary, check website for details. 1 N. MacDonald, Mesa. $10 per person, includes one hour of skate time and skates. downtownmesa.com.

Winter Wonderland at Golfland: 6 p.m. nightly through Sunday, Jan. 5 Golfland-Sunsplash Entertainment Center, 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa. Regular admission prices apply; see options online. 480-834-8319, golfland.com.

Vertuccio's Christmas Farm: Through Friday, Jan. 10. Hours vary; closed Dec. 24, 25 and 31. Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa. $12. 480-882-1482, vertucciofarms.com. 

CycloMesa Winterfest: 2:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Alta Mesa Park, 1910 N. Alta Mesa Drive, Mesa. mesaaz.gov.

Glendale

Skate Westgate: Times vary; through Sunday, Jan. 12. Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. $13. westgateaz.com.

Hometown Christmas Parade: 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Downtown Glendale; the parade route proceeds west on Glendale Avenue to 58th Avenue. Free. hcparade.org.

Glendale Glitters: 5-10 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Jan. 11. Downtown Glendale, 58th and Glendale avenues. Free. glendaleaz.com.

Santa Hustle 5k and Half Marathon: 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22. Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. $10-$64.75. santahustle.com.

Surprise, Peoria and Litchfield Park

Old Town Holiday Festival: 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Old Town Peoria, Peoria and Grand avenues. Free. peoriaaz.gov.

Christmas in the Park: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Litchfield Park Town Center, Old Litchfield Road and Wigwam Boulevard. litchfield-park.org.

Party in Surprise: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Surprise Recreation Campus, 15850 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. surpriseaz.gov.

Avondale and Goodyear

Avondale Winterfest: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Avondale Civic Center Complex, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive. avondaleaz.gov.

Goodyear Glows: 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way. Free. goodyearbp.com.