Things to Do in Pueblo Dec. 16-31: Celebrate the season and close out 2022 in style

Friday, Dec. 16

Free Crafting Workshop at Pueblo Diversified Industries

2828 Granada Blvd. | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Join Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado for a children's handmade Christmas gift workshop. Santa Claus will be present. Pop-up shops featuring local businesses will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for public shopping. Catholic Charities will be collecting new and unused toys for its toy drive. To sign up for a one-hour crafting workshop, go to secure.qgiv.com.

Pueblo Express Christmas Train at Pueblo Railway Museum

Union Depot, 200 W. B St. | 4-8 p.m. Dec. 16, 17 and 24 | All Aboard the Pueblo Express for holiday-themed rides. Locomotive rides cost $15 and caboose rides are $10.

ElectriCritters at the Pueblo Zoo

3455 Nuckolls Ave. | 5:30-8:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 27, excluding Dec. 24-25 | Help celebrate the 30th anniversary of Southern Colorado's largest holiday light show featuring more than 150 animal-themed light displays. The walk-through event helps raise funds to feed and care for the zoo's 400-plus animals. Santa Sunday runs from 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 18. Tickets can be purchased at the gate and cost is $9 for adults, $7 for children, or $7 and $5 for adult and child zoo members, respectively. Children younger than 3 are admitted free. Find out more at pueblozoo.org/electricritters.

A Christmas Comedy at Family Worship Center

3800 Parker Blvd. | 6:30-8 p.m. | The production is free and open to the public, but reservations are required at group.life/christmas due to limited space. Last year all performances were at capacity. Dessert will be served at intermission.

Big Daddy Weave concert at Pueblo Memorial Hall

1 City Hall Place | Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. | Christian band Big Daddy Weave will perform songs from their new album including “Alive,” “I Know,” and “All Things New,” as well as old favorites. Tickets range from $48 to $103 and are on sale at pueblomemorialhall.com.

A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol at Steel City Theatre Co.

241 S. Santa Fe Ave. | 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17; 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 | Local thespians will perform a classic holiday tale with a fairy-tale treatment as famous fairy-tale characters take on the memorable roles of Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol." The fun-filled adaptation stays true to the warmth and heart of the classic and is appropriate for all ages. Tickets range from $12 to $15.

Saturday, Dec. 17

Pueblo Arts Alliance Picture with Santa Event in downtown Pueblo

10 a.m. to noon at Solar Roast Coffee, 226 N. Main St.; 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Steel City Art Works, 216 S. Union Ave.; 2:45-3:45 p.m. at Angelo's Pizza Parlor, 105 E. Riverwalk; and 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. on Main Street | Get your picture with Santa and his elf this holiday season. The free event is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts through Pueblo Arts Alliance.

Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Pueblo Riverwalk

Veterans Bridge, behind 120 Riverwalk Place at the corner of Alan Hamel Avenue and South Main Street | 10-11 a.m. | The ceremony is hosted by Pueblo Elks Lodge in honor of veterans. Retired or active-duty members of U.S. military branches will place a wreath in honor of their branch. The event is free and open to the public.

Mama's Christmas Stocking Giveaway at St. Anne's Park

1000 Beaumont St. | Noon to 3 p.m. | Join the family of the late Mary "Mama" Jaramillo has they continue her holiday legacy of distributing stockings and gifts to kids in the community. Items are gifted on a first-come, first-served basis. Raffles and treats will be a part of the fun.

Winter Solstice Lantern Parade along the Pueblo Historic Arkansas River Trail

Pillar Park just off West Fourth Street at the corner of Chapa Place and Pearl Street | 2-7 p.m. | The Pueblo Friends of the Arkansas River will be hosting the second annual event along the Pueblo Levee River Trail. Join local artists in making lanterns from 2-4 p.m. The Lantern Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Polar Express Movie Night at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center

210 N. Santa Fe Ave. | 5-7 p.m. | Wear your pajamas for the screening of The Polar Express. Ticket includes a bag of popcorn and a cup of hot cocoa. Cost is $10 for non-members or $9 for members. Get tickets online at sdc.arts.org.

Season of Giving event at Rocky Mountain SER Empowerment Center

330 Lake Ave. | 2 p.m. | Rocky Mountain Service, Employment and Redevelopment will host an afternoon of fun with Santa and Mrs. Claus, goodies, snacks and beverages. The event is free and open to the public.

Max Gomez concert at Brues Alehouse Brewing Co.

120 Riverwalk Place | 7-10:30 p.m. | Taos, New Mexico, native Max Gomez will share blues and Western folk songs and stories. He will perform songs from his 2013 debut album "Rule The World" and the subsequent 2017 shorter extended play release, "Me and Joe." Tickets are $20 and available online at bruesalehouse.com.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Christmas Concert at Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center

210 N. Santa Fe. Ave. | 2 p.m. | Join the Pueblo Municipal Band for a free concert featuring favorite holiday tunes. Donations will be accepted.

Wednesday, Dec. 21

Halfway Home toy drive

803 W. Fourth St., suites B and R | 1 p.m. | Halfway Home Pueblo, a nonprofit youth resource center dedicated to educating and mentoring children, will distribute toys to those in need. To sign up for the toy giveaway, go to the nonprofit’s website at halfwayhomepueblo.org and click on the events tab by Dec. 20. New-toy or monetary donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and up until 11 a.m. Dec. 21.

Saturday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Center for Inner Peace

740 W. 15th St. | 4-5 p.m. | Join Rev. Neema Caughran for a candlelight service that is more spiritual than religious. Call 719-543-2274 for details.

Saturday, Dec. 31

Burning Bowl Ceremony at Center for Inner Peace

740 W. 15th | 4-5 p.m. | Using the transformative power of fire, Rev. Neema Caughran will host a ceremony that helps participants let go of what no longer serves them and prepare for the New Year. Call 719-543-2274 for details.

New Years Eve Super Show at Pueblo Convention Center

320 Central Main | 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. | The King of New Mexico Music Tobias Rene will take the stage with several of his friends. Dance the night away and ring in 2023. Tickets are $58 and are available at etix.com.

Want us to include your event in this calendar? Send details by email, with "Things to Do" in the subject line, to tharmon@chieftain.com. The calendar is available online and in print every Friday.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Things to do in Pueblo Dec. 16-31: Celebrate holidays, ring in the New Year