Things to do in Pueblo Nov. 18-27: Home show, light shows, turkey trot and more

Friday, Nov. 18

Tanner Gun Show at Colorado State Fairgrounds

Agriculture Palace, 1001 Beulah Ave. | 3-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday | The Pueblo show is the largest in Southern Colorado with about 500 tables and vendors selling all types of guns, knives, ammunition, survival gear and food, accessories, western wear, jewelry and more. Food will be available. Cost is $15 for all three days. Get tickets at tannergunshow.com.

Pueblo Home Show at Pueblo Convention Center

320 Central Main | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; Saturday, Nov. 19; and Sunday, Nov. 20 | Local residents can get ideas and take advantage of savings for home improvement projects. Admission is free.

Thanks for Giving Food Drive at Little Caesars

1175 S. Prairie Ave. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Donations of Thanksgiving food items, grocery store gift cards or turkey/ham vouchers will be accepted. Donors get a free slice of pizza. All donations benefit Pueblo families in need.

Latino Chamber Appreciation Luncheon at Eagleridge Events Center

805 Eagleridge Blvd., Suite 170 | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Appreciation luncheon for members. Cost is $16.

Rabbit Hole at Steel City Theatre Company

241 S. Santa Fe Ave. | 7:30 p.m. shows on Nov. 18 and 19; 1:30 p.m. shows on Nov. 18, 20 | Written by David Lindsay-Abaire, the dramatic play takes us into the lives of a couple who lose their 4-year-old son in a random, tragic accident. The play delves into the complexities of a family navigating deep grief and learning what it means to live a fruitful life when things fall apart. Tickets cost $12 to $15 and are available online at steelcitytheatre.org.

Saturday, Nov. 19

Free Veterans Breakfast at Wesley United Methodist Church

85 Stanford Ave. | 9 a.m. | Pueblo County veterans and their families, as well as families of both Blue Star (active military) and Gold Star (those who have lost a serving family member) are invited to the free breakfast and prayer.

Saints and Sinners Historic Tour

9-11:30 a.m. self-guided church tours | noon to 1:30 p.m. lunch, tunnel tour and history presentation at Steelworks Center of the West, 215 Canal St. | 4:30 to 7 p.m. self-guided tavern tours | Cost is $15 for the tours or $15 for the lunch event or $28 for all. Tickets and information are available at steelworks.us.

Ice Cup charity hockey game at Pueblo Ice Arena

100 N. Grand Ave. | noon pre-party, 2 p.m. doors open, 3 p.m. game | The sixth annual Police vs. Fire Ice Cup will raise funds for the Heroes and Helpers program, which offers local kids a shopping spree with law enforcement officers prior to Christmas. Cost is $25 for preferred seating or $10 general admission. There will be a free skate at the end of the game.

Nutcracker in a Nutshell at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center

210 N. Santa Fe | 2 p.m. | This narrated, hourlong version of the holiday favorite is ideal for younger kids and a great way to kick off the holiday season. Cost is $10. Tickets are on sale at sdc-arts.org.

A Night in Vegas at Colorado State University Pueblo

2100 Bonforte Blvd., Occhiato Student Center Ballroom | Cocktails at 4:30 p.m., dinner at 5:30 p.m. | Event celebrates Pueblo West Chamber turning 21 years old with dinner, card games and slots.

Sunday, Nov. 20

Knights of Columbus Breakfast at Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Church

23 Starling Drive | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | Breakfast features pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, green chile, coffee and orange juice.  Cost is $7.

Tuesday, Nov. 22

Pueblo County Courthouse Lighting and Fireworks Show

215 W. 10th St. | 5-7 p.m. first responder vehicle display and food trucks | 7 p.m. light show and fireworks | The 21st annual holiday kickoff event will light up the historic courthouse with holiday lights and a professional laser light show complete with music. The fireworks show will top the evening. This year's theme is "A Storybook Christmas" and includes new inside decorations highlighted by several 17-foot and one 18-foot Christmas tree. The event is funded by about $35,000 in community donations and business sponsorships. For details, go to courthouselights.com. The event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, Nov. 24

Turkey Trot at the YMCA

3200 E. Spaulding Ave. | 8:15 a.m., free 1-kilometer kids fun run for youths 12 and younger; 9 a.m., 5K run and walk for adults | Cost is $35 for adults. Proceeds enable the organization to provide scholarships to families in need. Sign up online at runsignup.com.

Pueblo Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Praise Church

2000 Troy Ave. | Noon to 4 p.m. | Free Thanksgiving dinner open to the community. Volunteers, food donations and nonperishable food donations are being accepted. For reservations, go to pueblopraise.churchcenter.com.

Friday, Nov. 25

Cram the Cruiser at Walmart

Pueblo West Walmart, 78 N. McCulloch Blvd.; South Side Walmart, 4080 W. Northern Ave.; and North Side Walmart at 4200 Dillon Drive | 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | Court Appointed Special Advocates of Pueblo and the Colorado State Patrol will be accepting new toys for distribution to children who struggle with abuse and neglect. In 2021, CASA of Pueblo served a record 385 youth.

Holiday Lighting Extravaganza at Pueblo Riverwalk

125 E. Riverwalk | 5-8 p.m. | The 21st annual event helps families to start the holiday season with the Pueblo Riverwalk and the magic of the holiday lights. The event also features holiday concerts, pictures with Santa and his friends, boat rides, food vendors, and fireworks over Lake Elizabeth to ring in the season.

ElectriCritters at the Pueblo Zoo

3455 Nuckolls Ave. | 5:30-8:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 11, then daily through Dec. 27 except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day | 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. Special events include an evening designed for guests with sensory sensitivities on Dec. 14 and Santa Sundays from 5:30-8 p.m. Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18. Tickets can be purchased at the gate and cost is $9 for adults, $7 for children, or $7 and $5 for members. Children younger than 3 are admitted free. Find out more at pueblozoo.org/electricritters.

Saturday, Nov. 26

Parade of Lights in downtown Pueblo

Mesa Junction down Union Avenue to Main Street, then west to Sixth and Court | 5:30 p.m. | This year's Pueblo Downtown Association event celebrates Holidays in the Steel City in honor of the steel mill's 150th anniversary. Colorful and clever floats, marching bands, drill teams, decorated horses and cars are all a part of the parade. The event is free.

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 is published in the paper on Fridays.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Things to Do in Pueblo: Holiday events and live theater