The ‘top 10 things to do’ list is really beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2017 XTO Energy Parade of Lights

1 The Christmas season always starts a little before Thanksgiving Day in Fort Worth, and this parade is one big reason for that. It draws thousands downtown for an illuminated parade that has everything from high school bands to a fleet of Elvises — Elvi? — on tiny lighted cars. This is the 35th year for the parade, which begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, but get there early for good viewing spots. Visit www.FortWorthParadeOfLights.org for details on shuttle service from Farrington Field and reserved seating along the parade route.

Lighting of the Sundance Square Christmas Tree

2 The 65-foot-tall concolor fir from Big Rapids, Mich., that arrived Monday gets the spotlight Saturday in Sundance Square Plaza when the 10,000 LEDs on it are turned on. The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. with music by the Inspiration Band, and the tree will be lighted at 6:30 p.m. You can visit with Santa and take a photograph with him for a $20 donation to Fort Worth Sister Cities, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. 420 Main St., Fort Worth. For a list of North Texas tree lightings, visit http://bit.ly/2mr711o.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

3 The gang from the stop-motion television classic is all here for this holiday stage show — Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and, yep, the Abominable Snow Monster, all 12 feet of him. The show’s national tour stops at Bass Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $27.50-$49.50. For tickets, call 817-212-4280 or go online at www.basshall.com. Or go by the Bass Hall ticket office, 525 Commerce St., downtown Fort Worth.

Panther Island Ice

4 This outdoor ice rink has a limited run: Friday through Jan. 15. Yes, even if it’s 90 degrees outside, which frankly everybody knows could happen on Christmas Day. The rink is open daily (even holidays), but hours can change, especially on those holidays, so check the website before you head out. Admission is $12 with discounts for military and students. It’s only $6 on “cheap skate Tuesdays.” It’s at the Coyote Drive-In, 223 N.E. Fourth St., Fort Worth. 682-704-7711; pantherislandice.com

8th annual Funky Finds Shopping Experience

5 This market, which organizers say will have more than 100 booths, comes to Cowtown twice a year, and the fall event pretty much fits your holiday shopping bill. In addition to the shopping, there will be pet adoptions, a toy drive and photos with Santa. Kids and pets are welcome. It will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Cattle Barn No. 2 of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3337 Burnett-Tandy Drive. Parking is $10. Get more details at www.FunkyFinds.com/holilday.

‘Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!’

6 “Peanuts” fans get one gift just a little bit early this year: a traveling exhibit from the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, Calif. On view will be 50 daily and Sunday “Peanuts” comic strips, vintage seasonal novelties, a Santa letter writing station for kids and a video of Schulz discussing the making of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Admission to the exhibit, which runs through Jan. 16, is free. The Tower Gallery is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 636 S. Main St., Grapevine. http://bit.ly/2ihTIvu; 817-410-3185

O.B. Macaroni grand opening

7 The cool building off the South Freeway has new tenants and they’re celebrating with beer and wine, sweet treats, coffee drinks and a vintage gift market. They include Melt Ice Cream, Craftwork Coffee Co., TexMalt and W Durable Goods. There will be tours of the historic building, live music by Kevin Aldridge and Christopher Watson, and food — macaroni, natch — from Fort Worth chef Dena Peterson-Shaskan. It’s 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20 at www.eventbrite.com. 108 South Freeway, Fort Worth.

Drunk Spelling Bee

8 Want revenge for that seventh-grade debacle? Here’s your chance. Spellers, who pay $5 to enter, line up for shots and shoutouts. Spell a word correctly? Take a shot and move to the next round, organizers say. “Last speller standing” wins a $100 bar tab. The bee will begin at 10 p.m. Saturday at Tanstaafl Pub, 409 N. Bowen Road, Arlington. Can’t spell? Go anyway because this sounds mighty e-n-t-e-r-t-a-i-n-i-n-g. 817-460-9506; www.tanstaaflpub.com

36th annual Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot

9 It’s a Thanksgiving Day tradition and a benefit for the youth programs and scholarships of the Fort Worth YMCA. It’s also a great way to feast guilt-free and a reason to don a turkey costume. For adults, there’s a 10K and a 5K; for the kids, there’s the 1K Gobbler Trot, beginning at 8 a.m. Even “well-trained dogs” are welcome ($10 entry fee includes a doggy bandana). All courses begin at the intersection of Camp Bowie Boulevard and Westridge Lane. Registration is $36 on race day with discounts through Wednesday. Register at fwtrot.org. For questions, call 817-244-4544.

‘The Nutcracker’

10 Ballet Frontier of Texas’ lovely mix of professional and youth dancers kicks off the “Nutcracker” season this weekend in Fort Worth. It’s a decadelong holiday tradition that will feature Katie Boren of the American Ballet Theatre dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for the matinee performances. The troupe performs at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and again at 2 p.m. Sunday at Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth. Tickets are $35-$45. 817-423-9888; www.balletfronier.org

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 10:49 AM with the headline "The ‘top 10 things to do’ list is really beginning to look a lot like Christmas."