December is off to festive and fantastic start with so many wonderful events you won't know where to begin. (Plus, 16 of these are FREE!) From holiday parades to time with Santa to a Harry Potter wonderland, you're going to pack weekend to the brim.

Friday

Polar Express Storytime at Barnes & Noble: Santa will be at Barnes & Noble to read "The Polar Express." Then, stick around and snap some photos. Just make sure to bring your own camera. 7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble on Financial Centre Parkway. Click here for more info. FREE!

Saturday

Breakfast With Santa at the Saddle Creek Center: The whole family can stop by for breakfast treats and fun arts and craft projects! Santa Claus will be available from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for photos. The event is free, but donations are welcome. RSVP on the website. For info, call (501) 225-0501 or visit the website or Facebook page. FREE!

Harry Potter Holiday Wonderland at the Arkansas Arts Center: Lumos! Witness the magical transformation of the AAC studios turned into a Hogwarts wonderland. Students will be sorted into houses; make their own wands, Harry Potter-themed ornaments and crafts; go on a Horcrux Hunt through the art galleries and more! Class goes from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Costumes are encouraged and the class is best for ages 6-12. Register by Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m. A $50 administrative late fee applies after this time. $45 for members, $56 for non-members. Call (501) 396-0353 or visit the website or Facebook page for more details.

Bells & Baa-aas Heifer Open House: Head to Heifer International for a day of bells, baas, moos, oinks and clucks. Wear your ugly Christmas sweater and enjoy children's activities, shopping, free gift wrapping and visit with barnyard animals from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Head to the website for details. FREE!

Pop Pop Shoppe Grand Opening in West Little Rock: The first 10 customers at the new Pop Pop Shoppe at 128800 Chenal Parkway, Suite 7 in Little Rock will get free popcorn for a year in celebration of this new store opening! Pop in during your Christmas shopping anytime from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and sample free popcorn and check out the new Pop Pop Shoppe. Visit the Facebook page for details. FREE!

Holiday Fun at the Clinton Center: The Clinton Center hosts holiday activities for the family, including fun art projects, special holiday entertainment, tasty treats and free photos with Santa. The Santa at the Center event is free, but regular admission fees apply to tour the Library. Enjoy the holiday fun from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit the website for more information. FREE!

Penguin Party at the Outlets of Little Rock: Join penguins from the Little Rock Zoo at 10:30 a.m. at the Outlets of Little Rock for an educational program. The event takes place outside of the food pavillion. Santa will also join in on the fun by reading a penguin-themed story. After the story, stay for free Santa photos. Click here for more details. FREE!

Decorate Gingerbread Houses at the Main Library: Make and decorate your own gingerbread house at this free event from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the kids deparment at the CALS Main Library. Click here for more information. FREE!

Holiday on Ice at the Arkansas Skatium: The Arkansas Skatium’s 15th annual holiday show will feature music from holiday favorites such as “Elf,” “Rudolph,” “The Nutcracker” and “The Grinch” as well as a tribute to the 2018 Winter Olympics. There will be concessions available and seating is first come, first serve. The facility will be cold, so be sure to dress warmly. Tickets are $10 apiece and there are two shows: one at 12 p.m. and another at 6 p.m. Visit the website for details.

Holiday Open House at The Good Earth Garden Center: Shop for Christmas decor, pick out a Christmas tree and take a pot of poinsettias home at the sixth annual Holiday Open House at The Good Earth Garden Center. From 1-4 p.m., Shoppers can enjoy cider and snacks and enter to win door prizes. There will also be special pricing on items during the event. Visit the Facebook page for more info and email with additional quesitons. FREE!

Tree Trimming and Ornament Make & Take at Laman Library: Head to the Children's Department for fun with Christmas decor! Help decorate the tree and make your own ornaments to take home. The crafty holiday fun starts at 2 p.m. Call (501) 758-1720 for more information. FREE!

Sherwood Christmas Parade: Don't miss this fun holiday parade with school bands, floats and fun. The parade, themed "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree," will start at Lantrip Road and Kiehl Avenue at 2 p.m. and will end at Oakbrooke Drive. Santa will be there, too! Call (501) 835-5319 or click here for more information. FREE!

Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade in Downtown Little Rock: Deck the streets with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la! It’s time for the annual Little Rock Christmas parade, sponsored by the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. The parade will begin at 3 p.m. at 2nd and Broadway, follow Broadway to Capitol Avenue, then proceed down Capitol Avenue to the State Capitol. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be joined by various entries such as marching bands, floats, cars, animals and more! Head to the website for more information. FREE!

Sunday

Caring Santa at McCain Mall: Caring Santa will be available for visits for special needs children. This is an opportunity to provide a quiet environment with little distractions. In this setting we turn off the music, TV, escalator and lights to avoid any continuous sounds that may bother the children. Reserve a time from 9-11 a.m. online. FREE!

50th Annual Christmas Frolic at Historic Arkansas: The Frolic celebrates Christmas as it was in the 1800s with living history, carols, reenactments, live music, dancing and more. Visitors get to sample famous hot cider and ginger cake and enjoy activities including blacksmith demonstrations, pioneer games and dancing in the Hinderliter Grog Shop, Little Rock’s oldest surviving structure. The fun goes from 1-4 p.m. Visit the website for more information. FREE!

Holiday Open House at the Old Statehouse Museum: The Old Statehouse Museum is ringing in December with an open house where visitors will find cookies, drinks, live music and hands-on activities for the whole family. Be there from 1-4:30 p.m. For more info, visit the event Facebook page. FREE!

North Little Rock Sertoma Club Christmas Parade: The annual parade, themed "Christmas Magic," begins at Pershing Boulevard and Main Street at 2 p.m. and heads south into the Argenta Arts & Entertainment District and concludes in front of the City Services Building (120 Main St.) Call (501) 758-1424 or visit the website for more information. FREE!

A Magical Moment With Santa at The Wonder Place: Hang out with Santa Pete at this special event where all proceeds benefit Home Away from Home, a hospitality ministry for multiple myeloma patients in Little Rock. Take selfies with Santa, enjoy treats from local bakeries and participate in holiday art activities. Attendees will get to make cards for patients and their families. The event goes from 2-4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per child with a maximum of $30 per family. Visit the website for more details.

Holiday Open House at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center: The sixth annual “Say It Ain’t Say’s” Sweet Potato Pie Baking Contest will take place from 2-5 p.m. Sample pies by both professional and amateur cooks as you listen to performances of holiday music. Call (501) 683-3593 or visit the website for more information. FREE!

Friday-Sunday

"Mother Goose Christmas" at the Arkansas Arts Center: Get in the holiday spirit with this show at the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre. Grandpa Andy makes it his Christmas Eve mission to school Memory in the ways of Mother Goose. With the aid of a certain magic music box, the Bella Piper, Grandpa Andy and Memory set off on an adventure in Mother Goose’s Realm of Romp and Rhyme. Shows hit the stage Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 2 & 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for members and $12.50 for non-members. Click here for more details.