Art&Seek Jr. is one mom‘s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself.  Impossible you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.

Everyone batten down the hatches! Thanksgiving is upon us! Or as I like to call it, opening weekend of the downhill slide to Christmas.

To many people, every day from now until Dec. 25 can feel positively overloaded. The hours are filled with lists, errands, shopping and a general frenetic, wild pace. The season can get lost among all this, well…activity. Here’s some seasonal fun that will help you and the little ones slow down and smell the mistletoe.

Say hello to Santa at the Fort Worth Parade of Lights. Photo: Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc.

Downtown Fort Worth is the place to be Friday night as the 30th annual Parade of Lights  kicks off the holiday season. The parade will light up downtown from Belknap to Commerce Street with more than 500,000 lights on 100 illuminated entries. Note to self: bring sunglasses.

If you over indulged in too much Turkey, you can get to the parade a little early and take part in Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa Night of Lights Fitness Walk. The “Night of Lights Fitness Walk” begins promptly at 5:40 p.m., so don’t be late! You’ll have thousands of parade spectators cheering you on, and best of all, you’ll also have reserved seats for the parade at the conclusion of the walk.

Missile Toes has some pretty smooth moves! Photo: Galleria Dallas

For an old fashion Christmas, head up to historic downtown McKinney this weekend for the 32nd Annual Dickens of a Christmas…Home for the Holidays. The fun begins on Friday night at 6:15 p.m. in Mitchell Park just west of downtown with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Entertainers will be on hand to sing Christmas favorites. Throughout the weekend, there will be strolling carolers, visits with Santa, live entertainment, carriage rides and activities for the kiddos.

If you’re a thrill seeker and truly can’t stay away from the mall this weekend, be sure you make time to catch Missile Toes, the famous ice skating, back flipping, pyrotechnic Santa Claus at the Galleria. For two special performances on  Friday at noon and Saturday. at 5 p.m. the big guy will be performing with U.S. Olympic Champion Brian Boitano, as part of the Macys Grand Tree Lighting Celebration at Galleria Dallas.

Therese Powell is an Art&Seek calendar coordinator and KERA-TV producer.  She spends most of her free time seeking out adventures for her 7-year-old daughter, Rose.  Tell us about your quirky kid adventures by leaving a comment. Or e-mail Therese at [email protected].