The Arts of the Pamlico is hosting a series of holiday events all month long.

After our Theater for Youth parade float passes you by on Main Street on Saturday during the Washington Christmas parade, plan to continue your holiday celebration with a host of events.

AOP’s annual Holiday Homes Tour starts at 10 a.m. for adults. Tickets are going fast. You can buy them online, by phone at 252-946-2504 or stop by the historic Turnage Theatre, Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce or The Rich Company, which is graciously sponsoring this important fundraiser for your arts council again this year. Be sure to stop by their headquarters by Walmart on the tour to view their huge Nutcracker exhibit. Discounts on lunches for Holiday Homes Tour ticket holders are available from several local restaurants including The Bank Bistro and Grub Brothers.

For kids, AOP’s annual Children’s Holiday Shop starts at 11 a.m. Families can sign in their child who can shop until 2 p.m. with the help of our volunteer “elves” from local artists, listen to Christmas stories and make art to take home. The first 100 kids who join us get free hot cocoa and cookies. Yummy treats are being provided for participating youth by Rachel K’s Bakery. Parents can stay and enjoy a traditional music jam in the theatre.

Then at 3 p.m. the movie “Elf” is on the big screen in the Palace Theatre. Tickets are $5 cash or $7 credit in advance or at the door. It’s one of the season’s funniest family movies with Will Farrell in the lead role.

Sponsored by Curtis McLawhorn Engineering, $5 movies are being offered all month long in December including “Elf,” “Polar Express,” “A Christmas Story,” and just before Christmas. laugh out loud with National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation.”

This year, there will be two showings of Polar Express on Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., each for $5, which comes with bells for kids who believe. Don’t miss The Rich Company’s snow machine out front, too!

Mark your calendar for five full weeks of holiday cheer with concerts, movies and Broadway on the Big Screen with a debut of Cirque de Sole performances. And wrap up your season with I.C. Comedy’s New Year’s Eve, Eve performance on Dec. 29.

For more information about the Arts of the Pamlico’s upcoming events call us at 252-946-2504 or visit www.artsofthepamlico.org or find us on Facebook.

Debra Torrence is the executive director of Arts of the Pamlico.