Family and kid-friendly events around Snohomish County

Merrysville for the Holidays: Marysville becomes “Merrysville” this time of year. The Holiday Tour of Lights is 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. through Dec. 22 at Cedarcrest Golf Course, 6810 84th St. NE, Marysville. Hop on board the Rotary train for holiday tour of lights. Enjoy a bonfire and hot cocoa. Suggested donation is $5 adults, $3 youth and $20 family. More at www.marysvillewa.gov.

The Lights of Christmas: See more than 1 million Christmas lights at the festival, 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 20-23, 26-29, at Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood. Features dazzling displays, live music, theater, pony rides, food, Santa and Bruce the Spruce. More at www.thelightsofchristmas.com.

Santa’s Workshop: Santa has a pop-up workshop at Country Village through Dec. 24. Get your photo taken with Santa 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Country Village, 23718 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell. Visit two of Santa’s live reindeer in their vacation home between Keepsake Cottage and The Pet Place. Stroll the grounds filled with twinkling lights and cheerfully lit displays. More at www.countryvillagebothell.com.

Marionette Show: The Mary Shaver Marionettes present a delightful fairy tale with its impishly magical elf, a devoted daughter with baking issues, and a queen who collects shoes from 11 a.m to noon Dec. 27 at the main branch, Everett Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave. The event is free. More: 425-257-8030.

Bellevue Botanical Garden: The garden’s 24rd annual winter wonderland called Garden d’Lights is displayed 4:30 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 30, 12001 Main St., Bellevue. Admission is $5, free for ages 10 and younger. Call 425-452-2750 or go to www.bellevuebotanical.org/garden-dlights.

Starlight Beach Walk: Join Discovery Programs staff and the WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watchers for an evening of winter discovery under the stars from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 17. Free. Explore the beach as the tide goes out, then return to the visitor station to enjoy hot beverages to take the chill off. Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. Sturdy footwear or rubber boots are recommended. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station, 200 Admiral Way, Edmonds, at the base of the fishing pier. All ages are welcome. Call 425-771-0227 or go to www.edmondswa.gov/2011-10-03-01-14-39.html for more.

FAST & COOL

Angel of the Winds Community Ice Rink: Skate on an NHL regulation ice sheet. Cheap skate times are 6 to 7:15 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Sunday, and open to skaters of all skill levels and interests. Group rates and punch cards available. Military discount is $1 off admission price. The ice rink is adjacent to the main Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Suite 200, Everett. Call 425-322-2653 or go to www.angelofthewindsarena.com.

Lynnwood Ice Center: Public ice skating sessions are offered at various times seven days a week at the ice skating rink, 19803 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Call 425-640-9999. More at lynnwoodicecenter.com.

GO SEE DO

Northwest Stream Center: Want to see trout and crawfish? How about strolling in solitude on an elevated nature trail above a deep forest floor and surrounding wetlands next to a salmon stream? Visit the Northwest Stream Center in McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Last admission is at 3 p.m. Free admission during December, but call ahead to reserve a time slot for the board walk. All other times tickets are $5 students, $7 adults, $6 seniors. Free to members and children 4 and younger. Call 425-316-8592 or go to www.streamkeeper.org.

High Trek Adventures: Ride an aerial ropes course and zip lines at Paine Field Community Park, 11928 Beverly Park Road, Everett. There are three levels of difficulty, with 60 different obstacles. The longest zip line travels 250 feet. It’s for ages 4 and up. More at www.hightrek everett.com.

Summit Everett: The climbing gym at 2820 Rucker Ave. features top rope climbing, auto belay and bouldering. It’s open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. More at www.summiteverett.com.

Paine Field: The Snohomish County Airport is home to several aviation attractions, including the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, Historic Flight Foundation and the Museum of Flight Restoration Center. Find information at www.painefield.com/9/Visiting.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Schack Art Center: 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett; 425-259-5050. The Schack hosts Teen Nights, free monthly events where teens learn new art techniques while creating up to four art projects from 6 to 8 p.m. Upcoming Teen Nights are Feb. 21, March 21, April 18 and May 16. Schack classes include drawing, printmaking, basketry, jewelry and metalsmithing, encaustic painting, fused glass and blown glass. Go to www.schack.org to learn more.

Imagine Children’s Museum: Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. More at imaginecm.org or 425-258-1006.

Museum of Pop Culture: The museum (formerly EMP) at the Seattle Center, 325 Fifth Ave. N., has exhibits about science fiction and fantasy, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, “Star Trek,” indie games, the Seattle Seahawks, horror films and more. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More at www.mopop.org.

MOHAI: The Museum of History & Industry is at 860 Terry Ave., at the south end of Lake Union, Seattle. “WWI America,” showing through Feb. 10, tells the story of World War I. Empires were destroyed, millions perished and the world was upended by a war meant to end all others. More information is available at mohai.org.

Hibulb Cultural Center: Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon to 5 p.m. weekends. Free first Thursdays until 8 p.m.; 6410 23rd Ave. NE, Tulalip; 360-716-2635; www.hibulbculturalcenter.org.

ZOOS & AQUARIUMS

Outback Kangaroo Farm: 10030 Highway 530, east of Arlington. Take a tour of the farm to see kangaroos, alpacas, flying squirrels, peacocks, wallaroos and more.

The Reptile Zoo: 22715 U.S. 2, east of Monroe. Get hands-on with lizards, snakes, an albino alligator and other reptiles. More information at www.thereptilezoo.org.

Woodland Park Zoo: The zoo’s WildLights are on from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. through Jan. 5, except for Dec. 24-25. Admission is $14.95 for teens and adults, $11.95 for children and free for toddlers. Enter through west entrance on Phinney Avenue N. Parking $6. Call 206-548-2500. More at www.zoo.org.

Seattle Aquarium: Diving Santa is Dec. 21-24 at the aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle. Enjoy holiday music and watch Santa diving in a 120,000-gallon tank at noon Friday and Monday, and noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Aquarium closes at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. For a schedule of activities, go to www.seattleaquarium.org.

Email event information for this calendar with the subject “Family fun” to features@heraldnet.com.