'Tis the weekend before Thanksgiving, and a slew of the big holiday season events are here, ready or not.

They include: two Festivals of Trees (Bloomington and Kenney), one Christmas parade (Farmer City), a holiday concert (The Village-Aires' annual shows in Minonk), a holiday art sale (the McLean County Arts Center's Holiday Treasures) and one theatrical extravaganza (the Barn II's "We Need a Little Christmas").

Check today's Calendar listings for details of those merry happenings.

Following are some festive highlights of the big Pantagraph-area events yet to come between Thanksgiving weekend and that certain other Big Day a month hence

Nov. 27: Pontiac Christmas Light-Up Parade, followed by Santa arrival and visits, 6 p.m., downtown Pontiac.

Nov. 27: Santa Claus Parade, 10 a.m., downtown Peoria.

Nov. 27: Yule Like Peoria Holiday Walk-About, 6 p.m., holiday music, decorations and more in downtown Peoria.

Nov. 27-Jan. 3: Christmas at Clover Lawn, annual holiday tours of a Victorian-bedecked David Davis Mansion, 1000 E. Monroe St., Bloomington.

Nov. 27-Dec. 31: Christmas at the Dana-Thomas House, annual holiday tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Springfield.

Nov. 27-December: A Patriotic Christmas Celebration, annual holiday tours at the C.H. Moore Homestead in Clinton, with candlelight tours Nov. 27, and Dec. 4, 11 and 18 (5-8 p.m.).

Nov. 28: East Peoria Festival of Lights Parade, 5:45 p.m., the annual illuminated float spectacular, downtown East Peoria.

Nov. 28: Light Up Streator, dusk, lighting of holiday attractions, food, Christmas marketplace, music, Santa visit and more  in Streator's City Park.

Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and 13: The Spirit of Victorian Christmas Teas, Tea Ladies holiday sessions at 2 p.m. each day, David Davis Mansion, Bloomington.

Dec. 1: Holiday Jubilee Concert, Normal Community West High School bands holiday concert, 7 p.m., Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 1-31: Christmas at Funks Prairie Home, tours of the decorated historic 1864 residence of Lafayette Funk near Shirley.

Dec. 2: Clinton's Light Up the Night Christmas Parade, 7 p.m., followed by opening of Santa's house on Mr. Lincoln's Square in downtown Clinton.

Dec. 2-5 and 10-12: ISU Madrigal Dinners, 6:30 p.m., ISU Alumni Center.

Dec. 3: Community Concert Band Christmas Concert, 7 p.m., annual holiday concert in Bloomington's Miller Park Pavilion.

Dec. 3: IWU Kwaanza Celebration, 6 p.m., IWU Black Student Union cultural holiday fete, IWU Memorial Student Center.

Dec. 3 and 5-6: Little Women, A Christmas Version and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, 7 p.m. (Dec. 3 and 5) and 2 p.m. (Dec. 6), Seedling Theatre productions in Bloomington's First Christian Church.

Dec. 4: Champaign Parade of Lights, 6 p.m., illuminated float parade, downtown Champaign.

Dec. 4: Christmas Around the World, 5 p.m., readings, carols and hymns performed in various languages, IWU Evelyn Chapel.

Dec. 4-31: East Peoria Festival of Lights, 25th anniversary edition, starting a week after the annual Festival of Lights Parade for the first time ever.

Dec. 4: Live Window Vignettes, 5-8 p.m., annual window displays with live performers, downtown Bloomington.

Dec. 4-6: ISU Holiday Art Sales, the annual art department sales at various times between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at various campus locales.

Dec. 4-6 and 11-13: Mack Glass Christmas Tree & Glass Sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., glass works by the Mack artisans at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 5: Illinois Chamber Orchestra Candlelight Concert, 7:30 p.m., the ICO's annual holiday concert at Bloomington's Second Presbyterian Church.

Dec. 5: Minonk Parade of Lights, 6:30 p.m., electric parade followed by fireworks, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more in downtown Minonk.

Dec. 5: Once Upon a Holiday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the annual downtown Bloomington holiday festival, including the B-N Jaycees Christmas Parade, Christmas at the Courthouse, carriage rides and more.

Dec. 5: Santa Pajama Party, 6-8 p.m., holiday games and more at the Children's Discovery Museum, Normal.

Dec. 5: Sister's Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold, 7:30 p.m., "think of CSI: Bethlehem" we're advised of this latest national touring "Nunsense" variant, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 5-6: Music for the Holidays, 3 p.m. (Dec. 5-6) and 7 p.m. (Dec. 5), the ISU Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday extravaganza, ISU Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 5-6: The Nutcracker, 2 p.m., annual Twin Cities Ballet production, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 6: LeRoy Christmas Parade, 2 p.m., downtown LeRoy.

Dec. 6, 13 and 20: Can Reindeer Fly?, 2 p.m., the annual reindeer flying preparations at Miller Park Zoo.

Dec. 10-19: The Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris' memories working as a Macy's elf, Heartland Theatre Company, Normal.

Dec. 12-13: The Pantagraph's Holiday Spectacular, 2 p.m. (Dec. 12-13) and 7:30 p.m. (Dec. 12), the annual community magnum opus, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 17: Kenny Rogers Christmas Show, 7:30 p.m., with "The Gambler" returning to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington for his second holiday gig.

Dec. 18: Illinois Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops, 8 p.m., the ISO's annual "Home for the Holidays" celebration, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 19: Christmas at the Mansions, 4-9 p.m., annual holiday tours of a trio of historic B-N edifices, the David Davis, Vrooman and Broadview manses.

Dec. 19: Christmas the Cowboy Way with Riders in the Sky, 7:30 p.m., with the saddle-sore cowboy quartet returning for an encore to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Dec. 20: The Nutcracker Suite, 1 p.m., USA Ballet Youth Ensemble performance, IWU Westbrook Auditorium.

Dec. 21: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, 3 p.m., USA Ballet performance, IWU Westbrook Auditorium.

Dec. 22: Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Show, 7:30 p.m., U of I Assembly Hall Champaign.