Holiday Treats . . .

Choosing the right holiday entertainment for your tribe can be tougher than choosing their gifts. Not only do you have to consider cash outlay versus bang for the buck, you also have to figure out how to squeeze all the fun into this busy season.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of family-friendly events to help. And to balance things out, we’ve even thrown in a few non-holiday activities.

Theater, Variety Shows

Orange Coast College presents the closing weekend of its annual “Old-Fashioned Christmas & Ice Cream Social,” a holiday variety show for kids with sketches, carols, an original melodrama and a sweet finale. Parents are advised to load that camera for visits with Santa. Closes Sunday. $5-$9. (714) 432-5880.

Santa has some high-tech magic up his furry sleeve in “A Lazer Vaudeville Christmas,” Saturday at 8 p.m. in Plummer Auditorium (201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton). The three-person cast blends circus and vaudeville skills such as juggling, acrobatics and illusion with a sleighful of laser and light effects to create some electrifying results. Runs about two hours; suggested for ages 5 to adult. (714) 278-3371.

The musical “Babes in Toyland” continues through Dec. 19 at the La Habra Depot Theatre (311 S. Euclid St., La Habra). Tickets: $10-$12. (562) 947-6991.

The most incorrigible kids in town give a profound and humorous meaning to the Christmas story in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre presents a stage version of Barbara Robinson’s well-loved children’s book Friday through Dec. 23 at the Laguna Playhouse (606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach). Tickets: $11-$14; younger than 5 not admitted. (949) 497-2787.

South Coast Repertory (655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa) once again warms up its holiday chestnut, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Also, “La Posada Magica,” a contemporary tale of the Christmas spirit reborn, is presented on the Second Stage. Tickets for “A Christmas Carol” are $23-$38; “La Posada Magica” tickets: $11-$28. Both continue through Dec. 27 (dark on Christmas Day). (714) 708-5555.

Angels aloft! “The Glory of Christmas” pays tribute to the season with grandeur at the Crystal Cathedral (12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove). Through Dec. 30. Tickets: $18-$30; family night tickets are $15 (advance purchase required; ask the box office for details). (714) 544-5679.

Fun, Frolic and F-f-f-rost

The story of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter Christmas Eve comes to life at the annual Las Posadas celebration, Sunday at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. The procession begins at 5 p.m., followed by music, pinatas, folkloric dancing and traditional refreshments. Free. (714) 567-3600.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., local youths can enjoy free entertainment, crafts, games and quality time with St. Nick at the 14th Annual Children’s Winter Holiday Party in Santa Ana Stadium, Civic Center Drive and Flower Street, Santa Ana. (714) 571-4200.

Been in a mall parking lot lately? Then you know how Christmas can bring out the animal in you. Revel in that at the Santa Ana Zoo’s (1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana) “Christmas with the Critters,” Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Activities include creature encounters, children’s crafts, music and an appearance by the king of the Christmas jungle himself, Santa. $2-$4; free to zoo members and kids 2 and younger. (714) 953-8555.

The Sawdust Festival’s Winter Fantasy crafts fair (935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach) offers children’s workshops, craft activities, strolling carolers, jugglers, food and lots of the fluffy white stuff for pelting your sister in a snow playground. $1-$4. Closes Sunday. (949) 494-3030.

Holiday Dance

Ballet Pacifica’s annual staging of “The Nutcracker” has come to be quite the holiday treat for many local families, giving hundreds of children their first, sweet taste of classical dance. The fully-staged performance featuring 150 dancers from BP’s professional company and conservatories, runs Friday through Dec. 24 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Tickets: $14-$17. (714) 740-2000.

Youngsters and adults from the Anaheim Ballet perform “The Nutcracker” through Sunday at the McKinney Theatre at Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo. Tickets: $10-$13. (949) 582-4656.

Music

Eighty-one young warblers of the Paul McNeff KidSingers will share the stage with their spangly-vested adult peers in a 7 p.m. family concert Saturday at Santa Ana High School Auditorium, 520 W. Walnut Ave., Santa Ana. Tickets: $5-$10. (714) 525-7464.

Sixteen children’s choirs and children’s entertainer David Jack and His Panda Band join actor Ed Asner and a host of others at 2 p.m. Sunday in the fourth annual Orange County Hanukkah Concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets for the concert are $9-$125. (714) 740-7878.

Visual Arts and Exhibits

One world. One tree. That’s the gist of “The Friendship Tree: Holiday Traditions From the First Ladies of the World” at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. The tree is decked with dozens of holiday ornaments donated by first ladies from 25 countries around the world and is the newest addition to the museum’s collection of international-themed trees, which are also on view. Unique pieces include a selection of angel ornaments donated by Hillary Rodham Clinton. From 5 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday through Christmas, the museum hosts children’s activities, refreshments, holiday entertainment and self-guided tours of the decorated grounds. Admission to the “Wassail Wednesday” open house is free; all other times, entry is $2-$5.95, free for children 7 and younger. (714) 993-5075.