It’s the weekend before Christmas! With just a handful of days left to go, last-minute shopping and entertaining (or getting the house ready for guests) will be on the agenda for lots of us. But there is some weekend family fun out there too if an excursion out of the house and beyond the stores is in order.

As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more weekend activities, along with WRAL.com’s Holiday Guide for a full listing of holiday fun. For a look at the special exhibits and attractions at museums and other destinations, check my winter break post for details. And scroll to the bottom of this post for holiday hours for popular family destinations.

Have a wonderful pre-Christmas weekend!

The region is ablaze in holiday lights. Viewing is on the agenda for my family this weekend. Click here for a list of major light displays. And check WRAL.com's map for many more across the area.

Christmas at Roma’s Clydesdale Farm is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, in Castalia, which is about an hour north and east of Raleigh The event includes a gingerbread house where kids can shop for gifts, crafts, complimentary horse rides and more. Admission that includes all activities is $12 or you can go a la carte.

Christmas in the Park at Arnette Park in Fayetteville continues through Saturday. Admission is $2. Find food, train rides, arts and crafts, a fire pit and entertainment, and walk along a half-mile trail while to enjoy the lights. The big feature: A 30-foot Christmas tree surrounded by smaller Christmas trees and lights that dance to music.

The Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker continues at the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh with shows Thursday through Sunday.

The Hayti Heritage Center in Durham will offer free visits with an African American Santa from noon to 3 p.m., Sunday. It’s free to visit with Santa. A 5x7 color photo is $10.

And we have two versions of Black Nativity, which tells of story of Jesus' birth as written by Langston Hughes. Performances are Thursday to Sunday at St. Mary's School in Raleigh. Click here for more information. And it's Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Hillside High School in Durham. Click here for information about Black Nativity Durham.

Here are the holiday hours for popular family spots in the Triangle:

The rides at Raleigh’s Pullen Park are closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. The hours on every other day are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park’s grounds and playground are open from dawn to dusk.

Marbles Kids Museum will be closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. The IMAX Theatre at Marbles will be open.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of History are closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

UPDATE: The N.C. Museum of Art is closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. However, Director Lawrence J. Wheeler announced Thursday that the museum's East Building, featuring some special exhibitions, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 31. The museum will be closed on Jan. 1.

Kidzu Children’s Museum is closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 (it’s usually closed on Mondays) and Jan. 1.

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is open until 3 p.m., Dec. 24, and 5 p.m., Dec. 31. It is closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill is closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

The N.C. Zoo is closed on only one day of the year - Dec. 25.