8 family-friendly activities for weekend of Dec. 20 to Dec. 22

Go Ask Mom's weekly weekend activities posts will be slightly shorter during the next couple of weeks because of the holidays, but we still have you covered. For many more family-friendly activities, check our Winter Break Guide and WRAL.com's Out & About calendar.

Christmas shows continue, including Raleigh Little Theatre's Cinderella, Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, this weekend.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences hosts Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas. Sittings are from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21. The programs include cookies, cider and a reading of the children's book "Dinosaurs' Night before Christmas," along with a special tour through the museum's exhibit halls to discover dinosaurs, fossils and more. Tickets are $10 for kids and $15 or $20 for adults. Kids 2 and younger are free.

The Carolina Hurricanes play the Florida Panthers at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, at PNC Arena. Tickets start at about $30.

Black Nativity opens Dec. 20 and runs through Dec. 22 at Hillside High School. The show is based on Langston Hughes' version of the Christmas story. Tickets are $10.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department will host a Santa Rooftop Rescue from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Dec. 20, at 140 West Plaza. Firefighters will "rescue" Santa and bring him down. He'll stay to greet children and hand out some candy canes.

Kidzu Children's Museum will host a pajama day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22. Wear your pajamas and get $5 admission per person.