This is the second in a series on things to do with your tween in and around Jacksonville. The first, which focused on nearby zoos, aquariums and museums, can be found here.

It’s Christmas time and that means lots of events around our community.

The Onslow County Library system is hosting a series of craft events at the Sneads Ferry and Richlands branches (today) Wednesday, Dec. 2,and the Swansboro branch on Thursday, Dec. 3. All three events start at 4:30 P.M. and last about an hour.

The Onslow County Main Library in Jacksonville is hosting a free holiday movie and popcorn on Friday, Dec. 4 at 4 P.M. Santa will visit with children after the movie.

The City of Jacksonville will have its official tree-lighting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 4 at 6 P.M. at the Jacksonville Commons Recreation Center. Prior to the tree lighting, there will be performances by local bands and church choruses.

The Onslow County Library’s Richlands branch is hosting a “Decorate Your Library for the Holidays” event on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.

The City of Jacksonville’s Recreation and Parks department will be hosting its annual Holiday Family Fun Day on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Noon at the Jacksonville Commons Recreation Center. There’s going to be hayrides, games and safety presentations by the Jacksonville Police and Fire Departments.

Sneads Ferry’s Winter Fest and Community Christmas Celebration starts Friday Dec. 11 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Sneads Ferry Community Center. There will be a breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the community tree-lighting ceremony.

All these events are free, open to the public, local and a great deal of fun for parents and children. Come out and support your local communities and have a good time!

Do you know of other local holiday events? Ask questions, make suggestions  or share your ideas in the comments.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knolls Shores offers a variety of family friendly treats.

If you like animals, you could check out Lynwood Park Zoo. Located between Jacksonville and Richlands off of Highway 24/258, the Lynwood Park Zoo has all sorts of animals to see and pet. They’ve got everything from American Alligators to Zebras and quite a bit between. With admission less than $10 a person, it’s pretty cheap, too.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shoresis a great place to visit with fish and other watery critters. It’s a bit of a drive from Jacksonville, but definitely worth the trip. The aquarium was recently renovated and has it’s very own indoor waterfall, not to mention a shark tank, a Manta ray touch tank and (Mini’s and my personal favorite) a couple of river otters. Admission is pretty inexpensive, as well.

And, if you’re near the NC Aquarium, you might as well drive a bit further and visit the Fort Macon State Park. The park is home to an American Civil War base and recently built a new education center. The Fort has plenty of dark dank tunnels to walk through and provides a great view back in time to mid-19th Century military life. Frequently, the Fort hosts demonstrations on musket and canon firing. Admission is free.

The Onslow County Museumin Richlands is the place to see into Onslow’s past. Stretching from the early beginning of Onslow County to today, the museum provides a small peek into our community’s importance to North Carolina. There’s a “fossil dig” behind the museum which is a bit of outdoor fun, as well. At less than $5, admission is cheap.

As you can see, there’s a lot to do in our area. And this isn’t even getting into the really good stuff. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on events, festivals, parties and camps.

Ask questions, make suggestions  or share your ideas in the comments.