Don't know about you, but it sure feels like this month is blasting by. Take a break from your November to-dos with our list of things to do, see, hear and savour in the London area this weekend.

THE FIVE 

Have a gap in your weekend social calendar? Fill it with one of these activities.

• Christmas Tree Spectacular. Trains and Christmas trees are the name of the game at the Elgin County Railway Museum. Swing by this photo-worthy night market at 225 Wellington St. in St. Thomas on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. or Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. Admission is free, but donations to the museum are accepted. 

• Tokyo Police Club. This indie rock band from Newmarket is bringing their final tour to the London Music Hall on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $57.20.

• Into the Woods. The Grand Theatre's Auburn Stage is the place to be to catch this Stephen Sondheim classic that intertwines several fairy tales. The Silver Spotlight Theatre production provides performance opportunities for seniors in community theatre. The show runs until Dec. 1 and general admission tickets are $33.70. 
• Classic Albums Live. Head to Centennial Hall Saturday night for a note-by-note remake of Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell album. Tickets to the 8 p.m. tribute show are $62.50.

• The Sound of Music. This feel-good Rodgers and Hammerstein classic just opened at the Grand Theatre on Tuesday. The Grand's holiday production runs until Dec. 29. Snag some tickets to one of the opening weekend shows before they're gone. Here's an inside look at the Grand's latest production with music director Alexandra Kane.

FOR THE KIDS

Feeling festive? Start the season off early with one of these family activities.  

• CPKC Holiday Train. Check out this lit-up locomotive as it cruises through the core Sunday from 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the Richmond and Piccadilly tracks. Go and see the decked-out train, listen to some live music and bring a non-perishable food item to donate.  

• Hyde Park Santa Claus Parade. This festive west-end procession starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sherwood Forest Mall and heads west down Gainsborough Road. Don't forget to bring along a non-perishable food item to donate. The parade grand marshal is London Majors star Cleveland Brownlee and the theme is Sporty Christmas.
• Magic of Lights. It's the opening weekend of this holiday light show at its new Fanshawe Conservation Area location, right here in town. Advance tickets for the drive-thru event are $26 per carload on the weekend and $35 at the gate. The Children's Health Foundation is the beneficiary of this year's event, which runs until Jan. 4.

FREE PRESS FAVE

• Our Jennifer Bieman has a local pick if you're looking to amp up the flavour. "Pepper Tree Spice Co. in Port Stanley has some great blends for everything from steak to garlic mashed potatoes. This business landed on my radar a little while back when a bottle of their Hyde Park steak spice found its way into our home (maybe in some gift basket?!). A happy little find either way." Check them out at 223A Colborne Street in Port Stanley or shop online.  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• Hankering of some hoops? The London Lightning home opener is just around the corner. The team will be facing off against the Newfoundland Rogues at Canada Life Place, formerly Budweiser Gardens, on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Snag some tickets here. 

LFP THROWBACK

• To mark our 175th anniversary, we'll be sharing some vintage facts and old-timey trivia about the Freeps and local history. Have you heard? We have a new editor-in-chief, Greg Van Moorsel. Van Moorsel, who started out as rookie LFP reporter covering Chatham and Kent County in 1986 and has had tons of different roles at the paper since, took the reins from long-time EIC Joe Ruscitti a little over a month ago. Greg is also the curator of our Posted Ontario newsletter, so subscribe if you haven't already.