Craft fairs, a visit with Santasaurus, pet photos with Santa, a debut performance by a musical group and numerous open houses highlight a busy weekend of holiday activities as frosty December dawns in Casper.

Today, craft fairs will be held at the WESC Federal Credit Union, 155 W. Collins, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Casper College visual arts students host a sale of their work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Visual Arts Building, 125 College Dr., the Converse County Coalition Against Violence hosts a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Douglas at the Wyoming National Guard Armory and several local artists are selling their work at 4671 Coates Rd., today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Several home-based party entrepreneurs gather in one place to make holiday shopping a one-stop event today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 115 S. Elm, the Wyoming Health Fairs office. Vendors include Avon, Close to My Heart Scrap Booking and Stamps, Market to Market Dips and Chillers, Mia Bella Candles, Premier Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, The Body Shop, Tupperware and Pampered Chef.

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, which gives its proceeds to Casper's neediest, is holding a bag sale today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at H and Durbin streets in north Casper. All of the clothes that fit in a bag will sell for $2 per bag.

The Tate Geological Museum at Casper College hosts a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., today with Santasaurus roaming around.

The open house includes refreshments, pictures with Santasaurus for just $2 each between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and special discounts in the gift shop with 15 percent savings for nonmembers and 25 percent savings for museum members, volunteers, Casper College and the University of Wyoming/Casper College students and employees with I.D.

After photos with Santasaurus, pooches are welcome to have their holiday portrait taken with Santa as Basset Hound Rescue and Rainbow (all breed) Rescue hold their 11th annual Santa Photos at the Agriculture Extension Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Shirley McPheeters (Four Footed Photo) from Sheridan is the professional photographer. Bring the whole family for their Christmas photo.

There also will be a Santa Shop with many items collected of Christmas shopping and a bake shop with some mouth watering goodies. Santa Shop will be open until 5 p.m.

All proceeds go for medical expenses for local homeless dogs. With many spays, neuters, broken legs and major medical expenses, help is needed.

The Worship Arts Ministry at Highland Park Community Church presents the final two performance of the one-act play, "Foolish Wiseman," today at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m. Free tickets are available by calling 265-4073 or at the Galilean at Eastridge Mall.

Free dance lessons for teens are offered tonight at the Link, 353 W. A St., from 8 to 10 p.m. Door prizes will be awarded and Machelle Holloway is the instructor.

Adults may dance to "Swing Sounds," tonight from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. 4th St. Admission is $3 per person.

Sunday is jam-packed with activities as well, with two breakfasts open to the public, a holiday open house at the Nic, a dessert reception and concert featuring the city's newest musical group and a fundraiser for nonprofits shopping extravaganza.

VFW Post 9439 and Auxiliaries, 1800 Bryan Stock Trail, hosts a benefit breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. All proceeds will benefit The Salvation Army. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 10.

The Casper Elks Lodge serves all-you-can eat breakfast open to the public from 8 to 11 a.m. for $5 per person.

The Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center's annual Holiday Open House is Sunday from noon-4 p.m. with live music and holiday refreshments.

Musical performances will be featured throughout the afternoon by groups such as the Phoenix Ringers, directed by Carolyn Deuel; the Casper College Flute Ensemble; the Kelly Walsh High School Chamber Orchestra; and the Oil City Slickers.

Alla Breve, a select 40-voice women's chorale, will sing in concert on Sunday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 701 S. Wolcott. From 5-6 p.m., solos and ensembles will perform in the parish hall while guests enjoy pie and cake. At 6:15 p.m., the concert will begin in the sanctuary. A donation of $5 covers dessert and entertainment, and will benefit those Alla Breve singers who are traveling to Beijing, China, in June to sing in a "Salute to the Olympics".

Alla Breve is a division of the Casper Children's Chorale. Marcia Patton is the conductor and Lynn Kahler is the piano accompanist.

Today from 7-10 p.m., Eastridge Mall will hold its annual Festival of Giving event. The mall will close to the general public and then reopen for a night of shopping. The event will include special store discounts, gifts, door prizes, entertainment and free gift wrapping. Special Festival of Giving tickets are required for entry (admission is free for children 5 and under). Numerous nonprofits are selling tickets for $5 each and they will be available at the door. Each nonprofit that sells tickets receives the money from the tickets it sells.