What are you doing Christmas Eve?
Finishing your shopping? Hunkering down at home?
Those aren’t your only options. We’ve found 12 other ways to spend the day. One has a serious purpose. The rest are just for fun. All are worth putting on your Christmas Eve to-do list.
* Check in with Santa one last time. Hamilton Place in East Brainerd, Northgate Mall in Hixson and Walnut Square Mall in Dalton, Ga., are open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Santa will be ready for photos and wish lists starting at 10 a.m. At Bradley Square Mall in Cleveland, Tenn., mall hours and Santa hours are the same, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
* See “The Polar Express.” Maybe you own the DVD and can watch it anytime on TV, but nothing compares to the 3-D version on a six-story screen at the Imax Theater. Today, the holiday classic is the exclusive screening, with show times at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Admission: $9.95-$12.95.
* Touch a jellyfish. The Tennessee Aquarium’s touch tanks are always popular with guests, but a special holiday touch tank is giving visitors a chance to touch the jiggly bells of moon jellies. “Bells” refers to these sea creatures’ bell-shaped bodies, which pulse to provide movement. The Aquarium is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today. Admission: $24.95-$35.95.
* Be a tourist. Practically all of Chattanooga’s iconic tourist attractions are open Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day.
Many are even open regular hours today, including Chattanooga Zoo, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Incline Railway, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Ruby Falls will start its last tour at 4 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art will close at 3 p.m.
Rock City will be open for daylight tours, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., on Christmas Eve and nighttime hours, 6-9 p.m., Christmas Day. Evening tours feature the Enchanted Garden of Lights.
* Go ice-skating. Ice on the Landing at Ross’s Landing is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. today. Your ticket – $8-$10 – grants two hours on the ice. The seasonal attraction will be open daily, including evening hours Christmas Day, through Jan. 18.
* View the EPB windows. You won’t need a ticket to enjoy this seasonal display at EPB headquarters. This year’s theme is “Chattanooga Strong,” paying tribute to the five servicemen who died in the terrorist attacks here on July 16. Most of the animated vignettes face Market Street, but don’t miss the “Charlie Brown Christmas” scenes along Broad Street.
* Buy Jordan Smith’s new CD. Republic Records released “Jordan Smith: The Complete Season 9 Collection” to iTunes last week after the Lee University student won “The Voice.” Today, the CD is available exclusively in Walmart stores.
* Get your gifts wrapped. Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block stations are open today at Hamilton Place on the lower level by Dillard’s women’s store and on the upper level across from the mall Tourist Information Center. A small fee is charged per package. Proceeds support CKOB programs that educate children about social concerns and differences.
* See a movie. Area cineplexes will be open from morning to night today, though most will go dark a little earlier than usual, with latest start times between 7 and 8 p.m. Projectors will flicker on again around midday on Christmas Day.
* Be a Force for good. You can’t walk through a store without tripping over merchandise for the new Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens.” If you’re buying, consider the special release of Itty Bittys at participating Hallmark stores. Through today, while supplies last, Hallmark will donate $1 to Toys For Tots for each Holiday Star Wars Itty Bittys purchase. Holiday Chewbacca, Holiday R2-D2, Holiday Yoda and Holiday C-3PO sell for $6.95 each.
* Go bowling. Holiday Bowl Brainerd and Holiday Bowl Hixson will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today. Bowling and shoe rental will cost $6.99 in Brainerd, $9.99 in Hixson. Both will reopen at 4 p.m. Christmas Day for business as usual. Pin Strikes will be open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today, with two hours of bowling and shoe rental priced at $12.99 (if you mention you read about it in the Times Free Press). Pin Strikes reopens at 3 p.m. Christmas Day.
* Give blood. Blood donations often slow in cold and busy December, and a long holiday weekend can make the need even more critical.
Donation centers are open today in downtown Chattanooga, on Gunbarrel Road and in Hixson, Cleveland, Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton, Ga. Bloodmobiles will be out at two Walmart stores today: 8 a.m.-noon in Collegedale and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Fort Oglethorpe.
A donation always has the potential to save three lives, but your pint can go a little farther during the holidays. Through Jan. 2, Blood Assurance will donate $1 to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger and give the donor a “Heroes in Disguise” long-sleeved T-shirt. Find out more at bloodassurance.org.