Let it snow at Dolphin Mall

As the holidays quickly approach, weather experts predict heavy snow flurries in Miami's Dolphin Mall this weekend and into the new year. This will be the seventh year in a row the snow will fall in the Ramblas Plaza, at 7 p.m. daily, and at 9 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Jan. 3 (except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve). Kids and parents can pick up their wands one hour before each show to magically help bring the snow down.

Dolphin Mall, 11401 NW 12th St., Miami. Call 305-591-1877 or visit shopdolphinmall.com.

Home for the holidays: Here's how to enjoy the season in South Florida

Who says it doesn't feel like the holidays in Florida? Who needs snow to usher in the season? We've got boat parades, The Nutcracker , and even the Rockettes.

We've got fabulous light displays, and every holiday production you can think of is being performed on one of South Florida's many stages.

Holiday events are happening in virtually every community in Miami-Dade and Broward. Here are some of the highlights.

'Another Night Before Christmas' at Actors' Playhouse

Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto tell the story of a lonely social worker who encounters a homeless man on Christmas Eve, only to begin suspecting that he just might be the jolly old elf he resembles. Carbonell Award winners Ken Clement and Irene Adjan star in Another Night Before Christmas , a contemporary holiday musical at Actors' Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. The show runs through Dec. 27 with performances at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday (additional matinee this Wednesday, no performance Christmas Eve). Tickets are $48 Friday-Saturday, $40 for other performances (10 percent discount for seniors, $15 student rush tickets except on weekends). Call 305-444-9293 or visit www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Yule love these holiday specials

In the spirit of the dank economy, new holiday originals are scarce this year.

Networks are largely relying on venerable favorites, like Charlie Brown's Christmas tale, the old Rankin-Bass classics and the Frosty cartoons. But there are some newbies out there. A few to keep on your TV radar:

SATURDAY

Dancers to bring unchained artistry to weeklong Winterfest

Hanukkah has ended. So, too, has Christmas.

And by now, Bill Doolan figures South Florida could use a reprieve from a performing arts market saturated with holiday shows and imagery.

On Sunday, for the second year in a row, Doolan's Florida Dance Association will play host to a one-week stretch of modern dance performances in Miami and Miami Beach that he promises will not resemble The Nutcracker in any way.