The countdown begins today, from the moment you snap the Thanksgiving turkey wishbone for luck to your last-minute Christmas Eve hope that maybe, just maybe, you mailed off the right video game in time.

You're on the holiday clock, pressed trying to fit in chores and fun. So let us help you map out the most glorious time of the year without getting ticked off.

Here you will find a special day-by-day calendar to schedule everything from the Singing Christmas Tree to the Chistmas Tree lighting to the Santa Parade ... and when to mail those pesky packages and sneak off to sip some wine to make you feel lucky to have all the time you need.

Thanksgiving Day

• Run to Feed the Hungry (rain or shine), 10k at 8:35 a.m.; 5k at 9 a.m.

• On TV (Channel 3): The 85th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 9 a.m.-noon; National Dog Show, noon to 2 p.m.; movie: "Miracle on 34th Street." 2-4 p.m.

• Football triple-header: San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens (the Harbaugh brothers battle, see Page A1), 5:30 p.m., NFL Network; Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers, 9:30 a.m., FOX40; Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1:15 p.m., Channel 13

• EAT! EAT! EAT! SLEEP! SLEEP! SHOP?

Nov. 25

• Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento ,has a Free Admission Day for those who donate a canned good from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Indie singer-songwriters Shannon Curtis and Jonah Matranga perform at 6:30 p.m. at Harlow's, 2708 J St., in Sacramento. $6. Info: (916) 441-4693, www.harlows.com

• The Holiday Art & Craft Festival (presented by the Crocker Art Museum and Creative Arts League of Sacramento) begins its three-day run at noon today at Scottish Rite, 6151 H St., Sacramento. $6 adults, $3 for students and seniors 66 and up. Info: (916) 808-7000, www.crockerartmuseum.org

Nov. 26

• The Sonora Christmas festival opens at 10 a.m. for the second of a three-day run at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. $7 adults, $5 seniors and students, $2 children ages 6-12, free to children 5 and younger. Info: (209) 533-3473, fireonthemountain.com

Nov. 27

• The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; two-hour admission is $8, skate rental is $2. Info: downtownsac.org

Nov. 28

• Shopping alternative: Cyber Monday offers some of the best online prices. Check out the deals at your favorite retailers' websites.

Nov. 29

• Food & Toy Drive at 10 a.m. at the Sacramento Zoo, Land Park Drive and 16th Avenue: Bring a nonperishable food item or a new, unwrapped toy when you visit the zoo and receive $1 off admission. Donations benefit the Sacramento Food Bank and Toys for Tots.

Nov. 30

• Sacramento Theatre Company's "A Christmas Carol" opens at 7 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H St., Sacramento. Info: (916) 443-6722, www.sactheatre.org

Dec. 1

• Music: 107.9 The End presents its Jingle Ball, with Selena Gomez, $42-$82, 7 p.m., Power Balance Pavilion, One Sports Parkway, Sacramento. Info: (877) 686-5366, ticketmaster.com

Dec. 2

• Pac-12 Football Championship Game, 5 p.m., FOX40

• Vox Musica performs the first of its "Nobis: A Vox Christmas" shows at 8 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1701 L St., Sacramento. Info: (916) 471-0507, www.voxmusica.net

Dec. 3

• Compañia Flamenca José Porcel Dancer José Porcel brings his troupe to Three Stages at Folsom Lake College, 10 College Pkwy., Folsom, at 8 p.m. Info: (916) 608-6888; www.threestages.net

Dec. 4

• Singing Christmas Tree has one of six shows at Capital Christian Center, 9470 Micron Ave., Sacramento, $5-$25. Info: (916) 856-5604, www.sct.cc

Dec. 5

• Salsa pianist Eddie Palmieri, $12-$39, 7 p.m., Three Stages, 10 College Pkwy. Info: (916) 608-6888; www.threestages.net

Dec. 6

• Boston Symphony Orchestra opens the first of two shows at Davies Symphony Hall in the Civic Center between Van Ness and Franklin, Hayes and Grove streets, San Francisco. $31-$110, 8 p.m. Info: (415) 864-6000; www.sfsymphony.org

Dec. 7

• Christmas tree lighting - with 10,000 LED lights - on the steps of the state Capitol at 4:45 p.m.

Dec. 8

• Six wineries open for tastings at Old Sugar Mill, 35265 Willow Ave., Clarksburg. Info: (916) 744-1615, info@oldsugarmill.com

Dec. 9

• The Sacramento Ballet opens "The Nutcracker" at 7 p.m. at the Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento. $15-$69. Info: (916) 808-5181, www.sacballet.org

Dec. 10

• Santa Parade starts at 10 a.m. in front of City Hall, Ninth and I streets, in Sacramento.

• Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra opens a two-day run at 8 p.m. at the Mondavi Center, One Shields Ave., Davis. $35-$55. Info: (916) 536-9065, www.sacramentochoral.com

Dec. 11

• Sacramento Master Singers, "Glory to the Newborn King," 3 p.m., St. Francis Church, 1066 26th St., Sacramento. $20. Info: (916) 788-7464; www.mastersingers.org

• Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center at the State Theater, 985 Lincoln Way, presents "A Christmas Carol, A Live Radio Show" at 3 p.m. Tickets: $15 general, $10 students, $5 for children under 12, $2 for children in pajamas. This is the second of four shows. Info: (530) 885-0156, www.livefromauburn.com

Dec. 12

• Stay in tonight and catch a holiday classic on ABC Family - "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," 8 p.m.

Dec. 13• Wine tasting at the Firehouse: Tonight's theme? SoCal wines, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Cost: $10 per person. Info: (916) 442-4772, info@FirehouseOldSac.com

Dec. 14

• Chanticleer, "Our Favorite Carols," 8 p.m., Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th St., Sacramento. $32-$54. Info: (415) 392-4400, www.chanticleer.org

Dec. 15

• The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mondavi's Jackson Hall in Davis at 8 p.m. $25-$49. Info: (866) 754-2787, www.mondaviarts.org/

Dec. 16

• The Sierra Foothills Christmas Festival ends today, 6-9 p.m., in downtown Grass Valley. Info: (530) 272-8315, www.nevadacountygold.com

Dec. 17

• Last day to ship gifts to military for Christmas arrival

• Ariel String Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1430 J St., Sacramento. $28 general, $22 seniors, $12 students. Info: www.cmssacto.org

Dec. 18

• The Kinsey Sicks, a drag queen a cappella quartet, performs "Oy Vey in a Manger" at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret, 1000 K St., at 7:30 p.m. $40-$45. Info: (916) 557-1999, tickets.com

• Jim Martinez brings the music of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to JB's Lounge inside the Red Lion Hotel, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento. 5-8 p.m. $10 general, $5 for children 10 and younger. Info: (916) 723-5517, vtlee54@gmail.com

Dec. 19

• The Raley's Theatre of Lights in Old Sacramento at 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. (every night through Dec. 23 at these times)

Dec. 20

• Hanukkah begins at sunset and ends at sunset Dec. 28.

• This is the last day to send first-class mail for Christmas arrival.

Dec. 21

• "Every Christmas Story Ever Told" continues at 7 p.m. today at Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento. $20, $22. Info: (916) 995-5464, www.capstage.org

• The Italian Cultural Society presents its Festa di Natale, with cocktails, entertainment and dinner at Il Fornaio, 400 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, starting at 1:30 p.m. $55 for adults, $25 children 11 and younger. Info: (916) 399-9592, www.italiancenter.net

Dec. 22• "Watching Wynter" continues at 6:30 p.m. at the B Street Theatre, 2711 B St., Sacramento. $22-$30. Info: (916) 448-9707, www.bstreettheatre.org

Dec. 23

• Check twice to be sure you have enough paper, bows, tape, batteries - and eggnog!

Dec. 24

• TV: "It's a Wonderful Life," 8 p.m., Channel 3 (KCRA) or 24 hours of "A Christmas Story," begins at 8 p.m., TBS

Dec. 25

• Football, food and family - well, maybe not in that order.

Dec. 26

• First day of Kwanzaa.

Editor's Note: This story has been changed from an earlier version to omit a Dec. 15 listing on Chu-Fang Huang. She was not scheduled to perform. Corrected on Nov. 28, 2011. .

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