From dancing toy soldiers to a soulful spin on Handel's Messiah, there are plenty of performances coming to Toronto that are perfect for the Christmas season.

The State Ballet of Russia will be giving two performances of The Nutcracker on Saturday and Sunday at Mississauga's Living Arts Centre.

If that's not convenient for you, the National Ballet of Canada will begin its series of Nutcracker performances on Dec. 10.

Another dance this weekend is Ballet Creole's Soulful Messiah at Harbourfront on Queens Quay.  The ballet troupe performs Handel's Messiah to a rhythm-and-blues version by Quincy Jones.

Friday's and Saturday's performances are at 8 p.m. in the Fleck Dance Theatre at 207 Queens Quay West. Sunday's takes place at 3 p.m.

Don't forget that every Saturday night at 8 p.m. during the winter, Harbourfront offers DJ Skate Nights.

If you're looking for something raunchier, consider the Trailer Park Boys' "Dear Santa Claus: Go $%%!# Yourself'" tour. The trio performs at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on the CNE grounds.

For some seasonal rock 'n' roll in your weekend, the Arkells will be performing as part of The Edge 102.1 FM's Jingle Bell Rock. Saturday's show at the Sound Academy starts at 8 p.m. One dollar from every ticket sold goes to the Daily Bread Food Bank, and attendees can also bring donations of non-perishable food.

For something a big gentler, the Christmas flower shows at Allan Gardens and Centennial Park take place Sunday, starting at noon and ending at 7 p.m.

Both locations will feature Victorian carolers, hot cider, horse-drawn carriage rides and cookies. The shows run until Jan. 8.

Beyond that, there are markets, concerts and exhibitions galore this weekend.

The Distillery District's annual Christmas market will take over the streets of the historic area, located southeast of Parliament Street and Front Street East.

A 14-metre tall white spruce has been brought in to help make the district festive. More than 18,000 lights and ornaments adorn the evergreen.

Besides shopping opportunities, the district offers the following during the market:

  • musicians, carolers and children's choirs
  • Rudolph's reindeer zoo
  • Santa and his roaming elves
  • specialty beer and mulled wine gardens
  • a Ferris wheel

The market will be open Friday from noon to 9 p.m., and will open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Another holiday shopping tradition is the One of a Kind crafts show. This is the show's final weekend for this season.

The show features the handiwork of 800 artisans selling handmade gifts at the Direct Energy Centre on the CNE grounds. It opens at 10 a.m. every day and runs to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, closing Sunday at 6 p.m.

Canada's folk music community gets together in the city this weekend for the Canadian Folk Music Awards. There will be workshops and performances on Saturday and Sunday, with the awards gala on Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Isabel Bader theatre.

If your children aren't overexposed to Santa yet, Casa Loma offers Breakfast with Santa every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. until Dec. 18. Other family activities at the Forest Hill landmark include the School of Wizardry, where children get to watch magic, juggling and balancing acts and learn a few tricks of their own.

Finally, it wouldn't be Christmas in Toronto without Honest Ed's turkey giveaway. The event will see more than 4,500 kilograms of free frozen turkeys given away, plus a fruitcake with every bird.

Mayor Rob Ford will be in attendance.

The event, which is on a first-come, first-served basis, starts at 10 a.m. Sunday. But some people line up starting Saturday night.