The SPCA craft fair takes place Sunday.

Image Credit: B.C. SPCA

KAMLOOPS – Time to put all this snow and cold weather to good use. Most of the runs at Sun Peaks open this weekend but for those wanting to avoid the cold, white stuff, there are many other (indoor) options to embrace the season.

The weekend kicks off with the Fabulous Fur Ball in support of the SPCA. With dinner, dancing, silent auction and 50/50 draw the event is another key fundraiser for the local shelter, especially with the recent closure due to ringworm.

Sun Peaks has received more than 50 centimetres of snow this past week which is allowing the resort to open all lifts except Burfield and West Bowl T-Bar and 90 per cent of runs off the main lifts on Saturday, the second best opening in the history of the resort. If you're heading up to hit the slopes you could also stick around for the annual Firefighters Gala at the Delta Ballroom — if you bought your tickets before the cutoff earlier this week of course.

If you want to ski a bit closer to home you'll have to wait another week for Harper Mountain to open. The family-run ski area is hoping to open Nov. 30 this year, a full two weeks sooner than last year.

In other holiday-themed events Homes for the Holidays will be touring five professionally designed homes in Kamloops Saturday and Sunday to provide inspiration and support the United Way. There will also be a number of holiday craft fairs this weekend.

On Saturday you can hit up St. Ann's Academy for a bazaar featuring tea, baking, shopping and games from noon until 3 p.m. or head to the Skelep School of Excellence for shopping, food and auctions from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. The Brock Activity Centre will also host a craft and bake sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Pacific Way Elementary will be hosting a holiday craft fair from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. with shopping, concessions and a kids corner, including a special visit from Santa around 11 a.m.

On Sunday the SPCA annual craft fair will take place at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Rainbow's Roost will host a Christmas Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Harmony 4 Hope, an a cappella concert at Calvary Community Church Saturday evening, will benefit the Kamloops Pregnancy Care Centre and A Louisiana Hayride Christmas will see performers entertain with Christmas songs at the Thompson Rivers University Conference Centre Grand Hall on Sunday.

If you're looking for sports action the Blazers are out of town this weekend but the TRU Wolfpack will be taking on the University of Saskatchewan Friday and Saturday in men's and women's volleyball action at the Tournament Capital Centre both Friday and Saturday.

The proposed Ajax mine will also be a topic of discussion this weekend as the Kamloops Yacht Club is the scene of Corporations in our Heads, an interactive theatre performance, Friday and Saturday evening and Mel Rothenburger talks about the vision of a city with no mine versus one with a mine at the TRU Clocktower Sunday at 2 p.m.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.

Story last updated at 10:38 a.m., Nov. 22 to add more runs to Sun Peaks opening.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013