On The Town: Merry Christmas to all!

Red and green and lights, cutout cookies, gingerbread houses, nutcrackers, and more add to the traditional scene. Christmas movies and television specials send messages of hope and good will. Generosity has overflowed in donations of toys, food, and clothing. For children and grown-ups, whether naughty or nice, events leading up to Christmas have been plentiful. Santa seemed to be everywhere and a few elves appeared too. CLICK ANY IMAGE TO VIEW FULL PHOTO, START SLIDE SHOW.

Enlarge Emmerson Gerken, 3, and brother Hayden, 5, children of Alex and Tracy Gerken, show they've been nice for Santa as ...

Enlarge Reece Hall, 6, daughter of Nick and Jennifer Hall, visits with Santa at the Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg.

Enlarge Lola Szuch, daughter of Stephen and Elaine Szuch, and her cousin John McQuillen, son of Daniel and Eva McQuillen, at ...

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Grace, 11, with her big sister Carol Hanley during the Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas party at Cedar Creek Church ... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo From left, GJ&M employees Joe Christie, Alex Fortner and Steve Miller hand out gift bags to little sisters and brothers ... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Little brother Will, 12, left, and big brother Mark McMillan, both from Toledo, receive a gift bag from Shayne Rose,... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Big Brother Steve Beyer, 16, with little brother LaVon Williams, 5, eats dinner while event co-sponsors Tania Manner, holding ... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Andrea Chandler of Perrysburg holds her crying son Andrew Chandler, 2, while her other son Adam Chandler, 3, sits on ... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Adam Chandler, 3, son of Andrea Chandler, carries his present from Santa during the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Christmas party ... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo MacKayla Bebley, 12, meets Santa at the Boys and Girls Clubs Christmas Party at the Imagination Station. THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Savannah Robinson, left, and Selena Herrera, both 8, meet Santa during the Boys and Girls Clubs Christmas Party. THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Sixth grader Marcus Garmon receives his goodie bag from Barb Mann at the Boys and Girls Club Christmas party. THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge | Buy This Photo Boys and Girls Clubs' executive committee, from left, Brian Epstein, Connie Schmidt, 'Stanta' Rick Mann, and Kevin O'Neal with items ... THE BLADE/LORI KING

Enlarge The Swade family Sarah, Nicholas, and William pose for a photo with Santa at Highland Meadows Golf Club's Brunch with Santa.

Enlarge Toledo Museum of Art director Brian Kennedy as a natural on stage as h edonned the gown of Mother Ginger ... PHOTO WORKS INC.

Enlarge At the annual James W. Millon Order of the Elves party were, from left, Heather Cousino-Proch, Renee huebner, Amy ... ANDREA DEWOOD

Enlarge Devan Mathias and sister Alyssa, children of Jeff and JoAnn Mathias, proudly display their decorated gingerbread house at Stone Oak ...

Enlarge Sisters Addison, Ella and Zoe Kyle, children of Melanie and Erik Kyle, sit on Santa's lap at Stone Oak Country ...

Enlarge Blaine Schmitz, Will Coleman, Jack Coleman, Beckham Schmitz and little Madeline Coleman, front, children of Brooke and Brian Schmitz and ...

Enlarge Todd and Jill Beringer with sons Connor and Garrett take a photo with St. Nick at Sylvania Country Club's Breakfast ...

Enlarge Jay and Shelene Morgan with Derek, Zack and Kennedy during a photo with Santa.

Enlarge Kyle Cody and Grace Tuori discuss decorating techniques at the Sylvania Country Club's Gingerbread House Building Workshop.

Enlarge Children create houses at the Sylvania Country Club's Gingerbread House Building Workshop.

Enlarge Toledo Ski Club Christmas Party co-chairman Karen Wolfe, 'reindeer' Peter Mainhardt, 'Santa' Jim Wallace, co-chariman Ginger Safford, and ...

Enlarge Dave and Sherrie Zirn in charge of silent auction to benefit Mom's House of Toledo at the Toledo Ski Club's Christmas Party.

Enlarge David Mellor and Valerie Liebert at the Toledo Ski Club's Christmas party.

Enlarge Checking out the silent auction items are, from left, George and Vivian Sommerfield, Barb Baird.

Enlarge Jim Wallace, Lynda Gallant, Denny and Chris Claypool at the Toledo Ski Club's Christmas party at Brandywine Country Club.

Enlarge Mom's House of Toledo director Christina Rodrigez, 'Santa' Jim Wallace and Nancy Spring at the Toledo Ski Club's Christmas party ...

Enlarge Sailing along in fun fashion Deb Shaulis, left, and Felicia Evans kept the fun action in hand at the Toledo ...