OPINION by Piper Beardsell

 Each year, the holiday season is inescapable, and picking activities to do and gifts to buy can be overwhelming. Make it the absolute best with recommendations for Christmas events, gifts, movies, and even desserts!

  Looking for fun activities to do with the family during the holiday season? There’s more than you think. From light shows to plays, here are some of the must-see events close by! 

  Fans of festive lights during this time of year? Make way to the Winterlights show in North Andover. 

  Located at the Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens, don’t miss out on this outdoor light experience. Upon arrival will be holiday music, woodland creatures, hot chocolate, and 500,000 Christmas lights! 

  Easily purchase tickets at thetrustees.org, it will run until December 31st and is selling fast. 

  More of a shopping fan during the holiday season? Head to Snowport in Boston. Located in the Seaport area of Boston, Snowport is a magical winter experience with something for everyone! 

  Experience Snowport’s Holiday Market in its third season with over 120 small businesses. There’s apparel and accessories, home decor, toys and games, bath and body, and art. There’s also a tree market to find the perfect Christmas tree, as well as wreaths, stands, lights and more! Reserve an igloo to dine in with a perfect view of Boston's skyline and harbor or even reserve a lane for a game of curling. Get in on this winter experience!

  Looking for a holiday show to see? Look no further than the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Here, catch A Charlie Brown Christmas or the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Boston Pops Holiday show.

  A Charlie Brown Christmas takes the stage for a heartwarming show for the entire family. The show is on Saturday December 16th at 3 p.m.,and you can buy tickets right on the Lowell Memorial Auditorium site. 

  The Boston Pops will be playing on December 17 at 2:30 p.m or see them at the Symphony Hall in Boston up until December 24th. Those tickets can be purchased at bso.org.

 Rather spend the night with the family at home? Watch a new Christmas movie this season! Multiple new holiday movies have been released this year on all different platforms. 

  On Netflix, watch Best. Christmas. Ever! or Family Switch, which stars Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms! On Amazon Prime Video, catch Candy Cane Lane with Eddie Murphy. Kids will love Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever now streaming on Disney Plus. Melissa McCarthy stars in Genie on Peacock, which was written by Richard Curtis, the same man who wrote and directed Love, Actually! 

  Looking for something festive to bake while you're at home? Pinterest has tons of fun and delicious holiday desserts! 

  Some top suggestions on Pinterest are peppermint chocolate thumbprint cookies, melted snowman brownies, sugar cookie truffles, and gingerbread cupcakes.

  You can find just about any type of holiday recipe on Pinterest, it’s a super easy way to discover a new recipe. 

  Target has new gingerbread houses this year such as a treehouse, stadium, mansion, and mini village to decorate! 

  With all the hustle and bustle it can be hard to keep track of what gifts to buy your loved ones. 

  Looking for a teen? You can not go wrong with any pair of Uggs or type of Stanley Cup. When it comes to teens and technology, Airpods, Apple Watches, computers, and iPads are super popular. 

  A great gift for a college student is photo hanging clips, which you can find on Amazon. They can print out and hang up their favorite pictures with friends and they even light up! 

  At Target you can find the best stocking stuffers with popular brands of Tree Hut, Elf, Olay, NYX, Dr Teal’s, and so much more! 

  You can never go wrong with a cute tote bag, or a new wallet or purse. The Lululemon Fleece Belt Bag has proven its durability, comfort, and fashion.

  Searching for makeup? Popular brands include Glossier, Rare Beauty, and Elf. Hair care is also super fun, especially hair masks. If you know your loved ones’ favorite scents, perfumes and colognes are great gifts.

  Skylar perfume is hypoallergenic, safe for sensitive skin, and eco-friendly! It has a range of scents that are not overpowering and you can purchase sample kits to try them out!

  When it comes to bedroom decor stuffed animals are a go-to, and Jelly Cats and squishmallows are awesome brands. 

  If you want something more personal, this year make someone in your life a personalized calendar on Shutterfly for the new year. 

  Rachel Ray has amazing cookware to give, from nonstick pots and pans to griddles. 

You also can’t go wrong with any type of jewelry, Kendra Scott has become very popular recently. 

  Make this holiday season a memorable one for everyone! Start new traditions or add in on old ones, there's always an inevitable amount of holiday fun.