Some folks have the Christmas spirit all year long — and we give them a tip of the Santa hat for it. Others bust out the boxes of ornaments right after Halloween and spend the weeks before Thanksgiving searching for an all-Christmas music radio station, even as the rest of us are wondering why there aren’t popular Thanksgiving songs. For others, though, a little push is needed to get into the holiday swing, even as the days of December count down to the 25^th.

Herewith, we present a nudge for that last group — in the form of a list of some of our favorite Christmas events coming up in Suffolk. Yes, there will be plenty of Christmas cantatas and other special music at churches around the city between now and Dec. 25, and we heartily encourage our readers to avail themselves of those opportunities to be reminded of the true reason for this season. But if you’re looking for a little something extra-Christmas-y this year, why not try one of the following?

• Liberty Spring Christian Church will hold a live nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday behind the church building, which is located at 4213 Whaleyville Blvd.
• Faith, Hope and Love Ministries will present a Christmas play titled “A Christmas Gift” at 7 p.m. Friday at New Mt. Joy Food for Living Ministries, 307 County St., with the Artis children of Suffolk providing music.
• Whaleyville United Methodist Church, 6312 Whaleyville Blvd., will host breakfast with Santa from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. The cost is $6, and proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
• Santa Claus will be at the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Southside Baptist Church will present “Plans for a King” at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. The play, written and directed by Ernie Chenault, details the brutal reign of King Herod and how the troubled times led to the coming of Jesus. The production includes 18 actors, 30 choir members and six band members, plus numerous more volunteers behind the scenes.
• Students from Allongé Dance Academy will perform “The Nativity” at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 1 p.m. Dec. 16 at Southside Baptist Church. Tickets are $8 at the door, and $7 online at www.AllongeDanceAcademy.com, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward funding a mission trip for members of the dance troupe.
• Bring your children to meet Santa at the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 16. Bring your pets to meet the jolly old elf from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the following day at the same location. Donations from the second event will go to the Suffolk Animal Care Center.

There’s your nudge. No reason for humbug.