IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING...

Get cooking

Neven Maguire’s Complete Family Cookbook with 300 tried and tested recipes for super busy parents is out now, published by Gill. It includes everything you’ll need to get you through Christmas. gillbooks.ie

Go see the Queen

The Snow Queen (below) — a new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale for the modern era — has Gerda and Kay living in a watery world where Christmas has been cancelled. Written by Ian Toner (winner of the Fishamble New Writing Award 2016), running at Smock Alley Theatre on Thursday, December 22 and Friday 23. smockalley.com

Boo the ugly sister

Kathryn McKiernan plays Ugly Sister Mel in The Applegreen Christmas Panto The Ugly Sisters and Yer Wan — The Story of Cinderella, starring Ireland’s funniest Dame, Al Porter, which runs at The Olympia Theatre until Sunday, January 8. Tickets are on sale now. olympia.ie

Adore art

Back to Nature, an exhibition of landscapes and still life by Dublin-born artist Eorna Walton, at The Donnybrook Art Studio, can be viewed by appointment until Tuesday. Eorna is a part-time lecturer in DLIADT and The Donnybrook Art Studio. More information on eornawalton.com/085 7383126

Cheer the carollers

Christmas Crackers, popular festive carols sung by St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Girls’ Choir (below), takes place on Wednesday, December 21, 1.05pm, in the John Field Room, National Concert Hall, with accompanist Siobhan Kilkelly and conductors Blanaid Murphy and Amy Ryan. A burst of carols, it aims to get you into the spirit of Christmas. nch.ie