Graham crackers will become the stuff of two-by-fours and M&Ms will serve as roofing shingles when the gingerbread decorating gets under way Saturday in Hailey.

The gingerbread house building - part of Hailey's Winter Wonderland - is one of a variety of holiday activities going on in the Wood River Valley this weekend, and families in the rest of south-central Idaho might find it's worth a drive.

"The kids wiped us out of red hots and marshmallow cream last year because they ate the building materials as they worked," said Jim Spinelli, director of the Hailey Chamber of Commerce. "It's a great event - everybody's smiling and having a great time."

The holiday season in the Wood River Valley officially gets under way tonight, with Hailey's Hometown Holidays Parade. Santa will parade down Main Street on a fire engine beginning at 6 p.m., before making his way to Roberta McKercher Park across from the airport, where choirs will sing holiday favorites as the town Christmas tree is lighted.

Santa will then adjourn to the historic 1920s Ellsworth Inn at 702 Third Ave. S., where complimentary cocoa and cider will be served. And Vintage Gypsy, Body Buff, Tater Tots, Christopher's and other stores will stay open late for Christmas shoppers.

There's plenty more to keep families busy throughout the weekend:

• The Sun Valley Ballet School will present the perennial holiday retelling of "The Nutcracker" today through Sunday at the nexStage Theatre, 120 S. Main St. in Ketchum.

Professional dancer Todd Fox, who has danced with ballets in Ireland, South Africa, Yugoslavia, Venezuela and other countries, will dance in the show. Joining him will be professional Broadway dancer Jermaine Rembert, who was in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of "La Cage Aux Folles."

Nina Hirner, who has danced with Sun Valley Ballet School for 12 years, will appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Third-graders Emerson McCune and Audrey Nelson will dance the part of Clara.

The role of Clara is one of the most coveted roles in balletdom, according to the school's artistic director, Sherry Horton. It is also a demanding role necessitating that the girls memorize 20 minutes of dancing and perfect such moves as a tour jete, a jump in which they switch legs in air and land on one foot, and the pas de chat or "the step of the cat," in which they dance from one foot to another landing like a cat.

Shows start at 7 p.m. today and Saturday. Matinees start at 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, available at The Toy Store, 9 E. Bullion St. in Hailey, and Chapter One Bookstore, 160 N. Main St. in Ketchum. Reserved seating is $25, with special $50 reserved seats including champagne and handmade sweet treats. Call 726-9876 or e-mail directors@sunvalleyballet.com.

• Winter Wonderland, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, offers children 10 activities, including an opportunity to make a Christmas ornament, build a gingerbread house and write a letter to Santa, said Anna Svidgal of the Hailey Chamber of Commerce.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Blaine County Senior Connection, 721 Third Ave. S. in Hailey. Santa will attend. Admission is $5 per child; proceeds go to senior programs. Adults will be admitted free.

• The Papoose Club, which benefits schoolchildren in the valley, will hold its 18th Annual Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Hemingway Elementary School, 111 Eighth St. W. in Ketchum.

More than 50 vendors from across the West were selected by a jury to feature their work in the show. A variety of crafts will be for sale, including hand-blown glass, gourd art, soy candles and ceramics, as well as baked goods, homemade soups and wreaths.

Free activities for children will be augmented with a visit by Santa at 1 p.m. Saturday.

• Dog lovers can get pictures of their pets with Santa Paws from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Dirty Beagle dogwash, 810 S. Main St., Hailey.

• Barkin' Basement will hold its second annual Bow Wow Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 111 S. Main St., Hailey. The basement will roll out refreshments. Money from the sale of holiday gifts goes to the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley.

• St. Thomas Playhouse will wrap up the weekend with a free service of Advent music and classic and contemporary poetry from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 201 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley.

Hailey and Bellevue hotel operators are discounting rates for those who would like to spend the weekend in the valley, said Svidgal.

"Everyone - the Feather Bed Inn, Wood River Inn, AmericInn, the Airport Inn, High Country Motel and the Inn at Ellsworth Estate - are offering discounted rates until Dec. 17," she said. "You can't go wrong. Every weekend something's happening."

Karen Bossick may be reached at kbossick@cox-internet.com or 208-578-2111.

A look ahead in the Wood River Valley • Caritas Chorale will lead a free Holiday Sing Along at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The chorale will sing selections from Handel's "Messiah!" as well as popular holiday favorites. • Lisa Vierling will open her unique estate for the annual Croney Cove European Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 12-13. Vierling's market is at 1034 Warm Springs Road, eight miles past the Warm Springs lifts just before Warsick Hot Springs at Frenchman's Bend. A $5 donation taken at the gate will include a raffle ticket. Admission will be used to foster a children's exchange program between Ketchum and its sister city, Tegernsee, Germany. • Footlight Dance Centre students will tap out a holiday program featuring tap, ballet and other dances at 12:45 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Blaine Senior Center. They will reprise the free program at Blaine Manor at 1:15 p.m. that day. • St. Luke's Winter Ball dinner dance and silent auction will be held Dec. 13 at the Limelight Room at the Sun Valley Inn. Music will be provided by the High Street Band. Tickets are $175 per person and include dinner, wine and live entertainment, with money benefiting St. Luke's. Information: 208-727-8406.