Families looking for easy plans before Thanksgiving week have several options close to home.

Here is a look at what is on the calendar from tonight through Friday, November 20.

Holiday light shows at Victoria Gardens

Victoria Gardens is running nightly holiday light shows in Chaffey Town Square through Thursday, December 24.

The shows, synchronized to holiday music, began November 6.

Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

On Sundays, the shows move up to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The square is at 12505 North Mainstreet, where the center lit its 45-foot holiday tree on November 6.

The center's event page does not list an admission charge or a ticket requirement.

Storytimes for little ones

The Paul A. Biane Library, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, hosts Toddler Storytime on Tuesday, November 17, at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Those sessions are for children ages 1 to 3 with a caregiver.

Family Storytime follows on Wednesday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

It is open to children from birth to age 12, with content geared toward ages 2 to 8.

Each storytime runs about 25 minutes and mixes read-aloud stories with songs, rhymes and movement.

The Archibald Library, 7368 Archibald Ave., has Toddler Storytime at 10:30 a.m. and Family Storytime at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, November 20.

Hands-on science

Discovery Club meets Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Biane Library and Friday at 4 p.m. at Archibald Library.

The library describes it as a 30-minute STEAM program for ages 6 to 12.

Children get a short lesson from library staff and then work together on a guided experiment or project.

Register first

Registration is required for the storytimes and Discovery Club, and the library says walk-ins are not accommodated.

Sign-ups open one business day before each program through the city's Activenet system, which requires a free account.

Residents can register starting at 10 a.m., and non-residents at noon.

For Tuesday's toddler sessions, that registration day is today, Saturday.

For teens

Teens in grades 7 through 12 can drop in to a Hunger Games and Percy Jackson fandom program Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Biane Library.

The evening includes DIY fan crafts and a raffle, with an extra ticket for those who come in family-friendly costume.

It is a walk-in program, with tickets handed out at the information desk 30 minutes before the start.

Looking ahead

The city says drive-through-only rules for the resident-run Thoroughbred Holiday Lights display take effect December 4 and continue through December 24, from 5 to 11 p.m.

During those hours, visitors must stay in their vehicles and may not walk the display.

Library questions can be directed to (909) 477-2720.

Sources: Victoria Gardens, Nightly Holiday Light Shows (https://www.shopvictoriagardens.com/events/nightly-holiday-light-shows) and Santa's Arrival and Tree Lighting Ceremony (https://www.shopvictoriagardens.com/events/santas-arrival-and-tree-lighting-ceremony); City of Rancho Cucamonga events calendar (https://www.cityofrc.us/news-events); Rancho Cucamonga Public Library (https://www.cityofrc.us/library) and event pages for Toddler Storytime (https://www.cityofrc.us/events/toddler-storytime-biane-library-1), Family Storytime (https://www.cityofrc.us/events/family-storytime-biane-library-0), Discovery Club (https://www.cityofrc.us/events/discovery-club-biane-library-0) and the teen fandom program (https://www.cityofrc.us/events/teen-program-hunger-games-percy-jackson-fandom-program); City of Rancho Cucamonga, Thoroughbred Holiday Lights (https://www.cityofrc.us/holidaylights).

Photo by Marcus Lange on Unsplash