Christmas is still two weeks away, but it has officially hit the county. If anyone is thinking of getting out of town for holiday cheer, perhaps they should reconsider. It’s all happening here in Mower County, right now.

1.) Christmas in the County officially starts on Saturday, but it sneaks in with a presale bake sale at the Mower County Historical Society from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, 1303 6th Ave. SW. Then, prepare for a horse-drawn wagon and sleigh rides, a handmade quilt raffle, a silent auction and the official bake sale from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Hold the horses at 6:45, however. That’s when there will be an auction for an autographed Rascal Flats T-shirt, which was worn during a live concert by lead singer Gary Levox.

2.) Deer hunting season isn’t over yet, either. In fact, some are just arriving to camp, at the Paramount Theatre, that is. “Holy Bells,” a version of “A Deer Camp Christmas” will hit the Paramount, 125 Fourth Ave. NE, at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $23 in advance or $26 at the door. Here’s to all those hunters who didn’t get a deer this year.

3.) If you don’t have your Christmas tree, decorations and nativity scenes out of the closet yet, hit up the Holders’ place. They have 800 nativity sets ready to display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, located at 606 Oakland Place NE. That’s surely worth the $1 admission, which will go toward the Salvation Army.

4.) Last, which may actually be a last for the area, is Lucia Fest. The music and dance show, which centers around Scandinavian Christmas tradition, opens 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre on Sunday and is in honor of the late Darren M. Lewis. The event is free, but free-will donations will go toward Pacelli Catholic Schools’ Guardian Angels Fund.

Christmas theater doesn’t end with those events, however. The Austinaires and plenty of other Austin Public Schools concerts are coming into full swing with the season.

Look to Reporter Matt Peterson’s column every Friday for more about upcoming events in Austin. For even more, check out the calendar on Page 4 every day in the print edition and the AustinDailyHerald.com homepage.