As Christmas nears, it’s impossible to avoid the influx of cookies, bars and holiday treats. Instead of trying to fight the urge, give in for now, especially at this next event:

Holiday eats and meet and greets

Christmas in the County kicks off with a holiday pre-bake sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Mower County Historical Society, 1303 Sixth Ave. SW. Festivities continue from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday with crafts, wagon rides, lighting displays, a chance to blow a train’s whistle and a meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, too. For some reason, they’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time in Austin.

Hey kids!

There’s even more for the kids at the Moose Lodge on South Main Street this weekend. The lodge is holding a kids’ Christmas party from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. Regular Moose Lodge hours continue at 3 p.m.

Holiday smackdown

It may not signify Christmas, but it will be crazy. The Windmill Inn hotel in Dexter, right off the intersection of Interstate 90 and Highway 16, is hosting a dwarf wrestling tournament. The craziness starts at 7 p.m. Saturday; tickets are $10.

A concert for Kris Kringle

And yet another Christmas Concert: The Austin Symphony Orchestra will perform Dance and Sing: It’s Christmas. The show is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Knowlton Auditorium in Austin High School. Tickets are $12 in advance at Hy-Vee or the Coffee House on Main, or $15 at the door. College students are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

Fine arts, for free

After spending all that money on gifts and performances, try something for free. Riverland Community College art, music and theater students will have open art exhibits starting at 7 p.m. next Thursday. Music and theater starts at 7:30 p.m. in Frank W. Bridges Auditorium, 1600 Eighth Ave. NW.

Other events

Give the young ones a chance, too. Look to an influx of holiday school concerts upcoming on the community calendar.

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.