1. A “Secret Santa Battle Royale” sounds like what happens with my family every Christmas, but no, it’s the featured match at another “Bodyslams for Toys” event staged by All Star Wrestling. The annual fundraiser goes down Saturday night (Dec. 12) at the Alice McKay Building at Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Admission is a new, unwrapped toy (minimum $10 value), to be given to Surrey Christmas Bureau for distribution to a deserving kid this month. The action will include wrestlers who boast colourful names such as Moondog Manson, Matt Xstatic, The Salty Seaman, Mr. India, The Toga Boy, Azeem The Dream, The Waspette and Fantasma, among several others. For details, call 604-710-0872 or visit Allstarwrestling.ca. Better yet, for the latest updates, click on Facebook.com/events/1460059887632599.
2. For a run of five shows as part of a regional tour, Royal City Youth Ballet returns to Surrey Arts Centre with its version of “The Nutcracker” Friday through Sunday (Dec. 11 to 13). Dancers with the New West-based company never fail to delight audiences in the annual production, which features dazzling sets, extravagant costumes and, of course, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic score. For planning purposes, here are the show times: 7 p.m. Dec. 11, 1 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 1 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 13. For tickets ($38 for adults, $28 for children), call the arts centre box office at 604-501-5566 or visit Tickets.surrey.ca.
3. It’s a special-event weekend for Surrey Eagles, who kick things off Friday night (Dec. 11) with an annual “Teddy Bear Toss” game against Coquitlam Express at South Surrey Arena. Bring your own teddy bear or buy one at the game from Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary Society. All bears thrown on the ice will be donated to Surrey Christmas Bureau. On Sunday (Dec. 13) starting at 4 p.m., the team will stage a “Star Wars Night” to celebrate the theatrical release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” with costumed characters in attendance. Also Sunday is a post-game skate with Eagles players. Look for more details at Surreyeagles.ca.
tom.zillich@thenownewspaper.com