Our pick for the festive action:

TODAY

Lighten your load with a complimentary Christmas gift wrapping service in the winter wood cabin, from noon to 4pm at the N1 Centre, Parkfield Street, N1. Donations go to the Children’s Society, Marie Curie and Cancer Research, visit www.n1islington.com, then...

Meet Santa and some live reindeers and let the children see the big man before the big day, from 11am to 3pm at the N1 Centre, Parkfield Street, N1. Free, visit www.n1islington.com.

Take part in a non-religious ceremony to remember babies who died before, during or shortly after birth for parents, siblings, family and friends – organised by north and east London Sands from 7 to 8.30pm at The Nave, St. Paul’s Road, N1. Email info@nelondonsands.org.

SATURDAY

Open your children’s minds towards a better future that could be achieved if all of us demand and make changes in our lives and cities – featuring colouring and sketching at this workshop run by Semisotano Architects, from 11am to 7pm at Islington Museum, St John Street, EC1. Costs �7, to book email rgrm@rgrm.es

Rock around the Christmas tree at this one-off Saturday session of house music through the ages from Tim Filthy Dukes, the One From The Vaults girls and Mark Hume bringing festive cheer, from 8pm to 2am at The Book Club, Leonard Street, EC2. Costs �5 after 9pm, call 020 7684 8618.

Get into some Yuletide jazz from the Binker Golding Trio featuring Max Luthert on bass and Dave Hamblett on drums, from 9.30pm midnight at Ajani Jazz and Grill, Hornsey Road, N19. Tickets cost �5. Call 020 7272 5566.

SUNDAY

Delight your family this Christmas with a double bill of classic musical stories for children, The Snowman and Peter and The Wolf – accompanied by live orchestra and narrated by Tamsin Greig, from 2pm at the Barbican, Silk street, EC2. Tickets from �25 (�12.50 under 16s), call 020 7638 8891.

Hear banjo, guitar and a voice of unaffected clarity create primal and electric textures onto songs of unpretentious beauty at a performance by This Is The Kit, from 7.30pm at the Lexington, Pentonville Road, N1. Costs �7, call 020 7837 5371.

Grab a last minute pressie at one of Islington’s newest markets – with 30 stalls selling hats, gloves, accessories, underwear, gifts, cards and more, from 10am to 4pm at Camden Passage and Chapel Market, N1. Free, visit www.angelaim.org.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Relish the true spirit of Christmas with a candlelit service with carol singing, and a combination of traditional and contemporary readings, from 7.30 to 8.30pm at Newington Green Unitarian Church, Newington Green, N16. Free, visit www.new-unity.org.

Mark the fact it’s only one more sleep until the big day at this Christmas coffee morning for the over-55s, from 11am to noon at the Claremont Centre, White Lion Street, N1. Free, call 0207 837 3402.

Get truly festive with a Christmas crib service and nativity – Three’s A Crowd, with the children of Precinct Theatre and St James’ Church – from 6pm and a candlelit midnight mass from 11.30pm at St James’ Church, Arlington Square, N1. Call 0207 226 4108.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Treat the whole family to a special Christmas service with holy communion, from 11am to noon at St Mary’s Church, Upper Street, N1. Call 020 7226 3400.

Try something a bit different for Christmas dinner and leave the washing up to someone else with this three course traditional British meal complete with crackers, at the House, Canonbury Road, N1. Call 0207 704 7410.

Celebrate the birth of Christ with a mass at 8am and all age parish mass with carols from 10am at St James’ Church, Arlington Square, N1. Call 0207 226 4108

BOXING DAY

Find solace in the Blue Christmas service soup and supper – a contemplative service that allows people to name their sorrow and receive comfort with candles, music, words, and ample time for stillness followed by a simple shared meal of bread and soup. All are welcome from 6-10pm at the Newington Green Unitarian Church, Newington Green, N16. Free, visit www.new-unity.org.

Let someone else have the hassle of preparing food for all the family by popping out for the dinner, from 12.30 to 5pm at Browns, Islington Green N1. Call 020 7226 2555.

Settle down with a pint and a bite and discuss your Christmas presents, from noon to 6pm at the Duchess of Kent, Liverpool Road, N7. Free, call 020 7609 7104.