It’s a veritable festive free-for-all this weekend and from funky winter wonderlands to more high-brow happenings, we’ve got it covered.

Making the pre-Christmas prep more creative (and free) for the smaller folk in your lives, Troll lovers should get down to For the Love of Trolls Dance Party Saturday at Selfridges, or Erdington‘s free Christmas Cracker Hunt to meet Jack Frost et al. The mac has free fun activities for the under 6’s including animation, movement and an Arctic Den to explore, alongside its ever-reliable Christmas Craft Markets. Or there’s a host of other festivities to explore here:

Winter Social at The Bullring
The launch weekend of the Winter wonderland of local independents and talent that couldn’t get much cooler. Promising ‘the best beers, views, DJs, food, hot chocolate and mince pies in Birmingham’ they’ve proved their point from the off on the DJ bookings alone. The likes of Leftfoot, The Great Outdoors & Magic Door will set the mood this weekend. Classic Christmas movies are being screened silent disco style in the Dome Tent’s ‘Platform’ Silent Cinema and there’ll be winter warmers from pop-up food outlets, mulled wine and traditional ale to keep the cockles toasty.
Thu 1 Dec – Sat 24 Dec at The Bullring, located on The Balcony on St Martins Walk, Birmingham B5 4BU. 12pm – 9pm (closed Mondays). www.facebook.com

Eastside Projects Winter Art Fair
Have yourself an Xmas arts fest in association with two days of affordable pop-produce created both locally and further afield from artworks, artist books and editions to music and homemade refreshments. An eclectic gathering of West Midlands and national artists, curators and publishers. Foodsketz will be offering homemade food, tea, cocktails and conversations and music will be provided by Queerzone3000.
Fri 2 Dec, 6pm-9pm, Sat 3 Dec, 12pm – 5pm at Eastside Arts Projects, 86 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR, www.eastsideprojects.org

Birmingham Originals Makers Market at Birmingham Municipal Bank
Locally created loveliness putting the chic back into Christmas with everything from exquisite hand-made gifts from local artists, artisans, designers and crafters, to traditional wreath making, portraits and a pop-up secret shaving club from the award-winning Barberology.
Fri 2 Dec – Sun 4 Dec, see our full preview here.

Digbeth First Friday at various venues
Creatively busting at the seams, Digbeth’s hot date night this month includes late night opening across the Custard Factory’s ace indie outlets and the visiting Etsy Market as well as an intriguing survivalists touring workshop Catching Rabbits & Starting Fires at A3 Project Space featuring bonfires, beans and anti-establishment style bonding. Centrala will also be hosting a late night opening with Polish food & drink alongside Aleksandra Natalia Koper’s funky new exhibition. See our full preview here.

Birmingham Art Gallery & Museum
Dodge the Xmas crowds, dip out of the market mayhem and head to these beautiful and relatively warm/serene surrounds. If you’re heading into the city you’d be mad to miss the incredible cultural treats that BMAG has to offer. The newly arrived Ryan Gander curated exhibition of Arts Council Collection pieces offer a real contemporary coup for the city, see our full preview here. Elsewhere there’s a riot of colour in the East Meets West exhibition, the incredible City of Birmingham Sketch (see our preview here) and the unmissable Birmingham People and Change in the Inner City,  here. Free lunchtime guitar concerts and Santa (a paid event £5) complete the magic.