Prior to the official winter storm warning being issued for Natrona County today, many activities were scheduled.

To see if an event will still take place, you may want to call ahead before venturing out.

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) will host its annual Holiday on the Homestead today from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free all day.

This year's theme is "Music and Family." Families and other Trails Center visitors will be entertained with a wide variety of musical presentations. Students from several Casper area schools will be performing as part of orchestras and choirs, and a new group to the NHTIC, Prairie Winds, will perform on a cadre of string instruments such as guitar and banjo. In addition to holiday music, some of the performers will showcase modern and ethnic selections. Father Christmas will be on hand as well, providing visitors with a warm holiday greeting.

The NHTIC plans the event as a way to thank the community of Casper and the state of Wyoming for their support of the facility, and each year a new theme is chosen.

A schedule of events will be available for the public at the facility's front desk, located at 1501 North Poplar, or by logging onto{M7 www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/NHTIC.html. For more information

call 261-7780.

If you've always wanted to be Steven Spielberg, Stage III Community Theater offers a three-part class for budding directors.

As part of its new guest director program, Douglas Garland of Casper College will hold three workshop sessions designed to help hone directors' skills. The workshops will meet from 2 to 5 p.m. at Stage III, 900 N. Center St, Casper, on three Saturdays - today, Dec. 22, and Jan. 19.

Garland says all three workshops will be one continuous class, starting with lecture,then script analysis, blocking and critique. Scripts of "Miss Julie" will be included in the cost of the workshops, which will be a nominal $25 for all three sessions. Scholarships will be available for those who want to attend but can't afford the tuition.

No previous directing experience is necessary. Anyone interested is welcome.

Reservations are encouraged. To register or inquire about scholarships, call Stage III at 234-0946 or e-mail {M7stage3@wyoming.com

Buoyed by the success of a similar effort last year, the Paradise Valley Elementary School PTO sponsors its 2nd Annual Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no admission charge and strollers are welcome. More than 50 vendors will offer a variety of handcrafted items. Lunch is available, as well as cinnamon rolls and coffee. The school is located at 22 Magnolia. Take CY Ave., west to Paradise Drive. The school is on the corner of Paradise Dr. and Magnolia.

The Casper Young Professionals Network (C.Y.P.N.) has coordinated a Pet Drive to support the Casper Humane Society and Casper's own furry friends. C.Y.P.N. and the Humane Society will be on hand today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at PETCO on E. 2nd St., collecting donations. Several loveable pets will also be making an appearance seeking immediate adoption and loving homes for the holiday season. For more information, call Leah at 267-0900.

Free photos with Santa Claus will be available from noon to 4 p.m., today at Santa's Christmas Corner (McCann's), on the corner of 2nd and Center streets. Gift wrapping and live music are all part of the fun.

The Not Ready For Bedtime Players (a cast of 24 children 8-12 years old) will present the Casper Children's Theatre Christmas show entitled "The Legend of Santa Pig" tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are $3 for children 12 and under and $5 for adults. Tickets are on sale at Papa Murphy's Pizza and at the theatre. There will be a holiday festival with treats, crafts, and games in the lobby one hour before the show to benefit the class scholarship fund.

All teens are welcome to Karaoke Night at the Link, 353 W. A St., from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, call 235-6650.

Adults are invited to dance to Vern and Rita Davis at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. 4th St., from 7 to 10 p.m. They play requests, country, waltz, polka, two-step, etc. Admission is $3 per person. No alcohol, no smoking. Free coffee and punch.

On Sunday, the annual holiday concert featuring the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, the Casper Civic Chorale and the Casper Children's Chorale begins at 3 p.m. at the John F. Welsh Auditorium at NCHS. Tickets range from $14 to $33 and are available at regular symphony outlets Blue Heron Books, Metro Coffee Co., the Shade Tree, All That Yarn and Flower Gallery. For more information, call the symphony office at 266-1478.