Live Horse Racing at Sports Creek Raceway Returns Friday, November 28, 2008! Catch all the action on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 7 p.m. and on Sundays beginning at 1:30 p.m. You can visit Sports Creek Raceway for Simulcast Racing year round from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week, with up to 30 different tracks to bet on!

Open now at the Sloan Museum: Art, Cars & Stars. Share the vision of the original pioneers of the automotive industry, with an entertaining visual trip through GM's Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. The vehicles on display represent the milestones of GM, and the exhibit begins with the historical Buick Bug which was driven by Louis Chevrolet before General Motors or Chevrolet Motors Company were created!

Get those holiday traditions rolling with the Nutcracker and The Holiday Pops! Performances for the Nutcracker are Saturday, December 6th at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. And Sunday, December 7th at 3 p.m. Featuring students from the Flint School of Performing Arts and dancers from Collage Dance Collective. The Flint Symphony performs the score to this timeless classic.

The Holiday Pops performances are on Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 21 at 3 p.m. Featuring the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Flint Festival Chorus with area High School Singers, Flint Festival Youth Chorus, and community ensembles.

Need some new ideas for your Holiday Shopping?
Save time and gas by shopping in Flint & Genesee County!

Genesee Valley Center, the largest regional shopping center north of Detroit, features a two-story center court atrium with a food court, and the new Outdoor Village, 65,000 square feet of boulevard style shopping that includes Bandolino, Barnes & Noble, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Talbots, and more.

Courtland Center, under new ownership and management, has embarked upon millions of dollars of upgrades and renovations. This 459,000 square foot center is anchored by JCPenney, Steve & Barry's, Dunham’s Sports, Staples, JoAnn Superstore, and many other retailers.

Large “warehouse-type” stores, like Sam's Club on Corunna Road in Flint, are also great for business or personal holiday shopping.

Gift baskets make great corporate and personal gifts, and come in handy for that “hard to buy for” person. Try out: Coffee Beanery and Vogt’s Flowers.

If you're shopping for a child, you won't want to miss Linden Toy Factory located at 109 N. Bridge Street in downtown Linden. This family owned Retailer of Imaginative play things specializes in the high quality lines of toys that we grew up with and many of the new innovative toys that children are begging for today.

Indulge that extra special someone with some extra pampering. Gift certificates for a manicure, pedicure, or massage make great presents. Looking for other ideas? How about special bath oils, shower gels, Spa-type products, and perfume. Check out Arbonne International and Time Out Day Spa (check out this discounted package as well).

Looking for truly unique gifts? Try out the Flint Farmers Market, rated one of Michigan’s top farmers markets, which is open year round each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. You’ll find a lot more than just great things to eat! Check out d’vine Wines, a great place to find gifts and gadgets for that wine lover in your family or that special bottle of wine or bubbly for a holiday dinner or New Year’s celebration.

For that art lover, stop by Greater Flint Arts Council's gallery, and pick up a one of a kind gift: a painting, jewelry, or other unique works of art. For the antique lover, check out Battle Alley Arcade Antiques Mall, at 108 Battle Alley in downtown Holly ((248) 634-8800) and the recently opened Carriage Town Antique Center in downtown Flint. For the avid runner or walker, there's Bauman's Running & Walking Shop located at 1473 W. Hill Road in Flint ((810) 238-5981).

Other unique gifts can be found at the Flint Cultural Center at the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) store, and the Sloan Museum store, which are open to the public. Other great gift ideas at the Cultural Center include tickets to the Whiting, Flint Youth Theatre, and Flint Symphony Orchestra, and memberships to the Sloan Museum, Longway Planetarium, and the FIA.

Gift certificates from area restaurants also make great presents. Check out our Dining Guide for Flint & Genesee County’s best!

Looking for more area events? Check out the new county-wide events calendar: geneseefun.com.