The holidays are approaching fast and many of us are ready to high tail it out of Athens to be home for the holidays. We want to be with hometown family and friends, but why wait to start celebrating until final exams are over. Athens has it's own holiday traditions that we can start celebrating right now. Here are a few ideas to get in the holiday spirit without leaving OU.

1. Take a Walk Uptown

Court Street is already decked out for the holidays. Athens shops decorate their windows for the holidays and during chilly evenings in December you can see the beautiful wreaths and lights on the street lamps. You might even hear holiday classics coming out of speakers on the streets.

2. Join the Tree Lighting Celebration

On December 3 at 6 P.M. all of Athens will gather in front of the City Hall for the annual Tree Lighting Celebration. A Passion Works Flower, Athens official flower, will even be placed at the top of the tree.

3. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

Hallmark movie channel and ABC Family play holiday movies 24/7. No cable? No problem. Netflix has also got you covered with holiday favorites like "Christmas with the Kranks," "The Gift of the Magi," "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas," "Holidaze," and "Love Actually."

4. Go Ice Skating

Bird Arena has open skate Sunday from 2:30-3:50 P.M., Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-9:50 P.M. and Saturday from 1:30-2:50 P.M. Grab a buddy and some skates and hit the ice!

5. Get Festive with Roommates

Decorate your dorm room or apartment with lights, stockings, and maybe even a mini Christmas tree. Participating in a Secret Santa gift exchange, and decorating cookies will get you in the mood for holidays at home.

6. Head to the Athena Cinema for Holiday Movie Screenings

The Athena Cinema will be showing select holiday classics in theaters. Movies include "Yugo" on Nov. 28, "Elf" on Dec. 5, "The Polar Express" and "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" on Dec. 12 and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on Dec. 19.

7. Take a Holiday Wagon Ride down Court Street

Holiday Wagon Rides down Court Street are offered on Saturdays Dec. 5, 12, and 19 from 11 A.M.- 1 P.M. and Thursdays Dec. 10 and 17 from 6-8 P.M. According to their website, "Seat belts aren't required but smiles and giddiness sure are!"

8. See "A Christmas Carol"

Don't be a Scrooge, see Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" on Dec. 8 at 7:30 P.M., at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. This holiday favorite is only playing for one night, you won't want to miss out.

9. Throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Get together with friends and celebrate the season with holiday themed food, drinks, and ugly sweaters of course. There's nothing Athens does better than throw a great party! (Yes, that's me and my roommate looking fly in our sweaters)