The craft fair at the Staff Association Holiday Pancake Breakfast is one of the biggest gatherings of crafters here on campus. The fair will take place from 6:30 to 9 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 15 in the Price Center Foyer. This year, 20 crafters will take part in the event. Items for sale include aprons, baby bibs, hand-knit scarves and hats, jewelry, Torrey Pine needle baskets, blankets, placemats, hot pads, matted photographs, oil and acrylic paintings, bird houses, eggshell art, hand-painted boxes, soaps and holiday items. Everything is made by current and former UCSD staff and alumni. There is a waiting list to sell items at this year's craft fair, but the staff association is already recruiting for next year. If you're interested, contact Tracy Williams. More

Also the day of the pancake breakfast, the UCSD bookstore will be opening its doors at 7:30 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, and offer steep discounts. Sales include 75 percent off on holiday merchandise, decorations, cards, and gift wrap, scarves, selected jewelry, toys, purses, stuffed animals, Dr. Seuss items and home decor. Additional discounts include 50 percent off select clothing, as well as 30 percent off all bargain books, medical gifts, wellness products, and 25 percent off select electronics and supplies. In addition, the bookstore is taking part in the countywide "Day Without a Bag" initiative and will be handing out one free reusable bag with every purchase from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 16. More

The Craft Center's holiday sale may be over, but the center now has a store that sells items made by its faculty and students. Grove Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It sells a wide variety of ceramics, jewelry, postcards and prints. More

The UCSD Box Office has great discounts on tickets to amusement parks, including Disneyland, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain. Closer to home, discounted tickets to Sea World, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo and Boomers Fun Park also are available. For movie lovers, you can buy discounted packs of tickets. More

The holiday sale at the Birch Aquarium's bookshop is still going on until Dec. 12. Shoppers get 20 percent off all merchandise, including children's books, DVDs, jewelry, toys and clothing for everyone in the family. The bookshop, located at the front of the aquarium is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. If you're a Birch Aquarium member, you get a free keychain with your purchases. More

Finally, to find gifts for the more adventurous, head to Outback Adventures. A new surf shop has opened on Library Walk, near the Geisel Library, and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 4 p.m Saturday. The store sells gear for surfing, hiking and body boarding, including rash guards and wetsuits. Then you can book an adventure to break in all that brand-new stuff. There are many outings to choose from, including backpacking, caving and hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling and kayaking. More