GeoStrategies, Inc., a Turlock-based market research company, is hosting a 24-hour hackathon this weekend to showcase the talents of local computer programmers. A hackathon is an event in which computer programmers and others in software development collaborate to create software projects; it is not an event where a group of people set out to hack Sony emails.

Total Wrestling Federation is hosting an evening of live professional wrestling at the Salvation Army in Turlock on Saturday, Jan. 10. The event, called “Global Warning,” will take place at Salvation Army Turlock Community Center, located at 893 Lander Ave. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Instead of spending their first official day of the holiday break on vacation or hanging out playing video games, students from Turlock and Pitman High Schools, along with teachers and administrators, will be serving as Salvation Army of Turlock bell ringers on Monday, Dec. 22. The two high schools will be engaging in a friendly competition to see which high school raise the most money for the Salvation Army.

The Turlock Public Library will be hosting fun, free events for the children, teens, and families during the month of December. On Dec. 16, teens can enjoy a button maker craft at the Turlock Library at 4 p.m. Crafters will get the opportunity to design and press large and small button pins.

For the third consecutive year, Ronald and Jackie Detwiler, along with son-in-law Chris Waller, have set up the synchronized light and music show at their 1441 Sycamore St. home. With nearly 25,000 lights — 10,000 more than last year — and over 100 cars a night, Christmas on Sycamore has become a notable Turlock holiday event. The light show now features Santa Claus every night it doesn’t rain. They also hand out candy canes, and last year handed out more than 5,000 sweets to those who stopped by. They aim to double that amount this year.

Turlock residents can observe a remarkable space event Saturday by simply pointing their eyes skyward for the annual Geminid meteor shower. NASA is predicting between 100 and 120 meteors per hour on Saturday night.

If you have kids and want to be entertained this weekend, come out to the Turlock High School cafeteria Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. for two original plays written by THS Advanced Drama students. The performances, are “Holly’s Not So Jolly Christmas” and “The Christmas Cookie Crook.”