Doing the old meet-and-greet with St. Nick at a department store? So 2011!! The jolly old elf in the fuzzy red suit has been shaking things up a bit. These days, you’re likely to find him zooming down a ski slope, running a 5K with 2,000 of his best buds, and making his red-carpet arrival by parachute. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish when fueled with cookies and milk.

Here is a look at some fun Santa-themed events taking place in New England this holiday season, where you can meet the man of the hour — or even play elf yourself.