Phils offer tours, deals, Phanta Claus

Roy Halladay cheering may be months away, but holiday cheer - including clubhouse tours, merchandise deals and Phanta Claus - is gearing up from the Phillies.

A series of charity-minded events begins today, some of which give fans a chance to give.

On Thursday, a schedule of fan-oriented fare, dubbed the club's "12 Days of Christmas," gets underway, with a lot of hoopla Saturday and Sunday with the Weekend Holiday Sale & Food Drive at Citizens Bank Park.

For free parking, go to Lot S off Pattison Avenue on the western side of the ballpark and mention "holiday sale" or "12 Days of Christmas."

Briefly jumping ahead, the free tours of the holiday-decorated clubhouse will be offered Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Ask for directions at Majestic Clubhouse Store, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily till Dec. 24.)

A highlight of this weekend's schedule is the holiday tree lighting at 5 p.m. Saturday with manager Charlie Manuel, Phanta Claus - the Phanatic dressed up as St. Nick - ballgirls and Phoebe Phanatic. Free photo ops with Phanta Claus are set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. (Also 11-1 Dec. 22.) Meet broadcasters Tom McCarthy and Larry Andersen, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Saturday; Scott Franzke and Jim Jackson 2–3 p.m. Saturday; Gregg Murphy and Chris Wheeler, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Sunday. Fans who take part in the holiday blood drive, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sunday, get some giveaways and a 15-percent-off coupon for goods at the store. For more on weekend events, go to http://ph.ly/pwkend.

For the ongoing food drive, boxed and canned items can be dropped off at the store to benefit the needy through We Feed the Homeless Philly and Philabundance. It continues through Dec. 23.

The long list of deals at the Majestic Clubhouse Store includes some that last the whole dozen days (Thursday-Dec. 24), such as Phillie Phanatic Dangle Hats, $14.99, and buy one pin, get one free; items given out with a purchase, such as Chevrolet Men's Cap on Dec. 20 and woman's scarf Dec. 24; and various 25 percent markdowns, such as Mitchell & Ness apparel (all 12 days), Nike apparel and headwear (Thursday), headwear (Friday), outerwear (Saturday, also half-off handbags), and PINK by Victoria's Secret (Sunday).

For more deal details, go to http://ph.ly/pdeal or http://ph.ly/phdeal.