I like to get as much done ahead of time to reduce the stress levels. And then I can enjoy the season despite work being manic - as I don't have TONNES to do, and what I DO have to do is written down in a list to tick off.
I look at the diary ahead of time and put in unchangeable things early (school fair, work nights out, that sort of thing).
I look around to see what other things are happening that are either no fixed time (drive around after dark to see all the houses with light displays) or that have a few options (local pantos/grottos/outings with multiple dates).
And also look at things we/I want to do which are only on at fixed times (specific concerts, cookery demonstrations, flower arranging at garden centre....whatever is on locally that I might be interested in).
So then I book in things, block off specific times in the diary, book my personal care appointments well in advance (hairdresser, beautician etc) and any babysitters I need too. And book things the family wants to see or that I want to see, and decide on any days I want to host anything at home. Whatever that hosting might involve (coffee and cake for certain friends one morning/afternoon, wine and nibbles for other friends one evening, full on dinner party for the street one Saturday, festive lunch the weekend before Christmas for spinster aunt, or whatever).
It also makes sure that I can avoid clashes, totally or reduce to just a couple - make sure I have some quiet days or evenings for everyone to chill rather than totally chasing around every day, and plan ahead for things like turning around just 1 or 2 good outfits rather than needing to have loads, making sure that I have a dinner in the freezer ahead of time for the week that we are out 3 evenings and can't prep ahead, all that sort of thing. And still get to everything I//the DCs want to. (And have a lovely relaxing night not long before the actual day to have my proper soak).
I try to get to a live music performance of some sort as my personal treat. The chamber choir of the local Music Conservatoire/University holds a lunchtime concert near my work which I try to get to, and there are loads of different choral and orchestral concerts around - churches, concert halls, on streets - and at widely varying times of day and costs (free to £££!).
Do you WOHM or are you a SAHM? If former, put aside a time over a few evenings that you are going off duty, and write cards in batches with a nice cup of tea/glass of wine. If the latter, make space over the course of some schooldays to do the same while DCs are all out. These are things you can do now (I did my first batch on a flight this week - as that is otherwise "dead time" for me and I have no desire to read work papers while travelling for work on a weekend and missing family time!).
In thinking through your diary, try and see what the DCs want to do. Do they all want to go shopping with you at once, all want separate trips, o r do older ones want to go alone without you? If you can organize it, try and do those shopping trips with nothing or almost nothing that you are planning on buying that day - try and do the bulk of your shopping on other outings/online so that the DCs can have quality time with you on those trips. You'll probably also hear ideas, while they are trying to buy for siblings, of things siblings would like or even things they spot they'd like themselves - so not being caught up in trying to find things on your list means you are more likely to hear those things as they are casually mentioned in passing.