Tree lighting

• The Young Professionals Council of the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation presents the 2014 Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa in the Park from 6-8 p.m. today in Lehighton. Santa will be lighting the borough Christmas Tree just after 6:30 p.m. in the borough park. There will be hot chocolate and treats for kids of all ages. In addition to warm treats, there will be raffles for the kids, music and a lot of fun.•Jim Thorpe's annual Christmas tree lighting will be held at the Sam Miller Athletic Field, North Avenue, at 6 p.m. Saturday. Refreshments will also be served.Christmas events• Festival of Lights at Phifer Ice Dam's Park, hosted by the Franklin Township Lions Club, the walk-through outdoor holiday display of lights and music at 880 Main Road in Lehighton in Franklin Township includes a nightly visit from Santa and runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21 as well as Dec. 22 and 23. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 4-12, and free for children under the age of 4. For more information visit

www.FranklinTwpLions.com or call 610-714-2204.• The 33rd Annual Olde Time Christmas Festival in Jim Thorpe will be celebrated the first two weekends in December. Events continue on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 888-JIM-THORPE, visit

www.jimthorpe.org or follow the Facebook page JimThorpeOldeTimeChristmas for complete event information.• Santa Claus will be making a stop at the Weissport borough hall from 1-3 p.m. Saturday.• Freedom Community Church invites children and their parents to a free Community Christmas Party at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lehighton Recreation Center. Cookies, crafts, games, and hot chocolate will be available. For more information, contact the Rev. Mark Akers at 610-714-9834 or go to

www.freedomchurchpa.org.• The Tamaqua High School Jazz Chorale will be the special musical guest at the Fourth Annual Tamaqua Community Advent Breakfast on Saturday at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greenwood and Mauch Chunk streets. Doors open at 8:15 a.m. The event begins at 9 a.m. and includes breakfast by Zion's Culinary Crew, special music, an Advent message provided by the Rev. Virginia Goodwin and a candle lighting ceremony. For more information, call 570-668-4451, 570-668-1880 or stop by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Office, 114 W. Broad St., Tamaqua.• Freedom Community Church invites children and their parents to a free Community Christmas Party at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lehighton Recreation Center. Free backpacks with toys and essentials will be given out to the first 100 children who attend. Cookies, crafts, games, and hot chocolate will be available. For more info contact the Rev. Mark Akers at 610-714-9834 or go to

www.freedomchurchpa.org.• American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill, will host its traditional Christmas party for children of the community on Saturday. Children of Summit Hill residents are invited to attend the free event, beginning at noon when hot dogs and soft drinks will be served while they await the arrival of Santa Claus. He will arrive at 1 p.m. and will distribute a gift to each child. The event ends at 3 p.m.• Breakfast with Santa will be held at 8 a.m. Sunday at the West Penn Fire Company.• A holiday grocery bingo will benefit the West End Fire Company and West End Community Ambulance on Sunday. The doors will open at noon with bingo beginning at 1 p.m. Admission will be $10 for 20 games.• The Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville is hosting a gingerbread house contest. Information and rules are available at the circulation desk.Concerts• The Bach and Handel Chorale Inc.'s additional Christmas concerts will be held at: St. John's Lutheran Church in Ringtown at 3 p.m. Saturday; Tamaqua Area Community Arts Center at 7 p.m. Saturday; St. Paul's United Church of Christ Trexlertown at 3 p.m. Sunday.Tickets for all concerts can be purchased through the Bach and Handel Chorale's website at

www.jsbgfh@ptd.net.•The Lansford Historical Society will present its annual Christmas musical program at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lansford Historical Society Museum on East Bertsch Street. The free holiday music program will be followed by refreshments and holiday treats during an open house at the society museum and the Panther Valley Public Library. The program will feature holiday music and sing-along Christmas carols. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, call society President Bill Harleman at 570-617-4683.• The choir and volunteers from the congregation of Faith Alive United Methodist Church in Bowmanstown will present a Cantata, "Down From His Glory," at 6 p.m. Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday. All are welcome. For more information call the church at 610-852-2805.• The annual Christmas cantata Images of Adoration will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at St. Matthew's UCC in Kunkletown and 6 p.m. Dec. 20 at Effort United Methodist Church.•The Tamaqua Area Community Theatre will present a Christmas Cabaret on Dec. 20 in the Tamaqua Arts Center, 135 Pine St., Tamaqua. Doors to the art center will open at 6:30 p.m. with the cabaret at 7 p.m. For more information, call 570-668-1192.