Holiday events
Santa
• West End Food Pantry presents Santa Is Cleared for Landing on Saturdayon the grounds of Polk Township Firehouse in Kresgeville. Santa will be flying in via helicopter around 2
p.m.This free event will be held rain or shine. In case of bad weather, Santa will find a way to get to town. Music will be provided by Dan Dechellis and Shawn Cavanaugh along with DJ Easy E & Mark Stang. There will be plenty of photo opportunities with Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and the Grinch, so bring a camera.Hot dogs, courtesy of Hazle Park, Haydt's Meat Market and Bimbo Bakeries will be available along with cookies and hot chocolate.• Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in Tamaqua onDec. 2. The Santa Parade will begin at 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their way to Depot Square Park and flip the switch to illuminate the park for the first time this season. The duo will then make their way to the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., where they will visit with local children.•On Dec. 2, the Tamaqua Area Community Theatre will present "the Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," a family-friendly musical, at 7 p.m. in the art center. Additional performances will be held at 2 and 7 p.m. onDec. 3.• The Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission will hold its annual Breakfast With Santa at 9
a.m.Dec. 3 at the Tamaqua Salvation Army Community Center, 105 W. Broad St., Tamaqua. The event is held in conjunction with the borough's Spirit of Christmas Festival, which will be held this year from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. The event includes a full breakfast as well as a photo with Santa Claus. Reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call 570-668-6899. Deadline for reservations is Nov. 29.• Come and enjoy a celebration of Christmas in the Palmerton Borough Park from noon to 5
p.m.Dec. 3. "Santa" will greet children in the Park Bandstand from 1-3 p.m. and each child will receive a "goodie bag" from Santa as well as a chance to win assorted prizes, such as new bikes and wagons. There will be food stands, wagon rides and musical entertainment throughout the afternoon. Nonperishable food items will be collected for CACPAC food pantry and donations of new unwrapped toys will be accepted for "Toys for Tots." CACPAC will be hosting family caroling in the park in conjunction with the lighting of 100 Christmas trees at 4:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Palmerton Holiday Lights Committee. The raindate isDec. 4.• Jim Thorpe's Olde Time Christmas will be held throughout the month of December with special events - December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. The tree lighting celebration at Josiah White Park (train station) kicks off the festivities at 5
p.m.Dec. 3with live music and caroling. Santa will arrive by firetruck at 6 p.m. to light the Jim Thorpe Christmas tree donated by Beisel's Christmas Tree Hill in Lehighton. For more information on Olde Time Christmas events, follow us at
www.facebook.com/JimThorpeOldeTimeChristmas or visit
www.jimthorpe.org.• Lansford's Feed the People at Fellowship Hall at St. John's Church, 1 E. Abbott St. (Tunnel Street entrance) Lansford, will host a Christmas and Santa evening on Dec. 7 starting at 5 p.m. Donations of canned goods, juice drinks, water, paper products, plasticware, cleaning items along with ham and turkey of gift cards for the holidays are appreciated. Anyone wishing to donate or volunteer can contact Feed the People Director Rita Marie Trucios at
truciosrm@gmail.com or call 570-657-1480.Tree lightings and displays• The Nesquehoning Lions Club planted a Christmas tree in St. Patrick's cemetery two years ago in memory of our military people who never made it home. This year the Nesquehoning Lions Club and Meeds Church are holding the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Saturdayat the Lion's Memorial at St. Patrick's (across from Turkey Hill). The rain date is Dec. 3. There will be Christmas caroling and Meeds is offering hot cocoa and cookies afterward. All are welcome. For further information please call 570-669-9919.• The official lighting for the Weissport Christmas display will be 5:30 p.m. Saturdayduring which the Beltzville Lions Club will have caroling and have hot dogs and hot chocolate for sale.•
C.H.O.S.E. Will be hosting Coaldale's annual tree lighting at 5 p.m. Sundayat Borough Hall. There will be caroling, Santa will arrive on firetruck and give children a small gift, and everyone is invited inside council chambers for cookies and hot chocolate.Services and music• At 3 p.m. Saturdayat Trinity, the Sanctuary Choir presents the cantata "The Voices of Christmas" by Joseph Martin, accompanied by an orchestra including harp. Susan Lovejoy is the director. All are invited to attend, free admission. A freewill offering benefits the pantry.• The lighting of the Tamaqua Community Christmas tree is 6 p.m. Dec. 4.• Zion United Church of Christ, Second and Iron streets in Lehighton, will hold a Worldwide Children's Remembrance Candle Light Service at 6:30
p.m.Dec. 11. Snow date isDec. 12. It is a combined effort of Dylan and Gavin's Rainbow Ministry of Zion UCC, Lehighton and the Carbon County Chapter of The Compassionate Friends. All family and friends are welcome to join in this special time of remembrance. Refreshments and fellowship to follow the service. Monthly chapter meetings of the Carbon County TCF Chapter are held on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to parents, grandparents and siblings who have experienced the death of a child of any age, by any cause.• Faith Alive Church, 678 Pine St. in Bowmanstown, is offering a Christmas Cantata "Come Messiah King" presented by the choir of Faith Alive Church at 6
p.m.Dec. 10 and 3
p.m.Dec. 11.All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact the church office at 610-852-2805.Send your event information to