Santa and more

• The Lehighton 150th Celebration Committee will host the borough's inaugural Christmas trees in the Park event at 6 p.m. Sundayin the borough's parks. The group will also hold its annual Santa in the Park at 6 p.m. today. Families can come out to the amphitheater to have the kids meet Santa and Mrs. Claus after they arrive on a Lehighton firetruck. All children will receive a surprise.• Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in Tamaquatoday. 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 make their way to the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., where they will visit with local children.•OnFriday, 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 areat 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday.• Santa Claus is coming to the West End courtesy of the West End Park & Open Space Commission. He will come to the Chestnuthill Township Park in Brodheadsville from 6-8 p.m. Friday, and at 4 p.m. Saturday to the Ross Township Park, on Anchorage Road in Saylorsburg.• Pet photos with Santa at area Tractor Supply stores benefit Pocono Greyhound Adoption. Times are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdayin Brodheadsville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 in Lehighton, and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 11 in Lehighton.• Lansford Alive presents Operation Santa Claus beginning at 4

p.m.on Sunday.• Jim Thorpe's Olde Time Christmas will be held throughout the month of December with special events - Dec. 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. todaywith live music and caroling. Santa will arrive by firetruck at 6 p.m. to light theChristmas tree donated by Beisel's Christmas Tree Hill in Lehighton. For more information on Olde Time Christmas events, visit

www.facebook.com/JimThorpeOldeTimeChristmas or

www.jimthorpe.org.• Breakfast with Santa will be held at the Parryville Fire Company No. 2, 359 Main St., Parryville, from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday. Takeout breakfast will be available. For more information call 610-852-2350.• Carbon County Friends of Animals will hold pet photos with Santa from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdayand 2 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the shelter, 77 W. 13th St., Jim Thorpe. For more information, call the shelter at 570-325-9400.• The Carbon County Environmental Education Center will host a holiday open house from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. It is the center's annual Christmas craft program to thank the local community for their support over the year. There will be refreshments, door prizes, jewelry-making and more.• 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 Wednesdaystarting 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.• Lansford Alive Christmas Party at the Legion at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Black Diamond award will be presented to Daniel Wynn, former tax collector in the borough.• The American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill, will host its annual children's Christmas party onDec. 10. The event is open to children of post members and all Summit Hill residents. The doors will open at noon. The children will be served hot dogs and soft drinks and Santa Claus will present a gift to each child between 1 and 3 p.m.• Tamaqua's Owl Creek Reservoir Commission will host its annual "Owl Creek Christmas" onDec. 10. The event will be held at the reservoir on Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua, from noon to 4 p.m. Santa will make an appearance and children in attendance will be eligible for toy and bike giveaways. The kitchen will be open and there will be a fire for roasting marshmallows. Rain date will beDec. 11, same time and place.• The Nesquehoning Recreation Commission will host its annual kids Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec. 11. Parents can sign up borough children at bingo Wednesday evening.• Lansford Alive's 15th annual house decorating contest from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16.• Polar Express pajama party, 1-4

p.m.Dec. 17 at Zion Lutheran Church, Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets in Tamaqua. Wear your pajamas to this free indoor event, which includes cookies and hot chocolate, holiday crafts, train display, story time, photo with the conductor and more. For more information, contact 570-668-2180 or

zlcof@verizon.net.Tree lightings and displays• Listen to Mrs. Claus tell stories at the Slatington Library and join in welcoming Santa as the Slatington Christmas tree at the Memorial Park is lit at 6 p.m. Friday.• At 4 p.m. Saturday, Ross Township will hold its tree lighting at the Ross Township Park, on Anchorage Road in Saylorsburg.• The lighting of the Tamaqua Community Christmas tree is 6 p.m. Sunday.• The second annual Christmas on the Hill will take place at 6 p.m. in Ludlow Park in Summit Hill. The event is hosted by the Summit Hill Recreation Commission. The St. Joseph's Parish children's choir will be leading Christmas caroling and there will be hot chocolate and cookies will visitors wait for the arrival of Santa.• Polk Township Christmas tree lighting is 6:30 p.m. Sundayat the Polk Township Veterans Memorial and Adam's Faith Garden. Parking is at Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church on Route 209 and Trach Road. Stay for refreshments, games and crafts after the lighting.Services and music• On Saturday, the Lehighton Band will hold its annual Christmas Concert, which will take place at the Pfc. Clyde R. Houser Jr. Building (Lehighton Borough Annex). The concert is free to the public and will feature many familiar sounds of the season.• Pleasant Valley Choral Society presents Sounds of the Season at the Pleasant Valley High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and 3 p.m. Dec. 11.• 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.• The Grier City Sunday school will present "Christmas Through the Carols" on Dec. 17 at 202 Grier Ave. in Barnesville. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the performance begins at 5

p.m.The program will be followed by a ham and meatball dinner. Children under 12 will be admitted for free. Tickets are available by calling Edith Messerschmidt at 570-467-7472, Justin Bailey at 570-449-5617, emailing

pps562004@yahoo.com or at the door the day of the event.Send your event information to

tneditor@tnonline.com.