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 Lehighton Downtown Initiative will hold its annual Santa in the Park on Friday, where families can come out to the amphitheater to have the kids meet Santa and Mrs. Claus after they arrive on a Lehighton Fire Truck. All the children will receive a Christmas surprise.• Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in Tamaqua onFriday. 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 Friday, 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. onSaturday.• The Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission will hold its annual Breakfast With Santa at 9

a.m.Saturday 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 Tuesday.• Come and enjoy a celebration of Christmas in the Palmerton Borough Park from noon to 5

p.m.Saturday. "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 isSunday.• 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. 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.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.• 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.• Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 announces the return of their Santa Delivery Experience to Penn Forest residents. Santa Claus will arrive at your home via firetruck with lights and sirens to deliver gifts to children. Wrapped gift will be accepted at the firehouse, 1387 Route 903, from 6-8

p.m.Dec. 5,Dec. 9, andDec. 12. Delivery will take place starting at 9

a.m.Dec. 17. Parents who drop off gifts will be contacted after Dec. 12 with a more specific delivery schedule. If you have any questions, please contact Bill at 570-657-1399 or email

pennfor@ptd.net. There will be no charge for this service; donations are greatly appreciated to cover costs.• Lansford Alive hosts the 15th annual house decorating contest from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16.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.• The lighting of the Tamaqua Community Christmas tree is 6 p.m. Sunday.• 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.• 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.• 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.Send your event information to

tneditor@tnonline.com.