Holiday happenings
• The Tamaqua Community Art Center will be a busy place during Tamaqua's Upcoming Spirit of Christmas Festival. The festival will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Activities will include a meet and greet with Santa on Friday; performances of "The Rented Christmas" by members of the Tamaqua Area Community Theatre on Friday and Saturday; and an artist open house and vendor fair on Saturday and Sunday. For more information on any of the planned events, call 570-668-1192.
• St. John's Lutheran Church, South Avenue, is currently planning for the eighth annual nativity display. The display will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday, from noon until 5 p.m. Members of the church willing to display their nativities may bring them to the church Thursday and Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m. each day. The committee is hoping to have between 500 and 525 articles on display. Items on display are made of wood, tin, glass, ceramic and cloth, along with the traditional crèche.• Lehighton Area Lioness Lions club's annual Breakfast with Santa being held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lehighton Recreation Center. The Blue Mountain Health System will also hold a basket raffle in conjunction with the raffle. All attendees must purchase a ticket. For tickets or more information, please call Betty at 610-379-4284 or Alicia at 570-325-8685.• Santa is coming to the Ross Township Park from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday. As part of the celebration there will be music, hot cocoa and cookies. Families are reminded to bring a camera for pictures with Santa. Nonperishable food items for PVEN and new unwrapped gifts for Toys for Tots will be collected.• The Jim Thorpe Area Chamber of Commerce's Olde Time Christmas in Josiah White Park will be held Dec. 4, 5, 6, 12 and 13.• St. Matthews's UCC Church in Kunkletown is hosting a live Nativity, Journey to Bethlehem, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. It is a drive-through event being held in the church grove. Admission is free but donations are welcome.• Santa will visit Chestnuthill Township Park, 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville, from 6 to 8 p.m., Dec. 11. Nonperishable food items for PVEN and new unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots will be collected. For more information contact Bernie Kozen, WEPOSC, executive director at 570-992-9733 or check
www.weposc.org.• Quiet Valley, Monroe County's Living Historical Farm, is presenting its Oldtime Christmas programs beginning at 3 p.m. through 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and again, Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.• Heritage Hill Senior Community, 800 Sixth St., Weatherly, will host a holiday open house from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Experience "Christmas Magic" at the community and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and live reindeer. Sing and dance along to sounds of the holiday season and enjoy some hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes. Be sure to bring your camera. This event is free and open to the public; however, space is limited. RSVP by calling Rachael Kapes at 570-427-4500.• The Cramer Brothers are the featured artists in the Christmas concert being offered at St. Matthew's UCC Church in Kunkletown at 4 p.m. Sunday.• Freedom Community Church invites children and their parents to a free community Christmas party at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Lehighton Annex Building auditorium, 110 N. Third St., Lehighton. Free backpacks with toys and essentials will be given out to the first 70 children who attend. Cookies, crafts, games and hot chocolate will be available. For more information contact the Rev. Mark Akers at 610-714-9834 or visit
www.freedomchurchpa.org.Submit your event information at