Arty party
Wayne Art Center: The preview party for “Craftforms 2017” and “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass” is held 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 8. Enjoy contemporary crafts, food, wine, cocktails, live music, an auction and a raffle. Get ticket information at (610) 688-3553. The center is at 413 Maplewood Ave., Wayne.
Opera classic
Exhibit B Gallery: Amici Opera Company presents Puccini’s “La Boheme,” staged in costume at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 in the art gallery space at 105 N. Main St., Souderton. Tickets are $60, $75 at the door, and include hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine and a tasting menu by Caruso’s Brick Oven Trattoria. Go to www.exhibitbgallery.com.
Seasonal hangout
Blue Cross RiverRink: Winterfest is back daily through March 4 at 101 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia. It features an Olympic-size skating rink overlooking the Delaware River, a ski chalet-style lodge and a winter garden with a lit tree. The waterfront destination also features an outdoor seating area with fire pits for roasting s’mores, warming cabins, a kids’ lodge with arcade games and more. Admission is free, with skate rental available. More information is at www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/blue-cross-riverrink-winterfest.
Concert highlightSantander Performing Arts Center: Kansas’ 40th anniversary celebration of their “Leftoverture” album continues at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Tickets range from $45-$100. The venue is at 136 N. Sixth St., Reading. Go to www.santander-arena.com.
To the holidays
Herr’s: The Holiday Light Display runs from dusk untill dawn through Jan. 1 at the snack factory in Nottingham. The event is free. Herr Foods Inc., 20 Herr Drive. For more, check www.herrs.com or call (610) 932-9330.
Bethlehem: Experience “Christmas City, USA” as Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites and ArtsQuest partner to offer a new Christmas City Combo Ticket providing admission to Christkindlmarkt, the “Trees of Historic Bethlehem” exhibit and six historic Bethlehem attractions. One-day tickets are $27. The ticket is valid at Christkindlmarkt through Dec. 23, and HBMS attractions through Jan. 14. Christkindlmarkt runs Thursdays through Sundays at PNC Plaza at SteelStacks. A Christmas City Trolley can take you to Historic Downtown Bethlehem. The exhibit is set up across six historic sites in the city, including the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, 1810 Goundie House, Single Sisters’ House, 1752 Apothecary and the Nain-Schober House. Get tickets at www.christmascity.org.
Morris Arboretum: The Friday Night Lights at the Holiday Garden Railway returns Fridays in December from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Besides the running model trains and the outdoor quarter-mile track decorated for the holidays, there will be different special programs each week. Bring a flashlight. This is a separate admission from daytime visitation and advance tickets are required. Non-member admission is $18, $9 for children. The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is at 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia. Visit http://bit.ly/MAFNL17.
Philadelphia City Hall: New this season, the Center City District, in collaboration with 6-ABC, presents the “Deck the Hall Light Show.” This free, nightly, choreographed light show projects onto City Hall every hour on the half-hour weekday nights, and more frequently on weekend nights, through Jan. 1. Also, check out additional attractions in surrounding Dilworth Plaza and the City Hall Courtyard. Get more details at https://centercityphila.org/parks/dilworth-park/wintergarden/light-show.
Franklin Square: Through Dec. 31 the Franklin Square Holiday Festival features the nightly Electrical Spectacle, lighting up the park with 50,000 lights with a holiday soundtrack every 30 minutes 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and on Christmas Eve. Shows run till 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The annual festival also features a variety of festive programming alongside a winter beer garden with fire pits, areas for making s’mores and treats like gourmet hot chocolate. Franklin Square is at 200 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia.
Christmas in Fairmount Park: The historic mansions in Fairmount Park get dressed up for the holidays with the theme “A Very Philly Christmas.” Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill Mansion, Lemon Hill Mansion, Historic Strawberry Mansion and Woodford Mansion all open their doors to visitors during select days in December. Four special events will also take place, centered around the Philly-oriented themes of music, food, neighbors and families. Visit http://holidaysinthepark.com.
Kimmel Center: “A Philly POPS Christmas: Spectacular Sounds of the Season” returns to the Kimmel Center stage at 8 p.m. Dec. 8, 13 and 19, 3 p.m. Dec. 9, 15 and 16, and 7 p.m. Dec. 18. Guest stars include vocalist Justin Hopkins, Macy’s organist Peter Richard Conte, the Philly POPS Festival Chorus, the Philadelphia Boys Choir and the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir. Santa is also expected to arrive with gifts and song. Tickets range from $38-162. Visit www.phillypops.org/christmas.
“A Soulful Christmas” is presented at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in Verizon Hall. During the gathering of regional choristers performing holiday spirituals and gospel favorites, singer Lady Tramaine Hawkins will be honored. The evening will also feature special guest Marvin Mills on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. Go to www.kimmelcenter.org.
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s “The Glorious Sound of Christmas” concert is performed at 7 p.m. Dec. 14-16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17. Check ticket availability at www.philaorch.org or (215) 893-1999.
The annual free Tuba Christmas concert in the Commonwealth Plaza is held at noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 17. More than 100 regional tuba, sousaphone and euphonium players of various ages join together in a performance.
The Kimmel Center is at 300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia.
Old City Philadelphia: Historic Holiday Nights run 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 28, with more than 50 participating boutiques, shops, art galleries, museums, salons, spas, restaurants and cafes around the neighborhood treating visitors to special sales, discounts, promotions, seasonal cocktails, added menu items, special events and extended hours. Find out more at http://oldcitydistrict.org/historicholidaynights.
Longwood Gardens: Longwood celebrates Christmas with a French-inspired display, open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 7. Timed tickets are required to explore the heated, four-acre conservatory, the fanciful topiary and more than 50 trees adorned in holiday tones, boasting crystal ornaments reminiscent of the splendor of Versailles. Outside, illuminated stars twinkle above, colorful fountains dance to holiday music, and a half-million lights brighten the night. Longwood Gardens is at 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Township. Visit www.longwoodgardens.org or call (610) 388-1000.
Klein Meetinghouse: The annual Carol Sing at the historic Dunkard (now known as the Church of the Brethren) meetinghouse is held at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. It’s near Maple Avenue, Franconia Township.
Hope Lodge: Between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9 visit Hope Lodge at 553 S. Bethlehem Pike, Whitemarsh, for a short film and guided tours of the mansion, which is decorated for Christmas. After the tour, enjoy cookies and cider. Admission will be charged. For more information, call (215) 646-1595 or visit www.historichopelodge.org.
Bucks County Choral Society: A Family Christmas Concert is presented at 11 a.m. Dec. 9 at Doylestown Presbyterian Church, 127 E. Court St., Doylestown. Tickets are $10, $40 for a family of four or more. At 4 p.m. Dec. 10 it’s “Ringing in the Season: A Concert of Traditional Christmas Carols” at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 5175 Cold Spring Creamery Road, Buckingham. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Visit www.buckschoral.org.
North Penn Church of Christ: The ArCoNet Orchestras, the ArCoNet Community Singers, led by Lisa Paino, guest singers Marco Porras and Isabela Bernard, percussionist Daniel Perez and a Holiday String Play-along and Audience Sing-along are part of a concert held at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the church, 300 North Wales Road, Montgomery Township. Tickets are $10, $5 for seniors and children 3-12. You can order online at www.arconetwork.org/wp/events/arconet-holiday-concert-2017.
Bucks County Wine Trail: The trail’s eight wineries invite you to a Holiday Celebration weekend Dec. 9-10. Besides being decorated for the holidays, you can enjoy spiced wines, Christmas cookies, artisanal cheeses and music. Check out special discount pricing, wine gift packs, gift baskets and wine accessories. Get more details at www.buckscountywinetrail.
Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School: International Ballet Exchange presents the Donetsk Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the school, 201 E. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Township. Tickets are $30, $20 for children, students and seniors. Call (215) 849-7950 or go to www.ibexchange.ticketleap.com.
A Cappella Pops Holiday Tour: Concerts are set for 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 121 Church St., Phoenixville, and 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at Montgomery County Community College (and featuring the MCCC Chamber Choir), Dekalb Pike, Whitpain. Get tickets and more information at (888) 886-2923 or www.acappellapops.com.
Washington Memorial Chapel: A Caroling at the Carillon community Christmas carol sing-along is held at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Washington Memorial National Carillon in Valley Forge National Historical Park. Sing your favorite carols accompanied by Doug Gefvert playing the 58-bell carillon. This outdoor event takes place in front of the carillon tower, so dress for cold weather. The park is off of Route 23, Upper Merion. Visit www.wmchapel.org.
Koziar’s Christmas Village: Through Jan. 1, the walk-through, evening light and holiday attraction is open 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays at 782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville. Dress appropriately to the conditions, as there are both outdoor and indoor displays. Cost is $10, $9 for seniors 65+, $8 for children 4-10 and free to children 3 and under. See www.koziarschristmasvillage.com or visit their Facebook page.
Historic Sugartown: A Sugartown Christmas returns 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9. The historic village will be festively decorated for the season. Also, visit with Santa, create holiday crafts, hear about Victorian Christmas traditions and more. Admission is $6, free to children 2 and under. The village is at 690 Sugartown Road, Malvern. Call (610) 640-2667.
National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum: A free Holiday Open House, featuring Santa, toys, trains and music, runs 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at the museum at 50 S. First Ave., Coatesville. Call (610) 384-9282 or email education@steelmuseum.org.
Grace Bible Church Phoenixville: A live Nativity with live animals and music is presented at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at the church, 777 Starr St., Phoenixville.
