Calendar

DEC. 10

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center is hosting a free Brain Health: The Basics event with an emphasis on maintaining brain health as we age. It’s from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Golden Pond Communities, 402 Lakeview Road in Winter Garden. Lunch is provided, and seating is limited. To RSVP call Cindi at 407-843-1910, ext. 301.

Fire Chief Jim White will speak as part of the free CoffeeTalk series, which gives the community the chance to interact with local leaders over a cup of coffee provided by Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen. The event will take place on Dec. 10 from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Winter Park Welcome Center, located at 151 W. Lyman Ave. in Winter Park. Call 407-644-8281 for more information or visit CityOfWinterPark.org.

Join 90.7 WMFE Intersection host Matthew Peddie and guests for a live taping of the show, focusing on the performing arts in Central Florida. The free event starts at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Orlando Reperatory Theatre, located at 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando. Visit wmfe.org or call 407-273-2300, ext. 112, to reserve seats.

DEC. 11

Learn how to create holiday wreaths that can be hung on a door or wall or used as a table centerpiece from Cathey Bowers of the Winter Park Garden Club at 10 a.m. on Dec. 11. The demonstration will take place at the Winter Park Garden Club, located at 1300 S. Denning Drive in Winter Park. Greens will be provided. Admission is $25 and should be paid by Dec. 4. Call 407-644-5770 for more information.

Honor the men and women of the military, police and fire rescue who serve Winter Park at the Rally for Heroes on Dec. 11. Hosted by U.S. Army Capt. Chuck Nadd, the free event will be held on the Central Park Main Stage at 5 p.m. Visit OperationAmericanDream.org for more information. DEC. 12

The Orlando/Winter Park branch of the American Association of University Women will meet on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m., followed by a seasonal choral presentation by the Winter Park High School Women’s Choir, under the direction of Joseph Kemper. Admission is $15. The church is located at 225 S. Interlachen Ave. in Winter Park. For more information call 407-488-4163.

The Maitland Public Library will hold its annual outdoor holiday party from 2 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 12. The event will have music, traditional Jewish food, entertainment and a special guest from the North Pole who will give gifts to every child.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs will brighten the holiday season when she flips the switch for the annual lighting of Heritage Square on Dec. 12. The free event will feature Santa Claus, musical performances, holiday storytelling, games, pet adoption opportunities and special holiday prizes. Crafts, milk, cookies and hot apple cider will be provided for children. Though all activities are offered for free, guests are encouraged to contribute an unwrapped toy to Mayor Jacobs’ Holiday Heroes Toy Drive. The event will run from 2 to 6 p.m., with the mayor flipping the switch at 5:45. Festivities will take place at the Orange County Regional History Center, located at 65 E. Central Blvd.

Bring your chairs and blankets and watch a movie under the stars for Screen on the Green in Maitland on Dec. 12. “Cinderella” will be shown on the Maitland Middle Soccer Fields at 6 p.m. Food will be available for purchase. Visit ItsMyMaitland.com for more information.

The Orlando Science Center is once again partnering with Brown Distributing to offer “exbeeriments” at a Science Night Live event, providing craft beer sampling of regional products along with short seminars explaining the science behind them. The 21-and-up event will take place on Dec. 12 from 8 to 11 p.m. Part of the Orlando Science Center’s year-long 60th anniversary celebration, it offers visitors an opportunity to hear live presentations, stargaze in the Crosby Observatory, partake in bar-style science trivia, conduct lab experiments and see giant screen movies. Tickets are limited. Receive a free branded tasting cup with online ticket purchases. For more information, call 407-514-2000 or visit OSC.org.

DEC. 13

The Church of the Good Shepherd, located at 331 Lake Ave. in Maitland, invites you to walk their campus and encounter nine live scenes related to the nativity of our Lord from 6 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. Join them for festive refreshments and music at the end of your journey. For more information, visit GoodShepherdMaitland.com

Join the Maitland Symphony Orchestra for a joyful celebration of the December holidays as they present “Come Fly with Me,” a concert of music with newly written compositions and familiar Christmas melodies. Come enjoy the Maitland Symphony Orchestra for an evening of music on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and will be presented in the sanctuary of Maitland Presbyterian Church, located at 341 N. Orlando Ave. in Maitland. Donations appreciated. For more information, visit PAMaitland.org

The Steinway Society Holiday Concert and Gifting will take place Dec. 13 at 2:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Helpful Hands, and it will include performances by Carol Stein, the Dickens Carolers, Jacqueline Jones and Santa. Seminole County commissioner Bob Dallari will present, and Steinway Society founders Gary and Kathy Grimes will host. Cost is $10 at the door or free for children and Steinway Society members. The event will be located at Steinway Piano Galleries at Ashby’s Square, 520 W. Highway 436 in Altamonte Springs. Call 407-339-3771 for more information or visit SteinwaySocietyOrlando.com.

Chanukah on the Park, a free family festival featuring a Grand Menorah Lighting, will be held on Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. The festival will include singing performances by children from the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Academy, Jewish rock music, dreidels, chocolate Chanukah gelt, Chassidic dancers, clowns, face painting, a light show, a comedian ventriloquist and a $1,000 grand prize raffle drawing. Hot dogs, doughnuts, chips and drinks will be provided. Festivities will take place at Central Park Main Stage in Winter Park. Visit ChabadOrlando.org for more information.

DEC. 17

Winter Park residents are being asked to “reThink” their commutes, and earn a $5 gift card for riding SunRail, taking the bus, carpooling, biking or walking to Park Avenue area businesses. On Dec. 17, reThink will host a “Coffee & Commuting” networking event offering a light breakfast and coffee at Winter Park’s City Hall with support from the city of Winter Park, Keep Winter Park Beautiful & Sustainable Advisory Board and Healthy Central Florida. Network with SunRail, LYNX, Juice Bikes and reThink while learning about commute options from 7 to 10 a.m. at Winter Park City Hall. Coffee and a continental breakfast will be provided. For more information, call 866-610-7433 or visit reThinkYourCommute.com

Writer’s Block Bookstore invites science fiction and fantasy readers to its Science Fiction Open House on Dec. 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Hosted by Elle E. Ire and Joe Iriarte with special guest Usman Tanveer Malik, the event will include drawings, giveaways, including a Star Wars book, and a 20-percent discount on all science fiction books sold. Writer’s Block is located at 124 E. Welbourne Ave. in Winter Park.

DEC. 18

Enjoy a live jazz concert under the stars from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, at the Alfond Inn, located at 300 E. New England Ave. in Winter Park. The event will include unlimited select wine, champagne, beer, Tito's Vodka, Roasted Chicken, smoked pig, vegetarian selection and valet parking included with a ticket – $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Purchase tickets online at http://bit.ly/GetYourJazzOnDec

ONGOING

The city of Winter Park’s annual holiday ice skating rink, Winter in the Park, will be open through Jan. 10. Presented by the Community Redevelopment Agency, the rink is located at 150 N. New York Ave. on the corner of New York Avenue and Morse Boulevard. Skating hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 for the day, including skate rental. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. The rink is also available for rental opportunities with a reservation. Holiday movies, music and games will be offered throughout the event’s run. For more information, call 407-599-3203 or visit CityOfWinterPark.org/witp

The Winter Park Presbyterian Church has a Caregiver Support/Networking group that meets every first Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in Room 303. It is open to the community. The church is located at 400 S. Lakemont Ave. in Winter Park. For more information, call 407-647-1467.