Calendar

DEC. 6

The 34th annual Christmas in the Park Celebration will be Thursday, Dec. 6. This Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art holiday tradition will be held in Central Park, which creates the beautiful backdrop for the lighting of eight turn-of-the-century Tiffany windows as the Bach Festival Choir performs in concert on the main stage. The two-hour program begins at 6:15 p.m. For more information, please call 407-645-5311.

To complement the annual “Christmas in the Park Celebration,” Friends of Casa Feliz will present Christmas at the Casa, sponsored by Commerce National Bank and Trust, on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Casa Feliz located at 656 N. Park Ave. Santa Claus will be on hand to greet everyone, the house will be decorated for the season and costumed carolers will lead attendees in holiday favorites. For more information, please call 407-628-8200.

The Orange County Retired Educators Association will meet Thursday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. at College Park United Methodist Church, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando, for a music program by the Silver Chimers & Nineties Club Recognition. For more information, please visit ocrea-fl.org or call 407-677-0446.

Members of the Jewish Pavilion are invited to attend “JP Connections,” a luncheon for women on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. at Heathrow Country Club in Lake Mary. For $25 participants will enjoy a gourmet meal and informal modeling from Wearable Art. The event will also include a mini-holiday bazaar. To receive an invitation or learn more, call 407-678-9363 or email Nancy Ludin at [email protected]

Orlando Museum of Art’s First Thursday will be Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. Besides a special holiday sale, “Art Under $200 – ‘Tis the Season,” there will be a live jazz performance, magical illusions, an art demonstration and food from Orchid Thai. Café offerings, handcrafted beers, wine, soft drinks and water will be available for purchase throughout the evening. Admission to First Thursdays is $10, free for OMA members, and includes admission to the OMA's permanent collections of American Art, African Art and Art of the Ancient Americas. Parking is free at Orlando Loch Haven Park; overflow parking is available at the Orlando Science Center parking garage. For more information, call 407-896-4231 extension 260, or visit OMArt.org

DEC. 7

On Friday, Dec. 7, Winter Park’s Hannibal Square Merchants Association will present “Hannibal Square Holiday,” a food and wine celebration benefiting the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Hannibal Square merchants and area restaurants will provide food and wine from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on New England Avenue, between Virginia and Pennsylvania avenues in Winter Park. Musicians from the Orlando Philharmonic will provide seasonal music. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 on the day of the event. Children younger than 12 are free. Tickets may be purchased online at HannibalSquare.com/HolidayEvent or at participating locations on New England Avenue. In the spirit of the season, attendees are also encouraged to bring toys for donation to Winter Park families in need.

Baldwin Park’s First Friday event for December will be on Dec. 7 from 6 to 10 p.m. in the heart of Baldwin Park, along New Broad Street in the Village Center. First Friday offers music, drink specials, free samples, interactive activities and much more. For more information, please visit Facebook.com/BaldwinParkFirstFridayFestival

Tis’ the Season for Holiday Parties and Celebrations! December 7th 5:30 – 8 pm. join in as the Carey Hand Cox-Parker Funeral Home opens a new art gallery with a wine reception for free. Visit www.carey-handcox.com or call 407-647-1942.

The Winter Park High School Drama Department will present a stage adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale "A Christmas Carol" on Friday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 8, in the WPHS Ninth-Grade Center Auditorium with all seating available for a minimal donation of food (to be taken to local food pantries for distribution to needy members of the Winter Park family).

The public is invited to celebrate the holidays at the University Club of Winter Park, 841 Park. Ave., Friday, Dec. 7 with classic carols and fun holiday songs. The program will feature choral numbers, solos, instrumental pieces and sing-alongs. For reservations call 407-644-6149 by Monday, Dec. 5. Lunch $20 prepaid by MC/Visa/Discover. Light hors d’oeuvres and wine will be available from 11:30 to 11:50 a.m. with aeating by 11:50 a.m.

DEC. 8

“It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)” will be shown at Enzian Theater on Saturday, Dec. 8, at noon. This Frank Capra wintertime comedy/drama stars James Stewart and was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture. The epitome of movie sentiment and a transcendent experience, “It’s a Wonderful Life” tells the story of an angel helping a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $5 for Enzian members. Tickets can be purchased at Enzian’s box office or at Enzian.org

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens will become the official judging and viewing site for the ninth annual Winter Park Boat Parade & Festival of Lights including a water ski show on Lake Virginia near Rollins College. This free event will begin at dusk and parking fees will apply. For more information, please call 407-647-6294.

Creation Entertainment’s The Vampire Diaries Official Convention will come to Orlando Dec. 8-9 at The Hilton Walt Disney World Resort, 1751 Hotel Plaza Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, 32830. Limited tickets are available in advance or at the door starting at $25 on Saturday and $45 on Sunday. Tickets for the Saturday Night Cocktail Party are $79. Show hours are Saturday, 10 a.m.– 7 p.m., and Sunday 9:45 a.m. – 7 p.m. For more information visit thevampirediariesconvention.com

The 10th Annual Holiday Bike Ride will wind its way through Casselberry and parts of Winter Park on Dec. 8. Registration is at 4 p.m. with music and games, then at 6 p.m. the ride heads out from South Seminole Middle School. The event benefits New Hope for Kids. Cost is $10 donation in advance, or $12 the night of the event.

At 10 a.m. Dec. 8 the AAUW of Orlando/Winter Park will host a Holiday Gift Boutique featuring jewelry, hand-sewn accessories, tea gift baskets, kitchen products, photography, notepads, cards, fashion accessories from recycled materials and other unique items for the holidays. It’s at the Fellowship Hall, First Congregational Church, 226 S. Interlachen Ave. at New England, in Winter Park.

DEC. 9

Chabad of Greater Orlando will present Chanukah in the Park Sunday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m., in Central Park. The evening will include singing performances, live music, dancers, face painting, jugglers and food. For more information, please call 407-644-2500.

On Dec. 9, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO) plans to hold the inaugural performance at The Grove at Mead Garden, with a holiday program featuring FSYO’s award winning youth orchestras, and a world premier of “A Holiday Opening,” a new work by composer John Dupuis. This concert is sponsored in part by Chepenik Financial. Tickets range from $10 to $20, and can be purchased at fsyo.org, or at the door on Dec. 9.

DEC. 10

Please join us on Dec. 10, at the Holocaust Center, 851 N. Maitland Ave, for a private reception with John Halligan. This is a unique opportunity to hear John reflect on his experiences speaking with students about the impact bullying has on the whole community. RSVP to [email protected]

DEC. 11

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Maitland has announced two special community presentations featuring John Halligan, a renowned speaker on bullying, cyberbullying and teen suicide. He will be speaking on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Annunciation Catholic Academy, 593 Jamestown Blvd. in Altamonte Springs, and Wednesday, Dec. 12, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church 526 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. Both sessions are scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m., and no admission is charged. During his program, Halligan will discuss some of the most effective ways family and friends can intervene when a child is displaying signs of stress due to bullying. He also will provide a number of Internet safety tips that can help parents understand the dynamics of cyberbullying and harassment through social media. These events are part of the Holocaust Center’s UpStanders: Stand Up To Bullying initiative.

DEC. 13

The city’s 125th anniversary will be celebrated at the Winter Park Historical Association’s Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Winter Park Country Club.

Newcomers of Central Florida’s Dec. 13 holiday luncheon will include seasonal musical entertainment by the Hot Cocoa singers at Maison & Jardin, 430 S. Wymore Road, in Altamonte Springs. Advance reservations are required and tickets are $23. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. For more information, please visit newcomersCFL.org or contact [email protected] or 407-366-9084.

The Winter Park High School Band will host its Winter Band Concert in the Anne Derflinger Auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 13. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/Wnr9wt

DEC. 14

The Park Avenue Merchant Association will host an evening of holiday cheer on Friday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. We will light the Avenue with luminaries and are inviting the community to come shop during extended hours and enjoy a fun evening in downtown. Activities will include the ice rink, free admission at the Morse museum and a sneak preview of season three of Downton Abbey in Central Park.

Friday, Dec. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m., Culture and Cocktails returns to Art & History Museums – Maitland. The reception for artist Nathalie Chikhi’s work will be both inside and outside of the A&H’s Germaine Marvel Building at 210 W. Packwood Ave. It’s free to A&H members, and $5 to not-yet-members with a free drink included.

DEC. 15

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park presents its annual Christmas program, “A Classic Christmas,” featuring the Bach Festival Choir, Orchestra, and Youth Choir, conducted by John V. Sinclair. In addition to classic holiday favorites, such as “Joy to the World” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” this year’s program also includes orchestra performances of “Carol of the Bells” and other seasonal treats. Concerts are Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Knowles Memorial Chapel located at Rollins College; 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park. Tickets range from $35 to $55. Call the box office at 407-646-2182 or visit BachFestivalFlorida.org

A book launch party for the children’s book “Up and away on my first flight” is at 1 p.m. Dec. 15 at Enders’ Place in Baldwin Park; 947 Fern Ave. Author April Ready will be there with musical guest Mr. Richard. Visit cubventures.com for more details.

Santa’s Parade will wind through the streets of Maitland on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit independencelane.com for more details on when and where Santa will be.

DEC. 16

The Maitland Symphony Orchestra will perform its Christmas Concert, “From the Heart” at the First Presbyterian Church of Maitland on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Visit pamaitland.org/orchestra for more information.

JAN. 6

Time to make good on New Year’s resolutions with the Asbury “I CAN” 5k on Sunday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. The race kickes off at 220 W. Horatio Ave. in Maitland. All proceeds will be used feed hungry children through support of local food banks. Call 407-644-5222, email [email protected], or for race registration forms visit asburyumc.com