Family Calendar

DEC. 19-22

The Winter Park Presbyterian Church’s holiday schedule will again feature the Longest Night, which is a worship service of remembrance, and its 45th annual Living Nativity. The Longest Night service, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m., provides a time of quiet reflection, special music, healing prayer, and candlelight for those experiencing loneliness and loss because of the death of a loved one, relationship problems, job insecurities, health concerns, or weariness from holiday preparations. All are welcome. Show times for the Living Nativity are 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 and Friday, Dec. 20. The Living Nativity, a tradition of the telling of the Christmas story, features a story teller, carols and live animals.

DEC. 22

Please join Winter Park Presbyterian Church at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, for a Lessons and Carols service with congregational participation in singing of classic Christmas carols at 400 S. Lakemont Ave. Call 407-647-1467 or visit winppc.org for more information.

DEC. 24

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services will be offered Dec. 24 at the First United Methodist Church of Winter Park. Lessons and carols are at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary and at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. there’s a traditional service with communion. At the Matthias Family Life Center there will be a children’s service at 5 p.m. and a contemporary service and communion at 8 p.m. It’s all at 125 N. Interlachen Ave. in Winter Park. Call 407-644-2906 for more information.

DEC. 28

To wrap up the holiday season with a bright red bow on top, the city of Winter Park will proudly host the seventh annual Russell Athletic Bowl Parade of Bands at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28. It’s all as a prelude to the Russell Athletic Bowl game on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl. School bands from the Atlantic Coast Conference and American Athletic Conference teams will march through downtown Winter Park and perform a “Bandastic Game Day Preview” in Central Park. For more information, please call 407-599-3463.

DEC. 30

Join Florida Citrus Sports as it celebrates the Florida Citrus Parade, the nation’s second largest sports-affiliated parade! Bring the family and join in on the fun of this time-honored Orlando tradition. The stars of the show are the signature custom floats. Also participating in the parade are university marching bands from the Capital One Bowl, high school marching bands from across the country, high-stepping equestrian units, celebrity guests, and more! This 2013 parade is sure to be bigger and better than ever. Don’t miss one of the most exciting events of Orlando Bowl Week! It’s on Orange Avenue and Rosalind Avenue in downtown Orlando, starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 30. For more information, visit floridacitrussports.com or follow on Facebook.