Calendar

NOV. 28

For the 2014 holiday season, the Art & History Museums-Maitland will be presenting an entirely new Christmas exhibition at the historic Waterhouse Residence Museum (built in 1884) from Nov. 28 through Jan. 11. Drawing from the rich context of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the house will be decorated to showcase Christmas traditions of the past, present and future, as seen from the view of the Waterhouse family, in each of the three main rooms. This exhibit will be presented as part of “What the Dickens,” a season celebrating the life, works, times, and issues of Charles Dickens, organized by Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit artandhistory.org

NOV. 30

The city of Winter Park invites you to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presents its annual Holiday Pops concert in Winter Park’s charming Central Park at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. The Philharmonic will present a beautiful program of holiday favorites for all ages to enjoy. This free public concert is made possible by the Charlotte Julia Hollander Trust. Audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable, canned or dry food items to help restock the pantries at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Bring a blanket and a picnic and get ready for a concert program of holiday favorites that will be sure to put everyone in the spirit of the season.

International performing artist John West will give a concert on the Aeolian-Skinner-Dyer organ at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, located at 142 E. Jackson St. West, who earned his Masters of Music degree with honors at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, will perform Charles Marie Widor’s “Symphonie IV,” with dramatic vignettes introducing the movements. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information about this event, contact Tony Chunn at [email protected] or in the church office weekdays at 407-849-6080.

DEC. 2

The Winter Park Community Foundation will present grant awards to three Winter Park nonprofits at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Rollins College’s Bush Science Center lawn. The awards total $62,000 of investment in the Winter Park community.

Friends of Casa Feliz will present Christmas at the Casa, sponsored by Commerce National Bank and Trust, Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 6 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 407-628-8196.

DEC. 4

The city of Winter Park and The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art continue a holiday tradition with the 36th annual Christmas in the Park on Thursday, Dec. 4. The two-hour program begins at 6:15 p.m. Central Park creates the beautiful backdrop for the lighting of nine turn-of-the-century Tiffany windows as the Bach Festival Choir performs in concert on the main stage. For more information, please call 407-645-5311.

DEC. 5

On Friday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m., the festivities continue in Central Park with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by Winter Park Towers and hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. The night will begin with carols from several local ensembles, followed by the award ceremony for the 2014 Holiday Card Competition winners, and finally, the lighting of the tree with WFTV’s Bob Opsahl. Central Park will come to life with beautiful bright lights and Santa Claus will make a special appearance. For more information, please call 407-644-8281.

In conjunction with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, the city of Winter Park will present Popcorn Flicks in Central Park presented by Winter Park CRA and produced by Enzian Theater, featuring “Jingle All the Way” at 7 p.m. For more information, call 407-629-0054.

DEC. 6

On Saturday, Dec. 6, Park Avenue comes to life at 9 a.m. with the 62nd annual Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade, presented by Bright House Networks and hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. This family-friendly occasion showcases holiday-themed floats, Santa Claus and well-known local figures as they make their way down the avenue. For more information, please call 407-644-8281.

Before and after the Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, Leadership Winter Park Class 25 will host the 16th Annual Leadership Winter Park Pancake Breakfast, presented by Fannie Hillman & Associates and Florida Power & Light, at the Central Park main stage from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Enjoy hot pancakes, sausage and beverages for just $6 per adult and $4 per child. Proceeds benefit the Winter Park Improvement Foundation in its efforts to develop adult and youth leaders through Leadership Winter Park programs. For more information, please call 407-644-8281.

The city of Maitland Leisure Services will present Season of Light on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. at Lake Lily Park at 701 Lake Lily Drive. The fireworks finale is scheduled for 7 p.m. Join us for this Maitland holiday tradition. Visit itsmymaitland.com for more information.

The Holiday Dinner for the Animals has become a holiday tradition in Central Florida and offers a night of delicious food and camaraderie. The 16th annual Holiday Dinner for the Animals 
will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Garden Café, located at 810 W. Colonial Drive in downtown Orlando. The guest speaker at this year’s Holiday Dinner for the Animals is Mary Beth Ikard with the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Tickets are $25 in advance or $40 at the door. For reduced fee, payments must be received by Dec. 6th. Only RSVPs with payment will be counted. Price includes dinner selections from eight Vegan dishes and iced or hot tea. All proceeds will benefit The Elephant Sanctuary. For information, please call 407-968-2400 or email [email protected]

DEC. 7

The Winter Park Sunday Running Group will conduct its seventh annual Blanket Collection for The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, prior to its weekly 7 a.m. run on Sunday, Dec. 7. The collection point will be near Park and Welbourne avenues at the Williams & Sonoma store where the group meets for its weekly run. All runners and other interested parties are welcome to join this informal group run and bring along a new or gently used blanket or two and some hope for the homeless. In past years, other groups also have joined us in this outreach, including the Orlando Runners Club, Track Shack’s Marathonfest programs, the Winter Park Dawgs, St. Margaret Mary Church and others. For more information, call 407-647-3521.

DEC. 8

The city will welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to Winter Park from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8. Young and young-at-heart will have the chance to mingle with Old St. Nick himself as he rides his sleigh through Winter Park neighborhoods. He will visit Shady Park at 6:30 p.m., Israel Simpson Court at 6:45 p.m., and Winter Park Country Club at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 407-599-3223.

ONGOING

The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park loves Christmas so much that it will present four holiday shows this year. The first of which, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” directed by Wade Hair, will be at the Breakthrough Theatre from now through Nov. 30. Call 407-920-4034 for more information.

This holiday season the city of Winter Park is hosting its sixth annual Winter in the Park Holiday Ice Skating Rink in Central Park now through Jan. 11. There’s a little bit of winter inside the tent – no matter the temperature outside. Join the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Park Avenue Merchants Association as they spread holiday cheer to skaters and spectators starting this Friday. Visit winterpark.org or call 407-644-8281.

“A Christmas Story the Musical” is the classic account of Ralphie’s hilarious quest to ensure that the most perfect gift ends up under his Christmas tree: a Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun! All the cherished moments are here – the Old Man’s leg lamp, the tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole, the bunny suit are all there – on-stage for us to enjoy as a Tony-nominated Best Musical. Presented through Dec. 28 at Orlando Rep, call 407-896-7365 or visit orlandorep.com for tickets.