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Holiday Happenings
Following is a list of holiday activities in the Metro St. Louis area:
Florissant will sponsor its annual Holiday Craft Show, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28, 9 to 4 both days at the JFK Community Center at 315 Howdershell. Admission is free. Patrons can purchase hand-made items from local and surrounding area merchants and crafters, many of which are new this year. For more information call 921-4250.
Ferguson will hold its Northern Lights Celebration on Sunday, Nov. 29, from 2-7 p.m. Ferguson Caring League will be collecting non-perishable food items, personal care items and money for utilities to go to Ferguson families in need. Everyone is urged to bring a donation. Santa will be available following the parade for visits.
For more information, call 314-332-5546, email citywalk1@sbcglobal.net or www.fergusoncitywalk.com.
Christmas Wonderland – Rock Spring Park holiday lights display is open Nov. 27-Dec. 27, on College Avenue in Alton, Illinois. Hours: Monday-Friday, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 5-9 p.m. The cost is $7 for cars and small vans or $1 per person for vehicles holding more than 10 people. For more information, call 1-800-ALTON-IL
The Florissant Valley Jaycees are having their annual Christmas Tree Lot, Dec. 1-23. Team, Jaycee scholarship fund, and Accessible Play, Inc. received funds from the proceeds. The tree lot is Located at 1 Flower Valley Shopping Center at rear of Kmart’s parking lot. For more information go to www.florissantvalleyjaycees.org.
Valley Industries Wednesday Shopping. Shop for a good cause and find bargains for yourself, while helping Valley Industries to continue their mission of providing dignified and meaningful employment for people with developmental disabilities. Upcoming sales would be Wednesdays Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and Jan, 6, 13, 20, and 27.
Wild Lights at the Zoo, Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 27-Dec. 13; nightly, Dec. 18-23, 26-30, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the St. Louis Zoo. Stroll through the Zoo’s enchanting holiday wonderland and enjoy thousands of colorful lights and seasonal sounds.
Step into the sub-Antarctic and go nose-to-beak with your waddling friends at Penguin & Puffin Coast. Barrel through deep ice ravines, villages and treacherous mountain terrain on the mesmerizing animated motion simulator ride “Glacier Run” (additional fee of $3 per person.) Climb aboard your favorite animal on the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel (additional fee of $3 per person).
Take a warm detour to Lakeside Cafe to have dinner or hot chocolate and snacks while listening to holiday music. Kids can make a holiday craft to take home and make a wish to post on the Conservation Wishing Wall. Shop Holiday Zootique for a variety of unique gift ideas, and receive a 10% discount on any purchase; Zoo Friends members receive a 20% discount.
Admission to Wild Lights is $5 per person; $4 for Zoo Friends members (no passes). Children under two are free. Reservations are not required. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.stlzoo.org. Groups of 15 or more may receive a group rate by calling (314) 781-0900, ext. 4709 in advance.
Missouri Botanical Garden’s Holiday Wreath Exhibit will be held Nov. 21-Jan. 3, featuring unique creations by some of the area’s finest floral designers. All wreaths are sold by silent auction bidding, with proceeds benefiting the Missouri Botanical Garden. For information, call 314-577-9400 or www.mobot.org.
Snowflake Festival in Godfrey, Illinois, Friday, Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m. A free night at Glazebrook Park, 1401 Stamper Ln., with sleigh rides, cookies, carols and a visit from Santa. Free. For information, call 618-466-1483 or www.godfreyil.org.
Florissant’s Christmas in Old Town with the Christmas Walk, parade and tree lighting will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5. This year’s theme is Old Town Winter Wonderland. The Christmas Walk will be held from 1-5 p.m., the parade at 5:30 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree in front of Florissant City Hall.
Old Town retail shops and restaurants will be open for shopping and relaxing during the day. Old St. Ferdinand Shrine will be open for free tours and Christmas music.
Taste of Chocolate will be held at Grafton Winery and Brewhouse, 300 W. Main St., Grafton, Illinois, on Saturday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m. Enjoy a plate of full of chocolate samples donated by businesses and restaurants in Grafton. Plenty of delightful treats will surely satisfy any chocolate craving, including chocolate flavored coffee, a variety of fudge, hot chocolate, desserts, candies and much more.
Tickets for the event are $6 per person and are limited to 300. For more information, call the Alton Visitor Center at (618) 465-6676.
Spyro Gyra will tie traditional Christmas music and jazz together in a festive package this holiday season when performing “A Night Before Christmas” at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Dec. 5. Special guest for the 8 p.m. concert in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall is Jane Monheit.
Spyro Gyra’s concert A Night Before Christmas features music from the band’s 2008 album – a collection of 11 tracks that capture the yuletide spirit with a decidedly traditional jazz vibe. It includes such favorites as “Winter Wonderland,” “Christmas Time is Here,” “Baby it’s Cold Outside” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Tickets are $45 and $30. They are available now at the Touhill Performing Arts Center Ticket Office; online at www.touhill.org; or by phone at 314.516.4949.
Chanukah: Festival of Lights will be held on Dec. 6 at the Missouri Botanical Garden. A traditional Jewish holiday celebration that includes festive Israeli music and dance, a menorah-lighting ceremony, and Chanukah merchandise provided by local vendors and the Garden Gate Shop. Noon to 4 p.m. Ridgway Visitor Center.
The University of Missouri-St. Louis ensembles University Orchestra, University-Community Chorus, University Singers and Vocal Point will perform a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL. Admission is free.
The repertoire will include “Scene Andalouse” by Joaquin Turina with a solo by violist Joanna Mendoza of the Arianna String Quartet, UMSL’s resident quartet; selected choruses from “Messiah” by George Frideric\ Handel; selected choruses from “Gloria” by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi; and other holiday classics.
St. Louis County Community Chorus will perform its holiday concert on Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 12928 Ladue Rd., and on Friday, Dec. 11, in the Keating Center at Kirkwood High School, 801 W. Essex Ave. The concerts will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children in advance, or $12 and $5 at the door.
Tickets are available at Metrotix 314-534-1111. For information, visit www.stlccc.org.
Gen. Daniel Bissell House Museum tour will be held on Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. The House will be decorated as it might have been in the early 19th century and lit entirely by candlelight. Tour guides will also be dressed in period clothing. Hot chocolate and cider with Christmas cookies will be served.
Cost is $7 per person. Children 11 and under are free. To make reservations or for more information call 314 544-6224 or email mkollbaum@stlouisco.com.
There will also be a chance to pick up beautiful craft items at the Bissell Barn Holiday Boutique being held in the Bissell Barn on Saturday evening, Dec. 12.
Christmas Carols in the Garden is Dec. 12 and 13, from 1-5 p.m., at Missouri Botanical Garden. Enjoy holiday carols, Santa in his sleigh, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a gingerbread house display.
Santa will visit at the Hazelwood Community Center, 1186 Teson Rd., on
Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Pets are welcome to visit with Santa and have a photo taken. Free. (314-731-0980)
Northwinds Concert Band, under the direction of Larry Marsh, will present a Holiday Concert on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. in the Florissant Civic Center Theatre. Special guests include the University of Missouri-St. Louis Symphonic Band directed by Gary Brandes, and guest conductor, Austrian composer Otto M. Schwarz, who will lead the ensembles in performances of his works. The concert is sponsored by UMSL’s German Culture Center.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for older adults and students, with a special $12 price for an entire immediate family. Seats are reserved and may be ordered by calling the Box Office at (314) 921-5678.
Lafayette Square Holiday Parlor Tour will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ten homes will be featured that were built in the last 1800s. Guests may also take a free, horse-drawn carriage ride around Lafayette Park. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the tour. Call 314-772-5724 or www.lafayettesquare.org.
Hawthorne Players “A Christmas Carol” will present the Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre stage. The show, adapted and directed by Nancy Crouse, will be presented on Dec. 18 at 8 pm, Dec. 19 at 2 and 7 p.m. and on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for older adults and students, and a special $7 ticket for children 12 and under. Seating is reserved and may be ordered at the Box Office at (314) 921-5678.
Paul James stars as Scrooge. The versatile actor has appeared in over 90 productions, including work in film and on stage in many regional theatre productions.
