Holiday happenings
• The Jim Thorpe Area Chamber of Commerce's Olde Time Christmas in Josiah White Park will be held Saturday and Sunday.
• Santa will visit Chestnuthill Township Park, 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville, from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Nonperishable food items for PVEN and new unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots will be collected. For more information contact Bernie Kozen, WEPOSC, executive director at 570-992-9733 or check
www.weposc.org.• Carbon County Animal Shelter, 63 Broad St., Nesquehoning, will host a pet photo with Santa event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Bring your pets and your camera for photos. There will also be hot chocolate and cookies, as well as dogs available for adoption. The event is free but donations are always accepted.• Quiet Valley, Monroe County's Living Historical Farm, is presenting its Old Time Christmas programs beginning at 3 p.m. through 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.• Mrs. Bush's in Kunkletown is hosting a visit by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The event will include free pictures with Santa and storytelling by Mrs. Claus. Contact Carrie Shafer at 610-381-1009 or
carrie@mrsbushcares.com for more information or to respond.• Freedom Community Church invites children and their parents to a free community Christmas party at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lehighton Annex Building auditorium, 110 N. Third St., Lehighton. Free backpacks with toys and essentials will be given out to the first 70 children who attend. Cookies, crafts, games and hot chocolate will be available. For more information contact the Rev. Mark Akers at 610-714-9834 or visit
www.freedomchurchpa.org.• The Pleasant Valley Choral Society will present its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Pleasant Valley High School auditorium in Brodheadsville. There is a suggested donation for adults; children are free. For more information, call 570-402-2026.• Middlecreek Christian Church, 343 Dorshimer Road, Kresgeville, will celebrate the coming king with the musical program "Waiting Here for You" at 7 p.m. Saturday. All are welcome to join a time of fellowship and light refreshment following the program. For more information call 570-629-4066.• The Pleasant Valley Middle School's Old Gym is the site for the middle school's Christmas program choral concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday.• St. Matthew's UCC, Kunkletown, and Effort UMC will present the Christmas cantata: "Joy, Joy, Joy." St. Matthew's will host at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, and Effort UMC will host at 6 p.m. Dec. 19.• The American Legion Auxiliary of Post 927, Gilbert, is hosting a community children's Christmas party from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 19, for children to 10 years of age joined by no more than two adults. The sign-up book for the party is available through Dec. 15. Space is limited. No phone call reservations will be taken. Santa will be there.• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will have a Christmas family Festival at 1 p.m. Dec. 20. It will include a visit with Santa, food, crafts, a Christmas store for children and a Christmas pageant by Blessed Beginnings Preschool.Submit your event information at