Editor’s note: We will be updating this list. Send your event to tneditor@tnonline.com

Concerts

• Blessings of the Seasons,” a benefit concert for the 50th Anniversary of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 319 South Ave. Jim Thorpe. Maestro Randall D. Perry of the Bach and Handel Chorale will present the prelude from 2:30 until 3 p.m. and will also accompany soprano Claudia Handlovic.

The BQE Strings, a professional string quartet from New York City, will play a range of music from the classics to contemporary. For information, Irene Remmel at 570-325-4534 or Bonnie Hoffman, 610-554-3528.

• Zion UCC, Second and Iron streets in Lehighton, will host its ecumenical Christmas Cantata at 7 p.m. Sunday. “One Incredible Moment” with music from Tom Fettke and the written word by Christian writer Max Lucado. Kathy Long, known to many people as “Lehighton’s Storyteller,” is the narrator for the event. The cantata and orchestra are under the musical and artistic direction of Bradly R. Cressley, director of music at Zion UCC.

•The Ben Salem UCC Handbell Choir will present a free Christmas Concert titled "Celebrate the Child" at 2 PM Dec. 8 in the church sanctuary located at 1965 Church Hill Road, Lehighton, PA. The first half of the program will feature Christmas carols from around the world celebrating the birth of Jesus while the second half of the program will feature secular Christmas songs celebrating the child in all of us! Free refreshments will follow the concert. All are welcome!

• The Bach and Handel Chorale, based out of Jim Thorpe, will begin its 40th year of performances. Randall Douglas Perry, founder, artistic director and conductor will conduct and accompany the concerts at 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 526 N. St. in Jim Thorpe; at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 158 Fish Hill Road in Tannersville; and at 3 p.m. Dec. 15 in St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Trexlertown. Visit www.bhchorale.org or call 570-325-4794.

• The Valley Voices Community Chorale “Winter/Christmas” concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Slatington United Presbyterian Church located at 6750 Route 873, Slatington. Free will offering will be taken. Information: 610-767-8337.

Events

• Chestnuthill Township will host Sensory Santa from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 in the park. Santa will also be at the park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec 7.

• Lehigh Gap Nature Center holiday open house, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, rain or shine, crafts, music, more. Center is located at 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington. Information: mail@lgnc.org or 610-760-8889.

• Reading of “The Polar Express,” presented by Palmerton Area Historical Society at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at the Little White Church, 911 Third St, Palmerton, free, rain or shine event.

• Christmas Festival takes place in Saints Peter and Paul parish hall on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Baskets, gift cards and hot food available. 260 N. Third St., Lehighton.

• Hometown Volunteer Fire Company’s first-ever Christmas festival, from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 7 both inside and outside the fire company at 45 Mahanoy Ave. (Route 54) in Hometown. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand, a hayride with Santa, and a story time with Mrs. Claus, crafts games.

• Third Annual Krampus Ball from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Stabin Museum, 282 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe in Jim Thorpe. A Klezmer Band, Dan Blacksberg’s Freilachs Music will perform. Food, drinks available. 👹

Shopping

• The third annual Christkindl Market at the Perla Building in Tamaqua, 40 vendors, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at 105 W. Broad St.

• Shop & Be Merry!, Jim Thorpe Christmas Shopping Event Dec. 14 and 15. Tickets include a commemorative tote filled with samples.

• The Annual Christmas Shopping Wonderland at the Cancer Telethon office at 33 W. Ridge St. in Lansford from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday until Christmas. Any additional sale dates will be posted on social media. There are great savings on every item, but the group has also included an additional feature each Saturday.

• Today: Pet/Stuffed Animal Special.

• Dec. 7: Holiday Tree Special.

• Dec. 13: Electronic/T-shirt Special.

• Dec. 20: End of Season Special.

Items that will be for sale include Christmas gifts, lights, decorations, household items, pet gifts, toys, games, puzzles, jewelry, makeup, clothing and more. Additional items will be added each week. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

For more information, call 570-805-4555 or email Madula@ptd.net.

Tree lightings

• Hope Lutheran Church first-ever Tree Lighting Ceremony, 4 to 6 p.m. today.

Tree lighting at 5 p.m. Nativity Display, noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., showcasing the diversity and beauty of Nativity traditions from around the world.

Hope Lutheran Church is located at 4131 Lehigh Drive, Cherryville. For more information about the event, call 610-767-7203.

• Penn Forest tree lighting, 5:30 p.m. today at the township recreation park. Santa arrives at 6 p.m.

• Nesquehoning will host a firetruck parade and tree lighting Sunday, beginning on the west side of town, will kick off at 4:45 p.m. and travel down Catawissa Street before turning up Mermon Avenue and into New Columbus, where it will conclude at the John F. Cerchiaro Memorial Park, North Angelini Avenue.

From there, Santa will welcome visitors for photo opportunities, meet and greets, and live reindeer presentations before officially kicking off the Christmas season at 6:30 p.m. with the tree lighting of 25 sponsored Christmas trees.

• Friends of Lansford Recreation and Lansford Alive will welcome Santa Claus to the borough on Sunday afternoon. Santa will make his entrance at 2 p.m. in Kennedy Park via firetruck to greet and take photos with children ahead of the annual tree lighting.

The Panther Valley High School band will kick off the program at 4 p.m., followed by music. All 50 trees that line Patterson Street and others around the gazebo in the park will be lit at 5:15 p.m.

• The Annual Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival, Dec. 5-8. The festival will kick off on Dec. 5 with a Mistletoe Reception at La Dolce Casa. The tree lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at Depot Square Park near the Five Points intersection. After the Christmas tree is lighted, Little Miss Spirit of Christmas and her court, along with Santa, will arrive via “a special vehicle.” The countdown begins and the entire park will be illuminated. Santa will then meet children in the gazebo.

Breakfast with Santa and The Grinch will be held at 8 a.m. Dec. 7 from the Perla Building, 105 W. Broad St. Plenty of activities for children continue throughout Dec. 7. The Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St., has events between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Complete schedule at the Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Facebook page or by calling the arts center.

• Jim Thorpe’s Olde Time Christmas — Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6 p.m. Dec. 6 in Josiah White Park. Music by the Jim Thorpe High School Band, Jim Thorpe cheerleaders, chorus and the arrival of Santa at 6 p.m.

• Palmerton Christmas in the Park, Dec. 7 with opening ceremonies at noon. Free face painting 1 to 4 p.m. Santa will greet children from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by songs and tree lighting at 4:45 p.m.

• Walnutport Recreation Board’s 8th annual tree lighting, 2-6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the park, 215 S. Lincoln Avenue.

• Lehighton 9th annual Christmas in the Park, beginning at 3 p.m. Dec. 8. Santa arrives at 4 p.m., tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.

• Santa Claus will make a stop in Summit Hill on Dec. 8 at the annual Christmas on the Hill event in Summit Hill. The program is sponsored by the Summit Hill Recreation Commission and will be held in Ludlow Park from 5-7 p.m. Free trolley rides, refreshment, free teddy bears and, of course, the arrival of Santa. Gieniec said Santa will be transported to the park via a fire truck at about 6:30 p.m. ain date: Dec. 15.