Merrymaking

Christmas extravaganza

ROSCOE, NY — The Roscoe Community Theatre Group will present its annual Christmas extravaganza in the Roscoe Central School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The show will open with a video tribute to our troops, followed by the Christmas show. There will be a special visit by Santa Claus. A free will offering will be taken. For more information call 845/498-5222, ext.306.

Roscoe tree lighting

ROSCOE, NY — Roscoe’s annual Christmas tree lighting will take place at the Roscoe Fire House on Saturday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive by fire truck and refreshments will be served.

Children’s Christmas party

CALLICOON, NY — There will be a children’s Christmas party at the Delaware Youth Center on Saturday, December 5 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Santa’s elves will be available to help children make a variety of holiday crafts, including cupcake decorating. Santa will make a visit, and photo opportunities with Santa will cost $5. Refreshments will be available.

Good Shepherd holds annual Christmas tea

MILFORD, PA — The annual Christmas Tea will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd and St. John the Evangelist, at 5th and Catharine Street, on Saturday, December 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

There will be homemade scones, breads, cookies and fancy finger sandwiches served with assorted teas or coffee. The cost is $10 for a complete lunch, which includes all of the above; $4.50 for just beverage and a dessert; $4.50 per child for sandwich, cookie and beverage. The meal will take place in an elegant holiday setting, and there will be Christmas items for sale and a bake shop. There will be raffle tickets for a handmade Christmas wall-hanging as well as a 50/50.

Port’s annual tree lighting

PORT JERVIS, NY — The Port Jervis annual holiday tree lighting ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. This event will feature Al Gessner’s All Star Travelling Band as well as the Tri-State Community Chorus. Mayor Gary Lopriore will light the tree, and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will make a special visit on a fire truck, handing out candy canes. Hot chocolate will also be served.

Holiday weekend in Jeffersonville

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Holiday activities in Jeffersonville will kick off with free concert by The Transformation Choir and folksinger and songwriter Jack Hardy, “I Hear the Prophet Callin’,” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4 at the First Presbyterian Church. Donations will benefit the food pantry.

On Saturday, Jeffersonville merchants will sponsor The Big Holiday Ornament Hunt, with deals hidden in ornaments at shops around town. The First Grace Lutheran Parish will hold its annual cookie and gift sale from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Goode & Plenty will present a demonstration and sale of decorative wall appliqués. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a candlelight vigil at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church to promote AIDS awareness in a season of hope, and at 7:30 p.m. the Chestnut Creek Band will present another free concert, with donations benefiting the food pantry.

Sunday will also feature the annual Main Street Brunch Crawl from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; follow the balloons to participating stores.

Grey Towers open house

MILFORD, PA — Grey Towers National Historic Site will host the public for the holidays this weekend. On Saturday, December 12, The Gifford Pinchot Audubon Society will hold its annual holiday tea from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Enjoy the mansion decorations and light refreshments. On Sunday, December 13 the site will hold its annual holiday open house from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be seasonal entertainment, hot chocolate and cookies, and the mansion will be decorated for the season by the Milford Garden Club. There will also be demonstrations by the Lost Art Lacers of North Jersey.

Events are free. For more information visit fs.fed.us/gt or 570/296-9630.

Holiday Show at Old Stone House

HASBROUCK, NY — Big Sky Productions and the Concerned Citizens of Hasbrouck will present a 2009 holiday show on Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Old Stone House in Hasbrouck. It will include readings, poems and a few songs to celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and the New Year, and feature Constance Lawrence of Divine Corners, Leni Santoro of Parksville, DeLois “Cookie” House of Ellenville, Minnette Kramer of Divine Corners, Carol and Bob Bliefernich of Highland Lake, Lawrence Myers of Woodbourne and Carol Montana of Grahamsville. Local artist and writer Helena Clare Pittman of Liberty will be on hand to read from two of her books. Following the performance, hot apple cider and holiday cookies will be served.

Admission costs $5 per person and one non-perishable food item, which will be distributed to local food pantries. Reservations are suggested. For more information call 845/985-7783.

Milford tree and star lighting

MILFORD, PA — The annual lighting of Milford’s holiday tree and the star on the knoll will be held on Saturday, December 5, starting at 5:00 p.m. at the Community House/Library on the corner of Broad and Harford Streets. The trees on the streets have been decorated with lights by the Milford Lions Club. Members of the Milford Business Council will provide hot chocolate and cookies and the Dingman Delaware Choir will perform holiday selections.

After the lighting, Santa Claus will arrive on a fire truck to listen to holiday wishes and give the children candy canes. Shops and restaurants along Broad and Harford Streets as well as the Old Lumberyard, Upper Mill and Apple Valley will be offering holiday specials up to 9:00 p.m., and will compete for the title of “Best Holiday Display.”

For more information call 570/296-8700.

Holiday artists’ reception

PORT JERVIS, NY — UpFront Exhibition Space will hold a holiday artist’ reception on December 5 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The holiday exhibit will feature the work of Laura Bolle’, Debbie Gioello, Doug and Shelia Glenn, Melissa Graff, Gordon Graff, Don Hutchinson, Michael Indorato, Christine Jacobsen, Tony Lordi, Angelo Marfisi, Barbara A.G. and Steven Paul Riddle and Nick Roes, among others, as well as art work by art students from Port Jervis High School.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Port Jervis annual tree lighting at Graeb Point at 6:00 p.m. Coffee, wine and snacks will be provided. The show will run through the month of December.

Hot cocoa and doughnuts with Santa

HONESDALE, PA — Santa will make a visit to Papa’s Primo Pizza, located at 627 Main Street in Honesdale, to enjoy hot cocoa and doughnuts with the kids. Part of the continuing holiday events planned by the Greater Honesdale Parnership, this free event will take place from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

For more information visit visithonesdalepa.com or call 570/253-5492.

Deanery choir to sing at fundraiser

MILFORD, PA — The Deanery Choir will present a program of Advent and Christmas music on Sunday, December 13, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Saint Patrick’s Church Hall, High and Fourth Streets. It is a benefit fundraiser for People Helping People, a nonprofit service organization at Saint Patrick’s that raises funds for individuals and families who need emergency help with necessities like food, heating and electric.

The Deanery Choir has performed widely in the Milford area, appearing at the Milford Music Festival, the Pike County Historical Society’s annual Christmas party, among numerous other venues.

Refreshments will be served after the concert, and there will be door prizes. Tickets cost $10 per person; children under the age of 12 will be admitted free. Tickets will be sold after all the Masses at Saint Patrick’s starting on November 28, and are also available at the church office. 570/296-7451.

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‘Christmas Carol’ at the college

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — There will be a theatrical performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan at Sullivan County Community College’s (SCCC) Seelig Theatre on December 11 at 7:00 p.m.

The Broadway-style production boasts a cast of 27 performers and live musicians. The is co-sponsored by the Sullivan County Democrat and WSUL and WVOS radio Sstations.

Tickets cost $25 general admission, $23 for senior citizens and students and $15 for children under 12 years of age. Tickets can be reserved and will also be available at the door. For more information call 845/434-5750 extension 4303.

Santa Express

ELDRED, NY — The Santa Express will begin an almost 50-mile trek at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, starting off from The Corner in Eldred. Joining Santa on the lighted, musical sleigh will be Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, The Gingerbread Man, The Christmas Mouse and a host of other Christmas favorites.

The Santa Express will head down Proctor Road to a stop at Circle Park in Glen Spey, then go on to the four corners in Yulan. The final stop will be at the observation deck on Main Street in Narrowsburg. At each stop, Santa and friends will greet the children and parents, hand out cookies and candy canes and conduct a sing-a-long with the Snow Queen. Letters to Santa will also be collected.

Signs and banners welcoming Santa along the route are encouraged, and there will be updates on Santa’s journey on Thunder 102. For more information call 845/557-8316, ext. 323.

Christmas Fun Day

BEACH LAKE, PA — Kid’s Christmas Fun Day at Beach Lake United Methodist Church will be on Saturday, December 12. Registration is at 8:45 a.m. an the event will run until 11:00 a.m. All community children ages three to 10 aere welcome. There will be a Veggie Tales movie, “Saint Nicholas,” crafts, music and snacks.

A free will offering will be taken, and will be sent to Heifer International, an organization that develops programs to alleviate hunger and poverty. For more information call 570/729-7011.

Stourbridge Line revs up for Winterfest

HONESDALE, PA — Riders can climb on board the Stourbridge Line and travel back in time to the Victorian village of Hawley’s Winterfest on Saturday, December 12, at 12:00 noon.

Hawley’s downtown festival will feature Santa and friends, ice carving displays all around town, a free holiday show and more.

Tickets for the Winterfest excursion cost $20 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under and are free for children two and under if they are lap held. They can be purchased by at waynecountycc.com or by calling 570/253-1960.

For more information on Winterfest visit hawleywinterfest.com.

Kids can participate in New Year’s show

LIBERTY, NY — The Cornell Cooperative Extension at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road will host the 4-H Show-in-a-Week from Monday, December 28 through Thursday, December 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.

The event gives students six to 12 years old an opportunity to learn about stage presence, vocal projection, performance confidence, set design, costuming and more. Under the direction of former actress and professional singer Amanda Galigher Speer, you youth will work to put together an unforgettable New Year’s Eve-themed performance for friends and family. Teen volunteers are also needed for bit parts, assistance and stage management.

A performance for friends and family will be at 3:30 p.m. on December 31, followed by a New Year’s Eve-themed reception for participants and their family. The fee is $100, $75 for 4-H members.