Gather ’round the Christmas tree, friends; it’s time to sort out the remainder of the Holiday Season!
I know that we are all hustling and bustling, and having bushels of fun finding those perfect gifts, but let’s take a break from that and find some fun things to do!
Luckily for you, I’ve done all the leg work for you! I’ve searched high and low — and by that, I mean the internet — to find all the Holiday fun to be had in the area over the next couple of weeks! A lot is going on, so let’s not waste words and get right to it!
Wednesday, December 13th:
Ring in the holiday season by creating your own natural wreath with dried oranges and cinnamon. Bring the warmth of the season to your home by creating a wreath with beautiful natural elements and wonderful fragrances of the season. Cost is $35. It will be held at Blooming Meadows Farm, 11110 State Route 44, Watsontown, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
West Branch Pride will be hosting an ornament-making party. They will be supplying all of the ornaments and painting supplies! The event will be at the YWCA, 815 W. 4th St., Williamsport from 6-8 p.m.
Head to the Community Theater League, 100 W. 3rd St., Williamsport, to see their production of Elf: The Musical! Buddy, a would-be elf, is raised unaware that he is actually a human. Faced with the truth, he travels to New York City in search of his birth father. There he is met with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother does not believe in Santa. When Santa’s sleigh can’t fly because Christmas Spirit in NYC has dropped to an all-time low, Buddy must try to save Christmas before it’s too late. Tickets are available at ctlshows.com, and performances are December 14th, 15th, and 16th at 7:30 p.m., and December 17th at 2 p.m.
Friday, December 15th:
Trinity Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, 844 W. 4th St., Williamsport, will hold an evening of Christmas Caroling and Giving. The night will benefit children in foster care in our community through Dwell. Assemble at 5:30 p.m. in Trinity’s Parking lot. You will then process by candlelight at 6 p.m. to Park Place for caroling with special music from several ensembles. Refreshments will be held at the church after caroling.
On Friday and Saturday, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., enjoy the Christmas lights at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville! Bonus, it’s a drive-thru event so you can stay warm and toasty in your car!
Saturday, December 16th:
Rust & Shine, 600 Cemetery St., Williamsport, is hosting a Jingle + Mingle Shop & Crawl. Join them for a day of shopping and drinking at their first annual Jingle + Mingle! Stock up on your favorite refreshments from our favorite local wineries, breweries, and distilleries, and finish your holiday shopping! Special guests include Dad’s BBQ, Maui Jim Trunk Show Special, Nomad Distilling Co., Bald Bird Brewing Co., Four Friends Winery, Iron Vines Winery, Whispering Oaks Vineyard, and Staggering Unicorn Winery. The event will be from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Are cats your best friends? Are you considering adding a new cat or kitten to your family? Stop by the Lycoming County SPCA, 2805 Reach Rd., Williamsport, during their cat adoption event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. As always, the Lycoming County SPCA & its staff do not endorse the purchasing of any animal for the sole purpose of a gift. Future financial impacts and the ability to provide acquisitive care should always be considered before taking an animal home.
Wreaths Across America, with Wildwood Cemetery, 1151 Cemetery St., Williamsport, is holding its wreath-laying ceremony at noon. All wreaths will be laid after, and hot chocolate will be provided for all volunteers.
St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1400 Market St., Williamsport, will host an interactive nativity story of Christmas for families at 2 p.m. Families get to participate in telling the Christmas story as Angels and Stars, Lambs and Shepherds, and Kings and Camels — light Christmas refreshments to follow in the Lounge.
Up the Crick, 5099 N. Rt. 44 Hwy., Jersey Shore, is hosting a men’s shopping weekend! They are serving Philly grillers and bloody marys as an incentive for them to pick up Christmas gifts! And they will wrap gifts for them!
Join Heidi Lane from the Petal Parcel for a fun and creative morning of Flower Arranging at the Williamsport YMCA! The Class is from 10 a.m.-noon. All Materials are included in the price, and Members and Non-Members are welcome. Come and join the fun with friends and family for a perfect way to create your own beautiful centerpiece for the holidays! Members, $65; non-members, $75.
The Williamsport Flute Choir is hosting a Christmas Concert at 2 p.m. Get in that Christmas spirit while hearing their bass, alto, soprano flutes, and piccolo. It’s a free concert, but donations are greatly appreciated!
Sunday, December 17th:
Bald Birds Brewing, 220 Shaffer Lane, Jersey Shore, would like to invite you to their second Sip & Shop at the brewery! With the holidays coming up, they would like to give the community an opportunity to shop locally while sipping on their craft beer or one of our signature cocktails. Stop by from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
The Williamsport Area High School music department will perform its annual Holiday Celebration at 3 p.m. at the high school auditorium. Doors open at 2:15 p.m. Free and open to the public, the concert, now in its 34th year, has become known as “a gift to the community.”
Covenant United Methodist Church wants you to enjoy an evening of sharing the light of Christ with the community! At Triangle Park, Lock Haven, at 4:30 p.m.
Loyalsock Baptist Church, 107 Dunwoody Rd., Williamsport, will present their “Come as a Child” Christmas play at 6 p.m.
Celebrate the Christmas Season with St. John’s UMC, 49 River Rd., Dewart, with a Christmas Candlelight Service at 7 p.m.
The Cantata Choir and Orchestra of First United Methodist Church of Muncy will present Mary McDonald’s “Festival of Christmas” in two performances. With orchestration and accompaniment by Michael Lawrence, this joyful celebration of the season incorporates well-known Christmas carols with and five original songs. A large choir and thirty-piece orchestra will celebrate the joyful news of Christ’s birth though song and narration. Presentations will be at 10:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary, 602 South Market Street, Muncy.
Christmas Con at Today Farm, 215 Shady Ln. Muncy, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. What is Christmas Con?? It’s a convention to celebrate one of the of the most popular holidays! They’d love to see you in your Christmas best. Dress as Santa, an elf, or wear your ugliest holiday sweater! The Flipside Trio will be playing live in the greenhouse for this event. Several vendors will be at the farm selling their locally-made wares! There will be plenty of great Christmas gift ideas and stocking stuffers. Enjoy a hot chocolate (spiked or not!) from our Bullfrog Brewery taproom. As always, beer will be on tap, canned cocktails, alcoholic seltzers, wine pouches, & plenty of non-alcoholic options. Amazing food options will also be available from the Susquehanna Mills kitchen team! Charcuterie boards, soups, sandwiches, and eggrolls.
Monday, December 18th:
Back Alley Bar & Grill, 321 Pine St., Williamsport, is having a Gingerbread House Making Competition at 6 p.m. Bring your friends and your holiday spirit; no teams larger than three. Registration will be $5 at the door per person. Contest winners will be determined on the best classic and most creative houses. Compete for a gift card!
Tuesday, December 19th:
Have some Christmas light fun if you live in South Williamsport! They are hosting a House Decorating Contest! Have your lights on before 6 p.m. to be judged by the Mayor and Civic Committee!
Thursday, December 21st:
Come celebrate an early Christmas Eve service at Watsontown Baptist Church, at 7 p.m., with hymns and readings. All are welcome to this peaceful, reflective service. Light refreshments will be served after during a time of fellowship.
Friday, December 22nd:
The Genetti Hotel Terrace Garden Ballroom in downtown Williamsport will be featuring live music from five regional performing artists to raise money & awareness for the American Cancer Society from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Hosted by The Billtown All-Stars, a local non-profit musical group, who will be performing your Classic Rock favorites. The event will also feature live sets from acoustic singer/songwriter Frank Lundy, world music quartet Celtic Wood And Wires, New York City’s own indie rock trio, The Satellite Reptiles, and introduced by upcoming Los Angeles-based vocalist Naomi Yasui. All ages are welcome; tickets are only $10 at the door, and a cash bar will be open for patrons 21 & over. Special edition music-related merchandise will also be for sale—all profits to benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information, contact Tim Yasui and the Billtown All-Stars on Facebook.
Sunday, December 24th:
Join Trinity United Methodist Church, 1407 Allegheny St, Jersey Shore, at 9 a.m. for their Children’s Christmas Eve Service. They will also have a traditional Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m.
Even though they offer an evening Christmas Eve service, New Covenant United Church of Christ, 296 Academy St., Williamsport, hopes you’ll join them for their morning, 10:45 a.m. service. They are encouraging people to wear their favorite and MOST ugly sweaters. Their Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be at 7 p.m.
Christmas Eve at City Alliance Church, 380 W. 4th St., Williamsport — Join them for a 60-minute, family-friendly service where they will celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends! Sing some Christmas carols, hear a message of hope, and sing Silent Night together by candlelight at 4 p.m.
Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church, 235 S. Main St., Jersey Shore, invites you to a beautiful Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. All are Welcome! There is always a warm welcome and a pew open for you.
First Church Williamsport, 601 Market St., Williamsport, is hosting a contemporary Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Celebrate the joys and traditions of Christmas in the community. This service is contemporary in style: a worship band will lead songs that fit the context of the service and anticipate the coming of Christ. Children of all ages are welcome to worship with their families; they will be given a children’s worship bag. Glow sticks will be in the children’s worship bags if children are unable to handle candles during the candle-lighting portion of the service.
Be a part of a special Christmas Eve celebration at Hope River Church, 325 Thomas St., Jersey Shore. Bring your family and friends to this service of carols, candles, and hope. You won’t want to miss it. There will be two identical services at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday season across the area! I hope you get out and enjoy all our area offers!
Plus, don’t forget to stop by Brandon Park and Candy Cane Lane to see all the lights! If that’s not enough for you, head out to 1977 West Emery Church Rd., in Linden. I hear there is an amazing display out there! And if that’s still not enough Christmas lights, take drive to Knoebel’s! Their ‘Joy Through the Grove’ is opening nightly (excluding Christmas Eve and Day), 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., until New Year’s Eve.
