Sleighbells are ringing — or is that an alarm reminding me I still have stuff to do? Ehh it’s OK. I have most of what I need to do done, everything else is between Amazon and me, and a small (OK, not too small) stop at the grocery store. OK, multiple grocery stores. It’s fiiiiine. I’ll get it done. I hope anyway!
The Blaise Alexander Christmas Coloring Contest is in its final days, too! Twinkle Sugarsocks, Merry Peppermintwhirl, and Sprinkle Icicletoes are hard at work organizing and judging all the entries! They’ve also been taking plenty of time to explore the area and see all the Christmas cheer! They have been spotted on Candy Cane Lane, down the way at Knoebels’ Joy Through the Grove, and out 220 to see Rudolph’s Runway — though they were a little peeved Rudolph wasn’t actually there. They’ve been mumbling about false advertising. No worries though, they can be placated with some Christmas Tree Cakes and hot cocoa — which is hilarious, because so can I.
So, let’s talk about the final days of the holiday season. There is still plenty of fun to be had and things to do in the days leading up to Christmas. If, unlike me, you are ahead of the Christmas game, now is the time for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy some Christmas cheer!
If you aren’t sure what Christmas cheer to celebrate or where to find it, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.
Let me start by saying that Santa (and maybe some friends?) will be on Candy Cane Lane December 19th, 20th & 24th from 5-9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 17th:
Lycoming Valley Intermediate School, 1825 Hays Ln., Williamsport, will have its 5th-grade band, choir, and orchestra concert at noon in the LVIS gymnasium.
Thursday, December 18th:
Rust & Shine, 600 Cemetery St., Williamsport, has you covered for last-minute shopping. They are hosting a Sip & Shop from 4-7 p.m. Sip your favorite drinks while browsing the store and finish your holiday shopping in style. Shop local, enjoy festive vibes, and make your holidays a little brighter!
There will be a special line dancing night at The Side Bar, 345 Market St., Williamsport! $5 to participate & all levels welcome! Ashley will walk you through numerous line dances — all while in your ugly sweaters! If you’re looking for something cheap, fun & different to do before the holidays, join them!
Williamsport Area Middle School, 2800 W. 4th St., Williamsport, will host their band concert at 7 p.m. in the WAMS auditorium.
Friday, December 19th:
Drop by Shandy’s Pools, 170 Pine St., Williamsport, to see the one and only Santa Claus from 4-7 p.m.! There will be a photo opportunity with Santa and lots of fun to be had!
The Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra is hosting a holiday concert. Join them for our fun-filled, festive, fabulous Holiday Jazz Concert at the Community Theatre League, 100 W. 3rd St., Williamsport, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available at http://www.ctlshows.com or at the door.
Saturday, December 20th:
Zafar Grotto and the Rafaz Club, 381 E. 2nd Ave., S. Williamsport, are hosting a breakfast from 8-11 a.m. with everybody’s favorite jolly old man, Santa Claus. Bring your children out for breakfast, photos, and a gift bag. Kids 12 and under are free. Over 12 is $10 for breakfast. This event is open to the public.
Have brunch with Santa at the Beech Creek Hotel, 49 Main St., Beech Creek, starting at 10 a.m.
Join Goodwill Hose Company #3, Station 7, 126 High St., Flemington, for a magical evening of holiday cheer, beginning at 9 a.m. Get ready for a festive celebration filled with holiday spirit and community warmth! The annual Christmas Festival has become a beloved tradition, bringing together families and friends for a magical evening of seasonal joy.
Bring the whole family to Horsepower Harley, 1910 E. 3rd St., Williamsport, for a festive day of holiday fun! Enjoy free pictures with Santa (don’t forget your camera!), warm cocoa, cookies, and some incredible in-store savings — perfect for last-minute holiday shopping.
Join Santa and the Water Wheel Carriages team as they take you on a festive ride in a truck-pulled hay wagon. Sing carols and tell Santa everything you want for Christmas. Tickets are $15 for ages 13 and up, $10 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for ages four and under. Rides will depart from the Washington Township Fire Hall, PA-44, Allenwood, beginning at 1 p.m. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. No tickets will be available at the event.
Join the Ross Library, 232 W. Main St., Lock Haven, and the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum for Flying Reindeer — a fun, hands-on STEM activity. Students will craft reindeer using everyday materials. Once decorated, each reindeer becomes a flying marvel powered by a balloon and gliding along a taut string across the room. As they play and experiment, children will explore Newton’s Third Law. For further information, please get in touch with the Library at (570) 748-3321.
The Clinton County SPCA is hosting “Santa Paws Cash Bingo” at 1 p.m. (doors open at 11 a.m.) at the Piper Aviation Museum, 1 Piper Way, Lock Haven. Tickets are $35 each and available for purchase at the shelter (cash only).
If you are still not done shopping, Rust & Shine has your back again. They are open with plenty of gifts to be found, and you can catch Santa from 10 a.m. to noon.
Enjoy Christmas on the Farm at Blue Sparrow Farm, 264 Eschbach Rd. in Milton, on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy artisans and vendors for your last-minute shopping! Food trucks, music, Santa, mini highland cows, thousands of lights, & so much more!
All Aboard!! Santa’s in town for the Santa Express! The festive holiday train will bring Santa Claus and his friends to Lycoming County to meet with children and families. The entire family will enjoy meeting Santa and his friends aboard each trip. Listen to the wonderful story of the Polar Express along with holiday music! Children ages 2-10 will receive complimentary goodie bags! This year, the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce will have the opportunity to host Santa Claus on December 20 & 21. Departure Times: 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5 p.m. from Burger King on Maynard St.
Shandyland at Shandy’s Pool, 170 Pine St., Williamsport, is hosting a Sip & Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local vendors will be there with those perfect last-minute gifts for everyone on your list.
Join the Williamsport Youth Choir from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clarke Chapel at Lycoming College, 700 College Place, Williamsport, for their winter concert as they share music from shepherds and angels from long ago. Performances will be by the concert choir and Viri Voces. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. is sponsoring a reading of children’s holiday books by Maripat Dion, retired librarian, at The Bus Stops Here, 25 E. Main St., Lock Haven, an educational and children’s supplies store. The free event is designed to encourage reading and get children in the holiday spirit. After the event, children and families may choose to explore the store. Children should be accompanied by a parent, adult or guardian at all times. The event takes place from 10-11 a.m.
Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. is also sponsoring a stocking decorating craft event with volunteers at Avenue 209 Coffee House, 209 Bellefonte Ave., Lock Haven, a craft and specialty coffee and tea house. The free event runs from 2-4 p.m. and is designed to encourage gathering for the holidays and personalizing gifts. The stockings and craft supplies will be provided by Downtown Lock Haven. However, pre-registration is encouraged by contacting Rick Schulze, Manager, Downtown Lock Haven, at dlhmanager@lockhaven.org.
Sunday, December 21st:
Today Farm, 215 Shady Ln. in Muncy, is hosting Brunch with Santa. Join them from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They’ll have a buffet-style brunch with plenty of tasty options for everyone, and Santa will be wandering the space, chatting with kids, listening to wish lists, and posing for photos. The Bullfrog Taproom will be open and pouring brews and specialty Bloody Marys for the grown-ups to enjoy while the kids soak up the holiday magic. Pricing: Kids: $10, Seniors (65+): $12, Adults: $15.
Otto’s Bookstore, downtown Williamsport, is hosting a Letters to Santa Story Time from 12-1 p.m. The story time will feature: Holly the Christmas Elf from Twinkling Tiara Parties as our event host. Writing letters to Santa. A read-aloud of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. A hands-on craft where kids can make a paper Christmas wreath. Opportunities for photos and interactive character moments. Only children need booked seats; parents come along! This event is free to attend, and parking is free. The bookstore will also provide snacks for kids, coffee for adults, and hot chocolate!
Join the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department, 30 S. Railroad St., for Breakfast with Santa! All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet starts at 8 a.m. Santa will arrive at 9 a.m. to see all the good boys and girls, right before he heads back to the North Pole to get ready for the big day! Breakfast includes pancakes, bacon, sausage, home fries, eggs your way, toast, and beverages! Breakfast runs ‘til 12 p.m. while supplies last! Breakfast prices: adults 12+, $12; under 12, $6.
Plan to join this year’s Christmas Cantata, “The Poetry of Promise.” The 60+ voice choir and 30+ piece orchestra will lead us as we proclaim the birth of Jesus. This cantata is a colorful tapestry of carols, original seasonal songs, scripture, and poetry. The music draws on treasured traditional melodies and reimagines them to represent Advent anticipation and the joy of the incarnation. Celebrate the sights and sounds of the season with this service of music and the spoken word. The cantata will be presented at 10:45 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 602 S. Market Street, Muncy. All are welcome. There is no fee for this event.
Join the Watsontown Baptist Church, 501 Main St., for their annual EARLY (meaning NOT on Christmas Eve) Christmas Eve service — all are welcome. Celebrate with us in song and Bible readings at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served after during a time of fellowship.
Seventh-day Adventist Church, 410 E. Southern Ave., South Williamsport, is hosting “Hope in a Manger,” Christmas Cantata at 7 p.m. Refreshments will follow.
Wednesday, December 24th:
Trinity Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, 844 W. 4th St., Williamsport, will hold two Candlelight Christmas Eve Services with Holy Communion on Wednesday, December 24, at 6 & 9 p.m. The 6 p.m. service will include the children’s program, and the 9 p.m. service will include traditional carols. For more information, call 570-322-0126 or trinitychurchpa@comcast.net.
Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore, welcomes all to stop by the Welker Funeral Home parking lot this Christmas Eve between noon and 2 p.m. to receive a serving of warm soup, bread, and a sweet treat to go! No costs, all are welcome!
Clarkstown United Methodist Church, 3117 Clarkstown Rd., will have a candlelight service with a living nativity by the children beginning at 7 p.m.
All Saints Episcopal Church, Williamsport, 1656 Scott St., Williamsport, is hosting a candlelight mass with Eucharist at 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to come.
The Beacon: a United Methodist Church, 146 S. Main St. in Hughesville, will host three services at 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. The 5:30 p.m. service will be geared toward families and shorter.
Cornerstone Faith Fellowship Church. 525 River Mill Rd., Jersey Shore, will have Christmas Eve Service from 5-6 p.m. Celebrate the birth of our Savior with us. The children will be singing a few Christmas Carols. All children at the service will be able to participate in the singing if interested. Bring your family and celebrate.
Gather together on Christmas Eve to celebrate the greatest gift of all. At Grace Fellowship Church, 19 W Ridge St., Avis, at 6 p.m.
Covenant United Methodist Church, 44 W Main St, Lock Haven, will have a service of carol singing and candle lighting as we celebrate the gift of the birth of Jesus Christ at 4 p.m. Music will be provided by our organist, Conrad Schlesinger, and our Choir under the direction of Kay Knarr Fisher. Kids’ candles are available, and childcare is also provided if needed!
There will be a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight service at Centennial Chapel of Cogan Valley, 3 miles behinf Fry’s Turkey Ranch. It will feature scripture and hymns as well as a message. There will be light refreshments to follow. All are invited.
As you can see, there is still plenty of Christmas fun, shopping, worship, and more to be found during the countdown to Christmas. I found all of these events on Facebook, so if you have any questions about the details, be sure to check there!
Now, if you’ll excuse me — I have shopping…and wrapping…and grocery shopping…and cooking to do!
