Christmas Music, Concerts and Festival in the LR

[Argie's Wife]

Thought it might be nice to post some of the holiday-related events going on in our area...

The Alton Central School will have their annual holiday concert performed by the Elementary-grade students on Thursday, December 3, starting at 6pm at Prospect Mountain High School.

Students in grades K-2 will be performing at 6pm and then students in grades 3-5 will be preforming at 7pm - but you can come for the whole show (I know we are - nothing is cuter than the kids in the early grades... oh my!)

There's generally a basket raffle, bake sale, or other fund raiser held by our PTSA or other community/school organizations.

The event will be held in the auditorium at the high school. If you've never been there, it's a great place to catch a school play or performance.

[LakeLady84]

Great idea! This weekend is also the Altrusa Festival of Trees ... here's the Citizen article with more details:

Many people who have attended the Altrusa Festival of Trees in the past have viewed the beautifully decorated trees or attended the opening night Silent Auction in Waukewan Golf Club's picturesque New England Barn.

However, not everyone knows that behind the barn, down a short pathway, there is a Christmas cottage full of goodies. For four days, Waukewan's snack bar and lounge is converted into a delightful holiday shop. Here, visitors can take chances on winning beautifully-wrapped raffle baskets, purchase lovely holiday gifts at the Noel Shoppe, or just take a break and enjoy free hot cider and cookies.

Raffle basket contributions from area businesses and individuals are well underway. Raffle Committee Co-Chairs Jeanne Claridge and Sally Porter, are busy combining gift certificates and other donated items into themed baskets. This year, as in the past, they will create a favorite basket of gift certificates from area restaurants. It is called, "Family Dining around the Lakes" and includes certificates from George's Diner, Giuseppe's, The Mug, Village Kitchen and Mame's.

Another basket might have an athletic theme and could include golf passes with cart from Ridgewood Country Club, lift tickets from Ragged Mountain Resort, ski passes from The Balsams Grand Resort, and gift certificates from the Fitness Edge and Curves. Items are still coming in, so many of the baskets have not been defined yet. The Raffle Committee says that they have already received a lot of great items and hope that Festival visitors will walk over to the "Christmas cottage" and take a chance on winning.

Right next to the raffle baskets is Altrusa's Noel Shoppe. Noel Shoppe Committee member, Cathy Barile, says that the Shoppe has a wonderful assortment of gifts from local artisans this year. For example, Bonnie Edwards, owner of Photographic Portraits by Bonnie Edwards in Meredith, is offering 2010 desk calendars for sale that feature beautiful photographs from around the Lakes Region. She is also contributing Lakes Region note cards, packed in gift sets and accompanied by lovely, original bookmarks.

Karel Hayes, Center Harbor's award winning author and illustrator, has made another valuable consignment to the Noel Shoppe. She is contributing signed copies of her illustrated children's books, along with prints and note cards from her children's stories.

Other Shoppe items include hand-crafted, reversible aprons for adults and smocks for children, locally made spice rubs, and maple syrup from one of Meredith's own farms.

The "Christmas cottage" is open at all times during the Festival of Trees. Dates and times are Thursday, Dec. 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (Silent Auction); Friday, Dec. 4, 2-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec 5, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Auction tickets are $10 if purchased in advance at either the Meredith Chamber of Commerce, Cackleberries on Route 3 in Meredith, or Fashion Forward on Route 25 in Moultonborough. Auction tickets are $12 at the door on Auction night. Festival tickets are $3 and admission is free for children 5 years and under.

For more information about purchasing tickets and Festival events, please call Anne Stanford at 707-7257. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Inter-Lake's Christmas Fund, the Moultonborough Santa Fund, area food pantries, and other Altrusa initiatives.

[Lakegeezer]

An annual Messiah Concert will be presented at St. Charles Borromeo church in Meredith (on Route 25 between Meredith and Center Harbor) on Tuesday, December 15'th at 7PM. Last year, the interested public was invited to arrive early for choir practice and then sing along. Donations are taken at the door.

http://www.stcharlesnh.org/calendar.htm

[mcdude]

Check out the CHRISTMAS VILLAGE in Laconia.

[LakesRegionSpirit]

Back when I worked for Salmon Press, I built a short multi-media piece off the 2007 performance at St. Charles.

View it here: http://www.lakesregionspirit.com/messiahsing/index.html

It really is a great show.

[mcdude]

Light Up Night

ALTON

— Saturday, Dec. 5, is the annual celebration
of turning on the holiday lights in Alton
in the downtown area. Light Up Night free events
include:

Alton Town Hall

(5-6:15 p.m.)

visit with Santa
- all ages welcome; children’s craft social sponsored
by Little Pesaukees Playgroup; caroling
and refreshments sponsored by Alton Bay
Christian Conference Center;

Holiday hayride

(5 -6:15 p.m.)

sponsored by
Alton Home and Lumber Center leaving from
Alton Town Hall;

Alton Historical Society Museum open
house

(5-6:15 p.m.)

displays, raffle, door
prizes, refreshments and more. Enter at the
rear of the Gilman Library;
Caroling (6-6:30 p.m.) sing along caroling
with Santa and community members at Ginny
Douglas Park.

Tree lighting;

6:30 p.m.

at Ginny Douglas
Park.
Caroling music led by Santa will begin
at 6:15 p.m. at the Town Hall with a stroll over
to Ginny Douglas Park,where the tree lighting will
take place at 6:30 p.m.
For more information contact the Alton Parks
and Recreation Department at 875-0109 or

parksrec@alton.nh.gov.

[Lakegeezer]

http://www.nhmasterchorale.org/
Messiah Sing!
Fourth Annual

with New Hampshire Master Chorale and Chamber Orchestra
Guest Choir: Moultonborough Academy
Gilford Community Church
Gilford, NH

December 14, 2010

[Soapmistress]

OMG.....gleefully clapping hands......I am SO excited !!!!!!

[LakesRegionSpirit]

Here's a multimedia piece on the Messiah Sing in Meredith in 2007.

http://lakesregionspirit.com/lrsmag/?page_id=465

and click on Messiah Sing.

[gokart-mozart]

"The Alton Central School will have their annual holiday concert"

Oh! It's a holiday?

What holiday is it?

[Jonas Pilot]

Can we still say holiday?

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by gokart-mozart

"The Alton Central School will have their annual holiday concert"

Oh! It's a holiday?

What holiday is it?

Yes, and the finale is usually "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" but there is an array of songs from various holiday observances - all in good spirit. You can't help but smile when a group of Kindergartners are singing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"....

This year's concert will be held 12/2.

[topwater]

Its not even Thanksgiving YET !!!!

[garysanfran]

Originally Posted by topwater

Its not even Thanksgiving YET !!!!

Started coloring my Easter eggs today and cooked the turkey a week ago.

I may take the Christmas lights down next week.

July 4th fireworks at The Weirs is right-around-the-conah!

[RI Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by topwater

Its not even Thanksgiving YET !!!!

Yes but the Twelve Weeks of Christmas started some time ago

[skprbob]

The Pemigewasset Choral Society presents its winter concert, "Joy to the World".

Thursday, 9 December at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Meredith - 7:30 PM
Friday, 10 December at St. Paul's Church in Franklin - 7:30 PM
Sunday, 12 December at the Hanaway Theatre, Plymouth State Univ. - 3:00 PM

Thursday and Friday are admission by donation.
Sunday at PSU is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and seniors. Tickets at the box office or in advance at 535-ARTS


Also:
The Strathspey and Reel Society of NH presents its annual Gala Concert of Scottish music and dance.

Sunday, 28 November at the Concord City Auditorium - 2:30 PM

Go to the Society's website for details and ticket ordering: www.srsnh.org