all aboard!

Bring the joy of the holiday season to your family this year at the EcoTarium’s A Polar Bear’s Journey. Two weekends only December 12 & 19/ December 13 & 20 (12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.). The magic of this hour-long event begins with story time featuring Chris Van Allsburg’s classic winter tale The Polar Express. The holiday tale comes alive as children board the Explorer Express Train. Every child will be given a bell to fill the afternoon air with holiday joy as Santa himself sends the train off to the EcoTarium’s North Pole for a visit with Kenda the polar bear and a member of the wildlife staff. Your return trip brings you back to the museum to warm up with hot cocoa and cookies. $6+ museum admission ($10 adults, $8 children, students, seniors), $5 EcoTarium members, under 1 free. EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or visit ecotarium.org.

sounds of the season

The Shrewsbury High School Women’s Choir present their holiday songs for free (yeah!) on Thursday, December 17 from 3-4 p.m. at the Birches Auditorium, Birches Auditorium 65 Briarwood Circle, Worcester. briarwoodretirement.com.

This month’s Worcester Art Museum’s Third Thursdays music series features music, tastings & art on Thursday, December 17. Listen to classical guitar with Carl Kamp , wine tastings (21+) with Atlas Distributing, and take a tour of the American Collection with Curator of American Art, William Rudolph. Great time to get your shopping done at The Museum Shop with gift-wrapping provided by the Members Council. Always great company, cash bar. Free with Museum Admission. This is a 21+ event folks! 5:30-8 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. Call 508-799-4406 or visit worcesterart.org.

Caroling on the Common on Wednesday, December 23. Come join in a wonderful town-wide tradition as carolers gather on the Shrewsbury Common, with song sheets in one hand and hot chocolate in the other for a night of carols and camaraderie. The Worcester Brass Consort will accompany participants. Please bring a flashlight. We also encourage you to bring toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and/or deodorant, which will be distributed, to the more than 280 families living in Shrewsbury who are served by St. Anne’s Food Pantry. The event will be held in snow, rain, sleet or moonlight! free. 7-7:45 p.m. Shrewsbury Town Common, Main St and Boylston St., Shrewsbury. 508-842-8805.

Handbell Extravaganza on Friday, December 18. Three Handbell choirs performing from First Baptist Church, Holden; Wesley United Methodist Church/Worcester; and First Baptist Church, Worcester. Free. 7:30-8:35 p.m. First Baptist Church, 111 Park Ave. Call 508-755-6143 or visit fbc-worc.org.

This holiday season, travel to the Mediterranean for one night with the Musicians of the Old Post Road: Mediterranean Baroque Christmas on Sunday, December 20. A delightful holiday tradition continues with ebullient and festive instrumental and vocal works from Spain, France and Italy, including the regional premiere of a Christmas cantata by Francesco Mancini. Suzanne Stumpf, traverso, Sarah Darling and Abigail Karr, violins, Daniel Ryan, cello, Michael Bahmann, harpsichord. With special guests, Barbara Kilduff, soprano and Pamela Dellal, mezzo-soprano. $25 general admission/$20 students and seniors; Kids 7 to 17 FREE with accompanying adult. 4-6 p.m. First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St. 781-466-6694, oldpostroad.org.

Winter Wonderland Salsa Dance & Toy Drive on Saturday, December 19. Come dance the night away in a Winter Wonderland. Enjoy the sounds of a live salsa band as they play music that will have you shaking off the winter chill. There will be a basic and intermediate dance lesson at 7:30p.m. We will also be hosting a toy drive to benefit a local toy bank. $20 pp at the door / $15 pp advanced ticket sale. 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre, 19 Temple St. Call 508-854-8489,
salsastorm.com.

The sounds of the holiday are sweet when sung by a child’s choir, so let your hearts be touched at the Church School Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 20. Come celebrate the Christmas Story with the children and stay for our fellowship hour and enjoy refreshments with new friends. 9:30-10:30 a.m. First Congregational Church (UCC) of Oxford, Sanctuary, 355 Main St., Oxford. Call 508-987-2211.

Grab your Santa suit and hit the dance floor at the Holiday Dance Party Buffet With The Love Dogs on Sunday, December 20. 6:30pm is a beginner friendly group swing dance lesson, music and buffet starts at 7:30p.m. Leominster Elks Lodge 1237, 134 N. Main St., Leominster. Call 978-263-7220 or visit dance2swing.com.

suit of red

Jillian’s Billiard café welcomes families to a Holiday Brunch with Santa on Saturday, December 19. Full Brunch buffet and complimentary game cards for children under 13. Get your picture taken with Santa, and have a great time with your family! $9.99 for kids under 13 and includes Free $5 game Card $10.99 for adults. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jillian’s Billiard Cafe, 315 Grove St. Call 508-793-0900.

Santa is visiting the Candy Mansion in Shrewsbury on Monday, December 21. Bring your camera and take a picture of your family with Santa! Store and Ice Cream Parlor hours are: Sunday: 11a.m. to 7p.m.; Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 10a.m. to 7p.m.; Thursday, Friday, Saturday:10a.m. to 8 p.m. Hebert Candy Mansion, Retail Store, 575 Hartford Turnpike, Shrewsbury.

Call 508-845-8051, ext. 243.

holiday crafts

Celebrate the holidays in Worcester’s only historic house on December 19 with Family Crafts at Salisbury Mansion. Stop by to make decorate an ornament to take home. Enjoy story time (with hot chocolate and cookies) at 2:30p.m. Free with admission; non-member adults (18 and over) $5. 1-4 p.m. Salisbury Mansion, 40 Highland St. Call 507-753-8278.

Just as the madness begins, the New Street Glass Studio is offering you a night of relaxing fun with A Glimpse into Glass: Holiday Ornaments on Monday, December 21. Spend a 3 hour session in their glass blowing studio or their beadmaking studio creating holiday ornaments for your tree or window. This is a great chance for the whole family to join in the fun. All glass classes take place at the Worcester Center for Crafts’ New Street Glass Studio, 35B New Street, Worcester. $80. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Call 508-753-8183 or visit WorcesterCraftCenter.org.