Here’s A Guide to Holiday Happenings In and Around Our Neighborhood
Old City Park Lights Up
Celebrate the holidays as they were celebrated 100 years ago during Candlelight at Old City Park Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10. Storytellers, musicians, dancers and choirs will perform throughout the historic park, located at 1717 Gano. Children can make fresh cranberry garland, hand-dipped candles and tree ornaments, as well as visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Holiday shoppers can buy gifts at D.B. McCall’s General Store or at the park’s other Victorian buildings with historic ornaments. Hours are Fridays from 6-10 p.m., Saturdays from 4-10 p.m. and Sunday’s from 4-9 p.m. Advanced tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 65 and older, and $3 for children 3-12. Call 421-5141 for information.
Students Perform Holiday Concerts
Students at Woodrow Wilson High School and J.L. Long and Alex W. Spence middle schools perform free holiday concerts this month that are open to the public.
Woodrow’s show choir, Variations, performs at NorthPark Center, Park Lane and Central Expressway, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. This pop group features Woodrow’s best vocal talent. Call NorthPark at 363-7441 for information.
Long’s band, orchestra and choir will perform Dec. 7 in the school’s auditorium, 6116 Rieger. This band performs at 6:30 p.m., directed by John Whitlow; the orchestra performs at 7 p.m., directed by Carol Jones, who is new to Long; and the choir performs at 7:30 p.m., directed by Beverly Hirsch. More than 200 students are involved in the program. Call the school at 841-5270 for information.
At Spence, the school’s band, drama club, dance group and choir perform Dec. 7 at the PTA Christmas Program held in the school’s auditorium, 4001 Capitol. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. The choir also performs Dec. 9 in the church at Old City Park, 1717 Gano, at 8:30 p.m. led by Spence’s Vocal Music Director Monica Hale. Call the school at 841-5200 for information.
A Hanukkah Musical
Dallas Children’s Theater Inc. presents the Hanukkah musical “Come Into the Light” through Dec. 17 at The Crescent Theater, 2215 Cedar Springs. The play explores Hebrew traditions through the eyes of a young boy growing up in today’s society. Tickets are $11 for adults and $9 for children. Call 978-0110 for information.
The Christmas Witch
Dallas Children’s Theater Inc. presents “The Christmas Witch” by Steven Kellogg through Dec. 21 at El Centro College Theater, Main and Market streets Downtown. In the play, a young apprentice witch discovers Christmas can heal hearts and unite enemies. Tickets are $12 for adults and $11 for children. Call 978-0110 for information.
Scrooge Takes the Stage
The Dallas Theater Center presents Charles Dickens’ ghost story, “A Christmas Carol”, through Dec. 24 at the Arts District Theater, 2401 Flora. Tickets range from $14-$29 with performances in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. For show dates and times, call 522-TIXX.
Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive
The Dallas Theater Center is a sponsor of Santa’s Helpers, a toy drive for needy children ages infant through teen. Toy contributions can be made prior to any performance of “A Christmas Carol”. On Dec. 12 and 19, patrons can purchase half-price tickets for $11.50 if they bring a new, unwrapped toy. Toys also can be donated at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek, weekdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Holiday Dinner Theater
The Medieval inn and Big Star Saloon, both at 7102 Greenville, present Christmas dinner theaters through December. Cost is $29 and includes a six-course meal, as well as unlimited, beer, wine, soft drinks and iced tea. Call 363-1114 for reservations.
Crafts for Children
Children can design their own tree ornaments, gift tags and wrapping paper at Lakewood Library, 6121 Worth, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. during the library’s Christmas Crafts Make and Take event. All school-age children are welcome. Call 670-1376 for information.
Tree Sale Helps Texas A&M
The Dallas County Texas A&M University Mothers’ Club will hold a Christmas tree and boutique sale Dec. 9 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center Pavilion, 17360 Colt. Profits will fund Texas A&M scholarships and student organizations. For information, call Janice Myers at 231-4835.
YMCA Cares for Kids
The East Dallas YMCA, 6220 Worth, holds holiday camp weekdays from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 18-Jan. 5 for students on winter break. Cost is $70 per child, which includes field trip expenses. Caroling, ice-skating, bowling and a variety of other trips are planned. Pre-registration is required by Dec. 10. Camp is closed Christmas and New Year’s days.
The Y also offers parents a night out Dec. 8 & 22. The Y will watch children and provide dinner on these nights from 6-11 p.m. so parents can enjoy a holiday party or get some last-minute shopping done. Cost is $10 for Y members and $12 for non-members. Call the Y at 824-8139 for information.
Free Children’s Zoo Admission
Through Jan. 1, the Dallas Zoo, 621 E. Clarendon, celebrates the holidays by giving one free child’s admission with each paid adult admission for children ages 3-11. Children under three years of age are always free. The zoo is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and is closed Christmas Day. Adult admission for ages 12-64 is $5, Seniors are admitted for $4. Call 670-5656.
NorthPark’s Holiday Events
NorthPark Center, Park Lane and Central Expressway, has scheduled several free holiday shows throughout the mall this month. In the Step Court near Dillard’s, Scrooge performs puppet shows hourly, while in the High Court between Neiman Marcus and Dillard’s, the 12 Days of Christmas music box plays every 15 minutes and The Enchanted Toy Shop puppet show is presented every half hour. Santa will be at NorthPark in front of Lord & Taylor. Photo sessions are scheduled Mondays-Saturdays from 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m., 2:30-5 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30-3 p.m. and 3:30-5 p.m. On Christmas Eve, photos can be taken from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Story times with Santa are scheduled for 11 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon on Sundays.
Various neighborhood and City groups also will perform this month at the mall. Call 363-7441 for a schedule.
Galleria Festivities
The tallest indoor Christmas tree in Texas graces the ice rink at the Galleria this holiday season, towering 85 feet over skaters and twinkling with 100,000 white lights. Tree lighting ceremonies will be conducted by a skating Santa on Dec. 2, 9, 16 & 23 at noon. Oversized toys, including a toy train engine and two 14-foot teddy bears, decorate the Galleria, and new this year is the Gingerbread Manor, a fully furnished Victorian doll house.
Santa visits with children at Santa’s Cookie Land on the mall’s level three near Marshall Field’s. The Galleria Wonderland Express also is on track on level three through Jan. 7. This walk-through train exhibit costs $3 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens. Proceeds benefit the Ronal McDonald House of Dallas.
The Galleria is located at LBJ and Dallas Parkway. Call 702-7100 for information.
Casa Linda Carolers
Carolers in Victorian garb will stroll through Casa Linda Plaza Shopping Center this month to entertain shoppers. The carolers will be at the center, Garland and Buckner, Dec. 16 from noon-3 p.m., Dec. 20 from 5-7 p.m. and Dec. 23 from 11:30 a.m.-1;30 p.m. The center also features a 30-foot Christmas tree, but this year there will be no tree-lighting celebration as in past years.
Santa Visits Olla Podrida
Santa Claus is at Olla Podrida Marketplace, 12215 Coit, Dec. 2 and 3. Pictures can be taken with him for $5 from noon-5 p.m. Beginning Dec. 11, Olla Podrida has extended holiday hours. The marketplace is open from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon-9 p.m. on Sunday. Call 934-3603 for information.
Lakewood Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Planned Dec. 5
Neighborhood residents are invited to join Lakewood Chamber of Commerce members as they fight a Christmas tree at Harrell Park, located at Gaston and Abrams across from Minyard’s, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
Last year, the Chamber sponsored the first tree lighting in Lakewood in a decade in an effort to renew a holiday tradition that ended in the early 1960s, when the original holiday tree and its decorations were stolen.
“This ceremony represents our part of town,” says Chamber President Helen Swint. “It allows us to stop and take time. It’s an opportunity for neighbors to be with neighbors.”
The events will include music and refreshments. Call 827-8921 for information.
At Our Churches
• Members of Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams, will decorate the church during “The Hanging of the Green” Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. The church’s sanctuary choir and orchestra will perform a holiday concert Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The congregation and guests will sing Christmas carols beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Doctor’s Healthcare Center, Tom Thumb in the Hillside Shopping Village, Blanton Gardens and Tom Thumb in Old Town. The carolers will meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. for a handbell concert and refreshments. On Christmas Eve, there will be a family service at 11 a.m. and a liturgical service at 11 p.m. Call 824-4531 for information.
• East Grand Baptist Church, 6211 East Grand, will present a program of Christmas music Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. Call 824-0108 for information.
• A candlelight/Lord’s Supper service will be held at Gaston Baptist Church, Royal Lane at Greenville, Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. Christmas Day service will be held at 10:50 a.m. An Adult Christmas program will be held Dec. 10 at 6 p.m., and a children’s program will be held Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. Call 348-0958 for information.
• Munger Place United Methodist Church, 5200 Bryan at Munger, will hold a Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. A service will be held Christmas Day at 10:50 a.m. Call 823-9929 for information.
• A choir cantata will be held Dec. 17 at 8:30 and 11 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 10101 Kingsley. A family Christmas program will be held the same day at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve services begin at 7 p.m. with an 11 p.m. candlelight and communion service to follow. A Christmas Day service, with communion, begins at 10 a.m. Call 348-9690 for information.
