Ho, Ho Holidays

City of Worcester’s Festival of Lights hits the switch on Friday, December 5. Enjoy musical performances inside and out, horse drawn hayrides around the lighted Common, children’s activities, a Holiday Marketplace, and of course visits with everyone’s favorite elf himself! 5-6 p.m. Burncoat High School Select Chorus, Worcester Arts Magnet Show Choir, and the Worcester Public Schools All-City Chorus perform outside on City Hall plaza. At 6 p.m. Santa will arrive to help light the tree and then indoor festivities and activities begin. Enjoy musical performances by the Seven Hills Charter School Show Choir, the Burncoat High School Brass Ensemble and Jazz Summit from the Joy of Music Program. The Worcester Public Library, Foothills Theatre, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester Tornadoes, and Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook will be on hand with various activities. Plus, pick up some holiday gifts in the Holiday Marketplace featuring area artisans. Free! 5-8 p.m. Worcester City Hall Common, Front St. Call 508-799-1175.

Ring in the holiday traditions with The Chorus and Chorale of Worcester State College as they present a Traditional Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 6. Directed by Dr. Christie Nigro, and assisted by Sima Kustanovich, pianist and Chester Brezniak, clarinetist. The concert features music by Bairstow, Tavener, Rutter, PDQ Bach, and others. 508-929-8824 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more info. $10 General admission, $5 Students with ID and Elders. 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main St., Worcester.

Get the Holidays off to a sparkling start at Tower Hill Botanic Garden’s second annual holiday gala, the Soiree Apres Ski on Friday, December 5. This elegant evening of holiday music and delectable ski resort hors d’oeuvre is set amidst the spectacular holiday decorations that Tower Hill is famous for. Cocktail party attire is appropriate for this special event. As a special bonus, Wachusett Mountain will give a free ski lift ticket to everyone who attends. Enjoy live St. Bernards and artifacts on display from the New England Ski Museum, an elegant menu prepared by Chef Cece Collier and a cash bar featuring enhancements for your coffee and hot chocolate. $40 per person, $75 Patron, $125 Sponsor. 6-9 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden: Stoddard Education and Visitors Center, 11 French Drive, Boylston. Call 508-869-6111.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocks the holiday house at the DCU Center on Thursday, December 11. Kicking off the holiday season in Worcester when they return to the DCU Center on Thursday, December 11 at 7:30m for the only Massachusetts stop on their 2008 Winter Tour. Since 1996, when Trans-Siberian Orchestra debuted, the group has sold more than five million albums and performed before more than two million fans in sold-out venues across the country. $51, $41. 7:30-11 p.m. DCU Center, Arena, 50 Foster St. Worcester.508-755-6800 or visit ticketmaster.com.

The 11th Annual Uxbridge First Holiday Night & Santa Parade on Saturday, December 6 & Sunday, December 7 is fun for the whole family. Bring the kids for a parade, trolley tours, barbershops quartets, ice sculptures, and hayrides at the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park where over 3,000 lights and ornaments are displayed. Come and visit Wally the Green Monster, Ronald McDonald and Finz from the Worcester Sharks. Free. 4-8 p.m. Uxbridge Town Common, 21 South Main Street, Main St. and Douglas St., Uxbridge. 508-278-2626 or uxbridgeholidaynight.org.

Holiday enchantment returns with the 11th Annual Festival of (Giving) Trees! On Sunday, December 7, start your holiday season with a walk through an enchanted forest of 100 sparkling and uniquely-decorated artificial Christmas trees. This joyous event is a fund-raiser to fight breast cancer, with proceeds supporting the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, the Silent Spring Institute, and the Harrington Memorial Hospital’s Health Education Resource Center. $3 or two admissions for $5; children under 12 are free. 10 am to 3pm. LaSalle Reception Center at Notre Dame, 444 Main St., Southbridge. 508-347-2904, sparklingtrees.com.

WGBH Presents: A Christmas Celtic Sojourn on Thursday, December 11. The 2006 show, filmed in high definition, was made into a TV program and was broadcast on over 157 PBS Stations nationally. Producer/host Brian O’Donovan says “The appearance in Worcester is meant to establish a Christmas tradition that should grow over the years in central Massachusetts where WGBH has very strong listenership.” Irish super group Solas, led by Seamus Egan who has taken on the role of Music Director for Christmas Celtic Sojourn, will be on stage. Singer Sean Keane will make a rare New England appearance. Cara Dillon, one of the fastest rising stars in Irish traditional music, will be joined by her husband, pianist Sam Lakeman. Dance director, Kieran Jordan is planning again what has become one of the most anticipated aspects of the show, its spectacular Irish dancing. This year promises to be one of the most exciting Christmas Celtic Sojourns concerts yet. A portion of the proceeds benefit the United Way of Central Massachusetts. $46 - $58. 7:30-10 p.m. Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St. 877-571-7469 or thehanovertheatre.org.

Season’s Greetings from the Worcester Children’s Chorus. On Sunday, December 7, The Worcester Children’s Chorus will present its inaugural holiday concert “Season’s Greetings.” The chorus includes forty children who are from the Worcester area. A reception will follow. The Worcester Children’s Chorus is under the auspices of the Master Singers of Worcester and is in residence at Assumption College. For tickets or further information call (508) 767-7077 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it $5; children under 5 free. 3-4:30 p.m. Assumption College: Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 500 Salisbury St.

Stämbandet, the Scandinavian Vocal Ensemble, celebrates a Swedish Christmas Season through song and the sharing of customs and traditions on Sunday, December 7. The concert includes a candle-lit Lucia procession and a brief visit from the Tomte (the Swedish Santa Claus) making it a wonderful event for the whole family. Advance tickets $12 adult/$7 seniors and children. At the door: $15 adult/$9 seniors and children. 4-6 p.m. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster St. 617-202-9973, stambandet.org.

SOUNDS

Experience a little taste of Russia with the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble on Wednesday, December 10. The group’s repertoire encompasses various periods and styles, from ancient Russian chants and chorals of Western European masters, to modern, contemporary musical techniques. Their program introduces and clarifies Russian folk songs, secular and ecclesiastic compositions to their audience, complemented by modern composers and transpositions of popular melodies. $10 Adults, $5 Children. 7-8:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at the Museum, 203 Union Street, Clinton. Concert held at Presbyterian Church of Clinton, 175 Chestnut St., Clinton. 978-598-5000, ext. 11 or visit museumofrussianicons.org.

If you’re pleased with the latest marijuana ruling, but would like to see true reform, come support The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition at the Benefit show on Friday, December 5. Featuring The Change Up, Automatons, First One Out, As I Lay Awake in Ruins. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Tammany Hall, 43 Pleasant St. 508-791-6550.

SUPPORT

Help strengthen the voice of local radio at the10th Annual WCUW Celebration of the Blues on Friday, December 5. Featuring Rick Percuoco and Shakey Ground Ms Marci and the Lovesick Hounds Fay and Jeff Adams of the Wildcats with the WCUW All Stars. In the works for 2009 is more involvement in the arts, expanded 24 hour broadcasts seven days a week, and building renovations to support public events and meetings. So come out to support WCUW 91.3FM for a night of great music, dancing, raffles, auctions and more. $10. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-1012 or visit wcuw.org.

Come support 2 great causes at CUREfest 2008 on Saturday, December 6. A Bazaar featuring original arts, crafts & goodies. Come supports local artists & AIDS Project Worcester. Food, music, over 30 sellers and more. noon-5 p.m. Clark University: Higgins University Center, Tilton Hall, 950 Main St.

Open Studios

Fire Works Clay Studio Holiday Open Studio and Sale is a festive event for both the familiar and the new to enjoy. On Friday, December 5, stop by the Sprinkler Factory and shop for unique ceramic work and gift items from over 15 artists — available just in time for the holidays. Purchase work directly from the artists, learn about their art processes, and in turn give a gift that “tells a story”. Only open twice a year, so be sure to put it on your calendar. Free. 5-8:30 p.m. The Sprinkler Factory, 38 Harlow St. 508-752-0444, thefireworksinc.net.