Events

THIS WEEK: DEC. 25 to 31, 2009

A Longwood Gardens Christmas, the annual holiday show of spectacular floral displays and elegantly decorated trees along with holiday concerts, 500,000 outdoor lights, dancing fountains, ice skating under the stars, icicles fashioned from lights, treehouses bedecked for the season, natural edible ornaments and more. Longwood Gardens, Route 1, Kennett Square. Through Jan. 10, with daily hours 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Timed tickets only at $16, $14 seniors, $6 students. 610-388-1000 or longwoodgardens.org.

Parade of Trees, the 14th annual event with dozens of festive trees sponsored by businesses in support of local charities. Vote for your favorite by making a donation. Grotto Pizza, Route 415, Harveys Lake. Through Jan. 1, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 639-3278.

Holiday Lights Spectacular. Drive or walk through the park full of 250 light sculptures celebrating the Christmas season. Nay Aug Park, Mulberry Street, Scranton. Through Jan. 8, 5 to 9 p.m. 348-4186.

Christmas Village, a dazzling valley set aglow with more than a half-million lights adorning buildings, gift barns and the landscape along with a hand-crafted outdoor train display, Santa’s Toy Shoppe, Nativity Scene, Christmas in Other Lands and an old-fashioned bakery shop. Koziar’s Christmas Village, 782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville. Through Jan. 3, Monday through Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. $8, $7 seniors, $6 children. 610-488-1110.

Christmas in Toyland, a model-train display of a snow-covered winter wonderland with 13 mainlines and over 200 structures. Also: free treats for children, Santa’s Magical Mailbox and sounds of the season. Hooven Mercantile Building, 41 Susquehanna St., Jim Thorpe. Through Jan. 18 on Fridays and Mondays, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day. $4, $2 children. 325-4371.

A Magical Fireside Christmas, a Yuletide celebration open to the public with horse-drawn wagon rides, live animals, a Magical Train Ride, an open hearth for s’more making, ornament making, cookie decorating, storytelling, Christmas lights and finery, holiday music and an Old World Santa offering family photos. The Inn at Pocono Manor, off Route 940 in Pocono Manor. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free admission with $1 per activity. 243-4006.

Christmas Candylane. The magic of the holidays comes to Hersheypark with a million twinkling lights, 30 holiday-themed rides for all ages, festive decorations, strolling musicians, Santa and his live reindeer, village shops and the Music Box Christmas Show. Hersheypark, West Chocolate Avenue and University Drive, Hershey. Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. $10.95. 717-534-3090.

Model Railroad Open House at the Anthracite Model Railroad Club, 1057 Peace St., Hazleton. With detailed scenes of Jim Thorpe, Eckley Miners Village, the Jeddo Breaker, the city of Hazleton and other communities. Through Jan. 3 on Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. 459-1804 or amrsclub.org.

Winter Open House at the Hudson Model Railroad Club. Included: a 2000-square-foot layout representing Northeastern Pennsylvania with both steam and diesel eras portrayed. Martin and Gibson streets, Hudson section of Plains. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 3 p.m. through Jan. 2. Free. 287-4372.

Model Railroad Open House, the 24th annual event with an HO-scale layout including miniature replicates of Sunbury, Shamokin, Northumberland and Mount Carmel in the 1950s. 210 Independence St., Shamokin. Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m. Free but donations accepted. 275-1025.

Passionate Knowledgeable People, a discussion by poet Dan Waber on “The Line Is Fat,” about the line between text and visual art and the gray area of overlap. Paper Kite Press Studio & Gallery, 443 Main St., Kingston. Saturday at 6 p.m. $5. 328-8658.

Polka Sunday, with music by the Shoreliners. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4909, 403 Main St., Dupont. Sunday, 2 to 6 p.m. $12. 654-9104 or 655-0760.

First Night Scranton, the area’s largest New Year’s Eve party with entertainment at various venues through the downtown area. Performers include the Zany Umbrella Circus, Groove Train, Bare Knuckles, the Odessa Klezmer Band, Joe Stanky & the Cadets, Hickory Project, Main Street Cruisers and more. Also: jugglers, the Zuppa del Giorno troupe, caricaturists, magicians, dancers and children’s activities. Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight. $12. Schedule at scrantonfirstnight.com.

First Night Hazleton. Ring in the New Year in downtown Hazleton with a variety of entertainment at various local venues. Included: horse-drawn carriage rides, ice sculptures, midnight fireworks, a life-sized version of the game “Candyland,” Art Walk, Hazard Caricatures, the Brain Show, Puzzling Magic and Comedy, Lillie Langtry tribute, children’s recording artist David Jack, Celtic group Irish Mist, the bluesy Christopher Dean Band, dance band There & Back Again, ventriloquist Helen Hammet, singer-songwriter Kenton Kovich, the Pennsylvania Theater of the Performing Arts and Trans-Siberian Orchestra tribute band Twelve Twenty Four. Thursday, 5 to midnight. 459-4947 or firstnighthazleton.com.

New Year’s Eve Party, with music by Bits N Pieces and DJ Joe Kruz (the Big Kahuna) along with a buffet dinner. St. Stanislaus Youth Center, 528 E. Elm St., Scranton. Dec. 31 with doors at 7 p.m. and dinner at 8 p.m. BYOB. $40 with advance tickets only at 457-7665.

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, with music by the Swingtones and John Stevens DoubleShot along with an early evening dinner and a midnight buffet. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4909, 403 Main St., Dupont. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations: 654-9104 or 655-0760.

New Year’s Eve Celebration, a kickoff to the 80th anniversary of the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. With dinner including hors d’oeuvres, desserts, continental breakfast and premium open bar along with dancing to the music of Picture Perfect. Thursday, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. $125. 344-1111.

New Year’s Eve Zen Meditation and Candlelight Ceremony, with meditation instruction, walking Zen, a New Year’s address by Genro Milton Sensei, music, vegetarian food and striking of the outdoor gong to welcome in the New Year. Endless Mountain Zendo, 104 Hollow Road, Stillwater. Thursday, 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Registration: 925-5077.
FUTURE

New England Contra Dance, with music by the Warrington Family Band. Church of Christ Uniting, 190 S. Sprague Ave., Kingston. Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. $9. No previous experience or partner required. 333-4007.

Richard Simmons, a two-day event with the motivational exercise guru. On Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m., enjoy a heart-healthy dinner and a talk with Simmons. On Jan. 9 at 11:30 a.m., return for an exercise workout and talk. Mount Airy Casino, 44 Woodland Road, Mount Pocono. $40 Friday night; $35 Saturday morning includes a signed copy of “Still Hungry – After All These Years.” 877-682-4791.

Post-Holiday Stress Buster. Let the students of McCann School of Business and Technology rub away stress with a 10-minute chair massage. West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave., West Pittston. Jan. 13, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. $5 benefits the library. 654-9847.

Malanka, the sixth annual Ukrainian New Year dinner dance with American and Ukrainian cuisine, a cash bar and dancing to the music of the Fata Morgana Orchestra along with a midnight champagne toast. St. Vladimir Parish Center, 428 N. Seventh Ave., Scranton. Jan. 15, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. $40. 822-5354.

Build Health, Build Hope Exercise Marathon, a fundraiser for the new Field of Grace Community of Faith with 10% of all proceeds benefiting His Resting Place, a maternity home for mothers needing a second chance. NEPA CrossFit, 125 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd., Wilkes-Barre. Jan. 16, 8 a.m. to noon. Registration packets available at NEPA CrossFit. 579-3544.

Kosciuszko Ball, a formal, black-tie event to support the Marie Kocyan Scholarship given annually to a Wilkes University student of Polish background. With music by the George Tarasek Orchestra. Woodlands Inn & Resort, 1073 Route 315, Plains. Jan. 16, 5 to 11 p.m. $65. 654-4606.
Martin Luther King Program, a tribute spanning generations and embracing song and the spoken word. Snyder and Walsh Rooms, Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. Free. 208-5900.

American Family Expo, with vendors offering services from child care to home improvement, crafts to health care along with live entertainment and children’s activities. Laurel Mall, Hazleton. Jan. 21 to 23, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 454-2100.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show, the latest in products and services including building materials, decks, pools, spas, entertainment systems, storage, plants and landscape displays, kitchenware and more. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. Jan. 22, 2 to 7 p.m.; Jan. 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6.50. 970-7600.

Early Bird Sports Expo, with outdoor services and equipment including boats, RVs, ATVs, outfitters, hunting and fishing gear, taxidermy artists, sportsmen’s groups and archery suppliers. Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, 620 W. Third St., Bloomsburg. Jan. 28, 4 to 9 p.m.; Jan. 29, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 594-0250.

The Tango Lesson, a screening of the 1997 romantic drama. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. Followed by tango lessons at 3:30 p.m. with Argentine tango instructors Jill and Gehred Wetzel who teach basic tango postures, embraces and walking steps. Father Nallin Hall, 99 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. $10 for movie and dance lesson. 996-1500.

Celebrate Go Red Month, with a presentation of heart-disease risks for women and tips on improving heart health. Free pedometer and light refreshments. With Valerie Bell, Cardiovascular Health Consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Free. 996-1500.

Monster Jam, the world’s premier monster-truck series with Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Bad Habit, Pure Adrenalin, Black Stallion and Iron Warrior along with the Quad Wars series. Mohegan Sun Arena, 155 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 20 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. 970-7600 or 800-745-3000.

Enigma and Dilemma: Our Fraught Relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan, a talk by Alex Their, director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, U.S. Institute of Peace. DeNaples Campus Center, 900 Mulberry St., University of Scranton. Feb. 26 at noon. $20 includes luncheon. 941-7816.

The Harlem Globetrotters, the basketball stars display their showmanship on the court on the “2010 Magical Memories Tour.” Mohegan Sun Arena, 155 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. 970-7600 or ticketmaster.com.

Who Runs Russia? Deciphering Moscow’s Centers of Power, a talk by Jill Dougherty, foreign correspondent for CNN. Room 509, Brennan Hall, University of Scranton. March 5 at noon. $20 includes luncheon. 941-7816.

Home Building and Remodeling Show, sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. 109th Field Artillery Armory, 280 Market St., Wilkes-Barre. March 5, 4 to 9 p.m.; March 6, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; March 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission with the donation of a food item for the St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen. 287-3331.

Arts for Everyone Open House, with make it/take it art sessions, yoga, decorative painting, theater arts, quilting, pottery and sculpture. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. March 20, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free. 996-1500.

Corruption: Global Virus or Weapon of Mass Destruction, a talk by Miklos Marchall, regional director for Europe and Central Asia for Transparency International, the global civil society leading the fight against corruption. Room 509, Brennan Hall, University of Scranton. March 31 at noon. $20 includes luncheon. 941-7816.

Smucker’s Stars on Ice, the spring tour with 2009 Men’s World Champion Evan Lysacek, 2006 Olympic Silver Medalists Sasha Cohen, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto along with World Champion and six-time National Champion Todd Eldredge. Mohegan Sun Arena, 155 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. April 25. 800-745-3000 or 970-7600.