'Tis the season: Holiday schedule

The holidays are arriving. Take advantage of some of these holiday happenings and requests for assistance:

Sanborn Fire Co. Christmas concert

The Sanborn Fire Co. Band will perform its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, Come hear those "Sleigh Bells" ringing in the Sanborn firehall, 5811 Buffalo St., Route 429. The Sanborn Ladies Auxiliary will provide refreshments and the Rotary Club will collect non-perishable items for the local food pantry. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Diane Haseley, Sanborn Ladies Auxiliary member, at [email protected] or 716-297-2340.

OUN holiday flower sale

Order your holiday flowers from the Niagara Floral Center and Greenhouse at Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, where people with developmental disabilities have been nurturing junipers, cacti and other plants all year or prepping pinecones for fresh and artificial wreaths since summer.

Poinsettias, winter roses and a voucher for a 6- to 8-foot Fraser fir are also available for purchase. Pickup is in Wheatfield or Lockport.

Place your order by Nov. 21 online through the "greenhouse store" at www.opportunitiesunlimited.org or by calling 716-504-2617, ext. 244.

A spectacular Christmas show

The Historic Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda and Latshaw Productions present "A Christmas Spectacular Show" at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, for one performance only.

The Christmas tradition continues with the Latshaw Pops Orchestra, singers, dancers in a holiday variety show. Christmas songs and carols are part of this lively yuletide performance and a special visit from Santa.

Ticket prices are $22 and $32. For further information, call the Riviera Theatre box office at 716-692-2413, or order online at www.rivieratheatre.org.

Join Santa for a spin

Come join Old St. Nick at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, on upcoming Saturdays; just make sure you're on the "nice" list.

Start the day off with lunch at 11 a.m., visit with Santa and make sure he got your letters. Then there will be lots of fun, festive activities starting at noon, including decorating your own stocking, making a holiday ornament, and coloring a picture for Santa. Warm up with some hot chocolate and s'mores, and of course don't forget to hop on the historic 1916 carrousel. An extra highlight each afternoon is a special holiday performance at 1 p.m.: Nov. 24, holiday show with Chuckles the Clown; Dec. 1, a "grinchy" Christmas story performance; Dec. 8, holiday magic with Rob and Carol Allen of Wheatfield; and Dec. 15, holiday concert with Matt James' Cool Music for Kids.

The cost is $10 per person for lunch or $5 per person for the afternoon activities only. Reservations and prepayment are required for lunch; call 716-693-1885 to register. Lunch price includes all afternoon activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 693-1885.

Got turkeys?

Now through Dec. 20, Community Missions is putting out a "Call For Turkeys."

Over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the Community Missions Food Pantry distributes a number of Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to families with children or individuals who are in need of a meal.

For those who receive a gift certificate or an actual turkey or ham, and would like to donate it to a family in need, bring it down to the main office at 1570 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, right off the I-190 at the old Hiawatha Inn, or call 716-285-3403, ext. 2225.

Historic house dressed for the holiday

Get in the mood for the holidays at "A Winter's Fest Eve," at the Col. Wm. Bond-Jesse Hawley House, 143 Ontario St., Lockport, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6.

The National Register museum-home, is dressed up for the holidays by co-curators Gloria and Becky Pittler. The event includes a full tour of each of the 12 rooms adorned for the season in period decoration. Enjoy Christmas music performed by Randy Andropolis and friends, as they sing and play Christmas carols. Feast on fancy cookies and hot-mulled cider.

The younger set is welcome to take part in special children's activities in the library while adults tour other rooms.

Christmas at the Col. Wm. Bond/Jesse Hawley House is a subject that has recently gained national attention through a photo-article in the Christmas edition of "Early American Life Magazine."

A donation will be accepted at the door to help the Niagara County History Center with this and many programs presented throughout the year. For those who are unable to attend Winter's Fest Eve, additional open house hours are scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays in December from 1 to 4 p.m., ending on Sunday, Dec. 16.

Just in time for Christmas

A craft sale of homemade, heartfelt gifts will be held in the Woodlands Senior Village Community Room, 3979 Forest Parkway, Wheatfield, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

Call 716-692-9663 for more information.