Winter SolstiCelebration
Neighborhood resident Amy Martin birthed this event in 1993, and the interfaith, interactive celebration of the shortest day of the year, Dec. 21, continues to evolve. She describes the night as “whole-bodied” and “experiential,” with singing, dancing, chanting, yoga, storytelling and rituals honoring our ancestors during the two-hour service, followed by a social hour with groove music, origami peace-crane folding and pictures with Father Winter. Bring $5, a flashlight, and donations of canned meat, fish and saltines for the Cathedral of Hope food pantry. Visit moonlady.com/sols/currentsol.html for information.
Holiday in the Highlands
Anyone short on holiday decorating ideas can count on the first Friday of each December. That’s when the Lake Highlands Women’s League invites neighbors into four distinct homes, each filled with more tips on decking the halls than even Martha Stewart’s magazine could hold. Peek around from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. Advance tickets cost $10; on tour day, tickets are $12 at any of the tour homes (6939 Blackwood, 10741 Lanett, 9723 Hillview and 9845 Elmcrest). To buy advance tickets, contact Meg Henderson at 214.343.4115 or meghende@sbcglobal.net. And don’t forget to stop by the market at Highland Oaks Church of Christ until 2:30 p.m.
Twelve Days of Christmas on Timberhollow Circle
At one home, nine ladies are dancing. At another, eight maids are milking. Each of the 12 homes in this cul-de-sac represents a different verse from the classic Christmas song, and they’ve been playing this tune together for years. Anytime a house is sold, the new family inherits the partridge or the lords-a-leaping. Just south of Royal, turn west onto Moss Trail from Abrams, then take a left onto Moss Haven and a right onto Timberhollow. Enter at your own risk — you will break into song.
Holiday at the Arboretum
Petting reindeer, taking a photo with Santa in his sleigh, wandering through a Christmas tree maze, riding in a horse-drawn carriage, meeting Frosty and Rudolph — and that’s just Sunday afternoons. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the Dallas Arboretum transforms into a holiday wonderland with no part of the 66-acre botanical gardens left untouched. A quintessential favorite is the historic DeGolyer House decked out in John and Kim Semyan’s incredible Christmas collection — 10,000 pieces including dolls, marionettes, ornaments and collectibles. Each afternoon the Degolyer Café opens for holiday tea, offering items such as “turkey with orange butter on cranberry bread” and “orange currant scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream.” Make your reservation at 214.515.6512. For details, visit dallasarboretum.org.
Messiah sing-along
On any given weekend in December, you can find a choir performing Handel’s “Messiah” somewhere in our city. But the Dallas Bach Society is only one that invites the audience to sing along (the night before its performance at the Meyerson, no less). It’s just a short drive away at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Park and Boedecker. Saturday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $15; visit dallasbach.org for information.
Candlelight celebration at Old City Park
For almost 40 years now, the folks at Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park have been helping us time travel — or at least get as close to history as possible. This holiday season, you can step back in time to get a feel for what Christmas and Hanukkah were like circa 1861 and 1901. Plus, catch a performance by the Lake Highlands High School Wranglers on the Main Street Stage Sunday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. It will be the group’s final performance before heading to the United Kingdom to represent our neighborhood in London’s New Year’s Day parade. For tickets and information on the Candlelight celebration, see dallasheritagevillage.org.
Matzoh Ball
OK, so the soup is delicious, but that’s not the type of matzoh ball we’re talking about. This ball is actually the biggest Jewish singles party of the year. On Dec. 24, the Jewish Community Center invites anyone 21 and older to mingle with other singles at Lucky’s Roadhouse (formerly The Beagle), 1806 Greenville, just north of Ross. The party kicks off at 8:30 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. Expect all the fun stuff you’d find at a singles party, such as music, dancing and drinks (cash bar). Attire is dressy casual, and tickets are $25 for JCC members, $30 for non-members. Buy your tickets at the door or ahead of time by visiting jccdallas.com.
The Trains at NorthPark
Get a glimpse of Mount Rushmore, Times Square and the Golden Gate Bridge — in miniature form. The 2,800-square foot exhibit featuring vintage toy trains traveling past U.S. landmarks continues its more-than-two-decade run this year in a new location on the mall’s second level near Neiman Marcus. In the holiday spirit of giving, all proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House. The Trains at NorthPark runs Nov. 17 through Jan. 1. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and any children 2 and younger get in free. Volunteers are also needed to sell tickets and greet visitors. For information, visit rmhdallas.com or call 214.631.7354.
The real Santa Claus
Last year, some of the folks at NorthPark Center thought Santa needed an update. “We tried something different, and it was very unpopular,” says Chris Winters of NorthPark management. “People wanted that traditional Santa.” So St. Nick is back, but he has moved to the second level near Neiman Marcus (that way you and your kiddos can watch the trains while you wait to see him).
Scrooge, the puppet show
Some people avoid the elaborate puppet theater like the plague, knowing that if they walk too close, Scrooge might toss one of his caustic comments in their direction. The cranky puppet has been doling out insults mixed with yuletide cheer for more than 30 years, and children and parents alike crowd into the East Court near Dillard’s to watch the show every hour on the half hour. Take your youngsters at the beginning of the season and again to the last show on Christmas Eve to watch Scrooge come full circle.
Holiday concert at Lake Highlands High School
It begins in darkness. Then roughly 240 students circle the auditorium and light up the vast room with their candles and their voices, opening with an a cappella version of “Joy to the World.” It’s a tradition going on three decades, says high school choir director Michael O’Hern, and one that the choir members take seriously. “Some people think I’m crazy to put fire in the hands of high school kids, but they are so respectful of this tradition and don’t want to be the ones who get this tradition taken away.” All five high school choirs — the sophomore women’s choir, the men’s choir, the Choraliers, A cappella and Espree — come together for this concert Monday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in
the auditorium. It begins with traditional Christmas carols by candlelight, and then the students take the stage to sing holiday music from around the world. “What’s really gratifying for me is the parents of kids who have gone on to college or gotten married,” O’Hern says. “They come back and say that’s what helps them get in the holiday spirit.” This will be the tenth year for the choirs to produce a holiday CD based on the concert music. The students and directors spend a full day, usually 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., recording it, and the CD sells for $15 at the concert or by calling 469.593.1061.
Milk and cookies with Santa
Each year, the Lake Highlands YMCA rolls out the red carpet for St. Nick. His “ho, ho, ho” might sound familiar because he’s also the voice of Lake Highlands, Bob Johnston. Santa reads a Christmas story to the children while they fill up on milk and cookies and then listens to their Christmas wishes. “The children love it because they don’t have to wait in a long line for Santa,” says Amy Long, director of membership and marketing. “It’s more of an intimate setting here.” Santa makes his grand entrance Friday, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at 8920 Stults. Non-YMCA members are welcome but should call ahead to 214.221.9622. For information, visit lakehighlandsymca.org.
The Nutcracker at Dallas Children’s Theater
Instead of ballerinas, this rendition of “The Nutcracker” is performed in black theater, where four master puppeteers dress in all black and work their 18-to-22-inch rod puppets from behind a black velvet curtain. Cuts of the well-known music are used throughout the performance, and the show does incorporate one tiny ballerina during the “Waltz of the Flowers.” “We use an, actually, very nice little dancer — a white poodle — so we tip our hats to Baryshnikov there,” says Kathy Burks of Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts. Burks’ troupe has performed this show at the Dallas Children’s Theater each holiday season since 1996, and on weekends, the performance incorporates a pre-show Tchaikovsky puppet explaining how the composer created the music. Performances often sell-out, so buy your tickets early, especially for the Target Time Family Series performance Saturday, Dec. 1, at 1:30 p.m., when all tickets are half price. The show runs Saturday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Dec. 23, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 & 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $18-$23 for adults and $14-$21 for youth. For information call 214.740.0051 or visit dct.org.
Neighborhood performers at NorthPark
They sing, they twirl, they two-step, and right afterward you can finish your shopping. Lake Highlands resident Chris Winter has been booking holiday performances at NorthPark Center for years, and she always makes sure to highlight standout students in our neighborhood. Catch the following performances at the Dillard’s Fountain Court or near AMC NorthPark 15.
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m., Scofield Christian School Choir
Thursday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m., Merriman Park and Aikin elementary choirs Saturday, Dec. 8, 2 and 3 p.m., Dallas Ballet Company presents “The Nutcracker”
Friday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m., Forest Meadow Junior High School Sound Express; 3 p.m., Lake Highlands High School Espree; 4 p.m., Lake Highlands Freshman Center Centerstage; 5 p.m., Lake Highlands High School Wranglers
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m., Kitty Carter Dance Factory
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m., White Rock North Private School choirs
Tuesday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m., Moss Haven Elementary School choir
Wednesday, Dec. 19, White Rock Elementary School choir
Little town of Bethlehem at Scofield Memorial
Scofield Memorial Church, the people who brought you Road to Bethlehem, a parking lot drive-thru of scenes from the Christmas story, are amping up their efforts this year and putting on A Night in Bethlehem. “The best way to describe it is a hands-on holy land experience,” says Tina Renaud, director of children’s ministry. The church’s gymnasium will transform into the Bethlehem marketplace with a stable, a home, and 10 or so other booths with crafts and games for children. There’s no cost, and it’s come-and-go Sunday, Dec. 9 from 4-7 p.m. For information call 214.349.6043 or visit scofield.org.
