The holidays are officially here, and you’ve got plenty of ways to celebrate in the Poconos and northeast Pennsylvania.
Whether you prefer something a bit more secular or religious, there’s something for everyone.
Read on for more holiday happenings, and to learn about more area holiday-themed concerts and performances, check out our other list online at bit.ly/3FRh4nb.
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The final performance for “Christmas at the Castle” is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday at the School of Visual and Performing Arts, located within the Castle Inn (20 Delaware Ave., Delaware Water Gap).
Rebel Stages’ mission is to provide the local community with professional theater and arts education at an affordable cost. The group also seeks to “cultivate an appreciation of the arts in future generations by embracing the artistry of Women, BIPOC & LGBTQ+ artists and stories – and rebel against the traditional and often stagnant box in the performing arts industries.”
“Art is freedom. Being able to bend things that most see as a straight line,” their website reads. Rebel Stages and the Rebel Initiative is lead by Producing Artistic Director Brandon Hanks.
Info: Tickets are $15, purchase online at showtix4u.com/event-details/69263. Route 611 through Delaware Water Gap is currently closed, so motorists should plan ahead for their trip. Learn more about Rebel Stages and the SVPA online at schoolofvisualandperformingarts.org.
Join Congregation B’Nai Harim in Pocono Summit on Sunday for an afternoon of latkes and laughs.
Starting at 1:30 p.m., the congregation will host comedian/hypnotist David Mesmer for a “program filled with non-stop laughs!”
The Reform Jewish congregation is located at Route 940 and Pocono Crest Road in Pocono Pines.
Info: Cost is $20 per person, kids under 12 are free. Make checks payable to Congregation B’Nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, 5349 Pocono Crest Road, Pocono Pines, Pa. 18350. Head to facebook.com/bnaiharimpoconos for more information.
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Head to the “Land of Myth and Mystery” this month for multiple events to get you in the spirit.
Take in the splendor of the season at Columcille Megalith Park in Bangor, while enjoying a hot cup of tea and sounds of the holiday. The Columcille Holiday Tea and Carols Gathering will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Columba’s Chapel.
Welcome winter at Columcille’s annual Sunrise on Solstice observance on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Meet at 6:45 a.m. on Signal Hill to participate.
Info: 2155 Fox Gap Road, Bangor. Parking along the side of Fox Gap Road is limited. For more information, go to columcille.org.
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Temple Israel in Stroudsburg will host their annual “Chanukah Celebration” starting at 5 p.m. Sunday. The first candle will be lit at 5:06 p.m.
According to the Temple Israel website, “Temple Israel of the Poconos traces its history back to Yom Kippur 1919, when nine men met at Louis Nadelman’s Main Street home to conduct the first religious service of the Jewish congregation. Two weeks later, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Abeloff opened their home for Succot Festival services with Torahs borrowed from Congregation B’nai Abraham in Easton.”
To view the congregation’s Kislev-Tevet 5783 calendar, head online to templepoconos.org/news-events.
Info: Located at the corner of Avenue A and Wallace Street in Stroud Township. Call 570-421-8781 for more information, or email tipoc@ptd.net.
The Tri-State Chorale will once again present A Tradition of Carols on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The free concert, which starts at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Milford (200 East High St.), will feature a variety of holiday staples and invite the audience to sing along.
The Chorale will be joined by the Delaware Valley High School Chamber Choir and Shohola Elementary School chorus, accompanied by piano, organ and the Reflections Brass Quintet.
Refreshments will be available at the Church Hall after the concert.
The Chorale thanks their sponsors, Milford Presents and the Greater Pike Community Foundation for their support, which helps keep the concerts free for the public.
Info: Learn more about the Tri-State Chorale by following them on Facebook at facebook.com/tristatesummerchorale, or email tristatechorale@gmail.com.
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The Arcadia Chorale will present the 38th annual Messiah Sing-Along on Sunday.
The long-standing northeast Pennsylvania tradition begins at 3 p.m. at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton (550 Madison Ave.). To celebrate their 50th year on air, WVIA-FM Public Radio is co-sponsoring this year’s performance, and WVIA members will get a discount on tickets.
The audience is invited to sing the choruses along with Chorale members. Featured soloists include soprano Kelly Scott, mezzo-soprano Annie Chester, tenor Wes Poole and bass Moses Andrade. All chorale members are vaccinated.
The Arcadia Chorale is one of the region’s premier musical organizations, having served the area for 40 years. Members are led by Music Director Matthew Rupcich.
Info: Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors and WVIA members. Students can attend for free. Copies of the music will be available for purchase at the door. Learn more by visiting visit arcadiachorale.org or contact the chorale office at 570-871-0350.
Honor the seven principles of Kwanzaa this year by learning with the Black Scranton Project.
According to the Black Scranton Project website, a greeting on Kwanzaa is “Habari Gani,” a Swahili term that means “what is the news?” A traditional response would be to say one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Each principle corresponds with a theme and value that falls on each day of the 7-day celebration. Those principles are unity (Dec. 26), self-determination (Dec. 27), collective responsibility (Dec. 28), cooperative economics (Dec. 29), purpose (Dec. 31), creativity (Dec. 31) and faith (Jan. 1).
Black Scranton Project will about and practice these principles and values over seven days.
Info: For more information about the event, go to facebook.com/events/1972698162922191. Learn more by going to blackscranton.org, calling 570-871-0539 or emailing info@blackscranton.org.
The Africa Freedom Mall will host a Kwanzaa festival starting at 4 p.m. on Dec. 26.
“Join us for our annual Kwanzaa celebration! Find authentic handmade items to buy, taste delicious authentic food and enjoy a beautiful art gallery, spoken word and great music!”
Info: Located 1818 Jackson St., Scranton, learn more about the event at facebook.com/events/1204883000100261.
According to the West End Festival of Lights website, this newer tradition was inspired by the owner’s home display called Stoney Ridge Lights.
“We continued to grow every year and always had a vision of people being able to walk around and enjoy the lights while sipping hot chocolate and making new holiday traditions. In 2021 this vision became a reality,” the website reads. “We worked tirelessly for over half a year to present to you, West End Festival of Lights. Our goal is to give you a fun holiday experience while making new family memories. Thank you for stopping by and supporting us!”
The festival takes place at the West End Fairgrounds, 570 Fairground Road, Gilbert. Food offerings such as funnel cake, specialty sandwiches and more are available for purchase. Winter essentials will also be available: hot cocoa and hot cider.
Info: $6 per person, cash only. Open 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until Dec. 23. Learn more by going to wefol.com