Send ideas to calendar@montereycountynow.com 38 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com the tea table. Each ticket comes with a special printed portrait of Father Christmas. [KR] 11am-3pm Saturday, Dec. 21. Paper Wing Theatre, 711 Cannery Row (second floor), Monterey. $41. 905-5684. paperwing.com. Sleigh Bells Everyone remembers the order of Santa’s reindeer when pulling the sleigh. First came Rudolph, then Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. North County Recreation Park got Santa and this sleigh-carrying team to Castroville for a Snow Day special event that includes sledding and a snow park. You will have a chance to move through the snow faster than Rudolph himself. In addition to Santa and Mrs. Claus, Grinch was also invited to the party— and he accepted the invitation. Yes, you can take pictures with all of them. There will be gifts for attendees under age 18 and/or those enrolled in a high school. Run, run, Rudolph, and those who come to frolic with him. [AP] 1-5pm Saturday, Dec. 21. Castroville Rec Center, 11261 Crane St., Castroville. Free. 633-3084, ncrpd.org. Flava Fave There’s a story that record labels thought Simon & Garfunkel was not marketable as a name. Wonder what they would think of John Nash and Monterey Peninsula Gospel Community Choir? “Guys, you need to change your name. How about Mod God.” Of course the choir doesn’t need help marketing. They’ve performed around the county and the world, needing only their resonant voices and rich knowledge of gospel to draw crowds. The nonprofit choir delves deep into the genre, performing spirituals, contemporary Christian, soul, hymns, Southern gospel and more. For a religious audience, the Gospel Flava Christmas Concert will be inspirational. Even for the unaffiliated, the performances are entertaining, joyful and full of meaning. The choir’s purpose is to introduce us to the world of gospel, which is a lot larger and encompassing than you might think. [DF] 4pm Saturday, Dec. 21. Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 4590 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. Free; donations welcome. 6248595, pray-with.us. Red Ones There’s a theory about why we see lots of Santa Clauses in malls and parties this time of year: Santa sends his elves down from the North Pole dressed like him to gather intel on what kids want for Christmas. Santa’s fans decided to cash in on the fun of dressing up like the jolly old elf themselves by donning the iconic red jacket, white beard and Santa hat, while often imbibing something stronger than milk and convening on a single location in large numbers. It’s a convention of Santas, if you will, known more popularly as Santa Con. For the first time the “officially unofficial” Santa Con P.G. is taking place in downtown Pacific Grove this holiday season. Start with a 5pm pre-convention drink at Hops & Fog Brewing Co., followed by a group photo at P.G. City Hall. Then the “Santas” are encouraged to spread cheer at participating locations all over downtown, followed by parties at Hops & Fog and other spots from 7pm-midnight. Expect to see a plethora of Santas, but all stripes of holiday costumes are welcomed. [PM] 6-9pm Saturday, Dec. 21. Hops & Fog Brewing Co., 511 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove and various downtown locations. Free to participate. hopsandfog.beer. BRIGHT MOON It’s time for Henry Miller Library’s solstice concert. Celebrate the lonHOT PICKS 6pm-8pm Friday, Dec. 20. Center for Spiritual Awakening, 522 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. $30/in advance, $40/at the door. 372-1942, centerforspiritualawakening.org. Bat Signal It’s Friday night rhymes in Seaside, as hip-hop artists Bicasso and Scarub, both of the L.A.-based group Living Legends, swing into Seaside’s 6th Avenue Studios—an outpost in the former Fort Ord—to lay down some lyrics. (Re: Living Legends, check out “Moving at the Speed of Life,” if you don’t be knowing.) Alien Art Gang, Nine Eighteen and Samurai Summer will also be mixing it up. It promises to be a night highlighting the power and beauty of the spoken word, so long as the lyrics—and their delivery—are dope. [DS] 7-11pm Friday, Dec. 20. 6th Avenue Studios, 4420 6th Ave., Seaside. $23. 6ave.studio. Friday-Saturday, December 20-21 Celebration of Light In the dark days of winter there is a promise of light through celebrating the holidays, and what better way to celebrate than with music and dance? The 18th annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration is back, this year featuring the mandolin and banjo skills of prodigy Tyler Weed. He is joined by his father John Weed on fiddle, Paul Kotapish on guitar and vocals and Amelia Hogan on vocals and bodhran. Marisa Gilman delights through traditional Irish dance. (Pro tip: Arrive early and get a seat near the front or along the aisles to get a view of the high stepping moves.) There will be lively Celtic tunes and holiday favorites—you’ll be sure to leave feeling in the holiday spirit. There are two opportunities to enjoy the show, Friday night and a matinee on Saturday. [PM] 7:30pm Friday, Dec. 20 and 3pm Saturday, Dec. 21. St. Mary’s By The Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. $35/in advance; $40/at the door’ $12/children in advance; $15/children at the door. officemanager@stmarysbythesea.org, celticsociety. org. Saturday, December 21 Tea IS SERVED What are the holidays without a little…drama? Located in the historic red Monterey Canning Co. building is Paper Wing Theatre, a funky, cozy, community theater venue teeming with local talent, featuring classics like Shakespeare and The Rocky Horror Show, and also offering a fabulous dinner service and drag brunches. During the holidays, Paper Wing adds a touch of pure elegance with its Victorian tea service—a luxurious experience where the teapots and specialty treats are as refined as your best attire. Guests can savor the royal treatment right on Cannery Row, sipping perfectly steeped tea while indulging in sugar cubes that have their own bowls, and macaroons stacked atop a pastry platter with a story. Come sip and steep in the royalty you deserve—but book your reservations quickly to secure your seat at Monterey County Improv offers a chance to escape your holiday-as-usual. Laugh and help to create a plot: Audience suggestions are exactly what the performers want. Courtesy of Monterey County Improv Many book clubs hide in private houses or online. Not this one. Monterey Book Club meets at Other Brother Beer Co. in Seaside, mingling with the beer community. courtesy of Monterey Book Club
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