AroundDesMoines.com has received requests from readers for more information about holiday goings-on. There are many events on our calendars and Christmas activities are getting mixed in with political showcases and professional development meetings. There is no way I am going to be able to list everything that is happening in the next four weeks, but I will try to capture an array of seasonal celebrations.
Holiday Carols in Concert will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 29th at the Central Presbyterian Church (39th and Grand) by the Southwestern Community College Concert Choir. December 2nd is the first Sunday of Advent. Look for other church-based holiday celebrations in this period leading up to Christmas Day.
In the spirit of the season, please consider donating to the Salvation Army’s 2007 Miracle of the Bell campaign. Money is tight for several households this year, but money raised through the kettle donations helps central Iowa families, your neighbors. Buy your gifts with cash and drop the change in the kettles. You could have a little less weight to carry around as you shop and a whole lot less debt to move around in 2008.
Another fundraising event special to this time of year is Jolly Holiday Lights at Waterworks Park (off of Fleur Drive). Driving through the display costs $9 per car and may be done from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. through January 1st. The money goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Public transit doesn’t pass by the park and it is too cold to walk there, so I cannot speak personally about this event. Several news publications across the country ran an Associated Press travel story on November 18th that mentioned this Des Moines light show.
If you like to shop at the malls, no doubt you will find a Santa, maybe some elves, and other entertainment to entice you to spend your money on photographs, train rides, or in toy stores. I also noticed a sign in one of the local grocery stores that Santa would make an appearance on Saturday, December 1st, so keep your eyes open for these assorted visits from the North Pole.
You can support up to 300 craft folks at the Fairgrounds from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30th and then during the day on Saturday and Sunday, December 1st and 2nd. A smaller venue of such folks can be found on Craft Saturday, December 8th, at Vaudeville Mews on Fourth Street.
Valley Junction has two more Holiday Open Houses on Thursdays (November 29th and December 6th) from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. These offer a mix of local, artistic, and fair trade shopping choices. In years past I have watched lunch-time performances from the skywalk near the Kaleidoscope and expect there will be some this year. In addition, there is another Holiday (Farmers) Market on Saturday, December 15th at Capital Square and Nollen Plaza.
In the evenings, there is the fun of ice skating at Brenton Plaza. Maybe we should start a tradition of a Christmas tree in the parking lot across Robert D. Ray Drive from the rink.
Yes, I did save the big events for last. The Radio City Music Spectacular brings the Rockettes to Des Moines from Thursday, December 6th through December 30th. The Des Moines Ballet performs the Nutcracker at Hoyt Sherman Place on December 7th through the 9th with a special gala and silent auction the evening of Saturday, December 8th.
The Weekend Pick posts on Thursdays may include other seasonal events. In addition, I will try to have another special holiday selection post next week.
M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa. 
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