‘Tis the week before Christmas, and all through the region, the options for holiday fun are legion!
Sunday, Dec. 17
Christmas Music Program
Sunday, Dec. 17 – 10:45 a.m.
Pikeside United Methodist Church
25 Paynes Ford Road
Martinsburg, W.Va.
Cantata. Handicapped accessible. Call 304-263-4633 or go to www.pikesideumc.org.
The Nutcracker
Sunday, Dec. 17 – 2:30 p.m.
Old Opera House Arts Centre
204 N. George St.
Charles Town, W.Va.
Adapted from E.T.A. Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” $22 adult, $19 ages 65 and older, $15 ages 18 and younger. Call 304-725-4420.
Thursday, Dec. 21
Swingin’ in a Winter Wonderland
Thursday, Dec. 21 – 7:30 p.m.
Old Opera House Arts Centre
204 N George St.
Charles Town, W.Va.
Jordan English Jazz Orchestra. $20 adults, $10 ages 18 and younger. Call 304-725-4420.
Friday, Dec. 22
“A Christmas Carol”
Friday, Dec. 22 – 7:30 p.m.
Shepherdstown Opera House
131 W. German St.
Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Emmy-award winning videographer Mike Baker’s original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Features Baker as Scrooge. Pay-what-you-will; proceeds benefit nonprofit Shepherdstown Shares’ services. Advanced reservations encouraged. Call 304-876-3704.
Room In My Heart For You
Friday, Dec. 22, and Sunday, Dec. 24 – 6 p.m.
Otterbein United Brethren Church
146 Leitersburg St.
Greencastle, Pa.
Drama with music. Call 717-597-8525.
33rd Christmas At The Roundhouse
Friday, Dec. 22 – noon to 4 p.m.; continues through Feb. 25 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; closed Dec. 24 and 31
Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum
296 S Burhans Blvd.
Hagerstown
Festive model train displays complete with buildings, figures and tunnels with a hand-painted backdrop. A three-rail layout where kids can control four trains. O-scale, N-scale and HO-scale trains and more. Gift shop. $6 adults, $1 ages 4 to 15, free ages 3 and younger. Call 301-739-4665 or go to www.roundhouse.org.
Holiday Night: Storytime and Hot Cocoa
Friday, Dec. 22 – 5 to 8 p.m.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
401 Museum Drive (in the City Park)
Hagerstown
Special guests will read a holiday children’s classic. Enjoy a hot chocolate bar and guided tours of the exhibit Childhood Favorites: 100 Years of Children’s Book Illustration. All exhibitions and collections will be open. Free. Call 301-739-5727.
Sunday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Worship
Sunday, Dec. 24 – 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Pikeside United Methodist Church
25 Paynes Ford Road
Martinsburg, W.Va.
Family service includes candlelight and communion. Handicapped accessible. Call 304-263-4633 or go to www.pikesideumc.org.
Christmas Eve Service
Sunday, Dec. 24 – 9:30 a.m.
Antietam Church of God
4005 Harpers Ferry Road
Sharpsburg
Christmas carola and scriptures. Call 301-432-6318.
Tuesday, Dec. 26
Historic Houses of Worship Tour
Tuesday, Dec. 26 – 3 to 7 p.m.
Downtown Hagerstown
Houses of worship in the historic heart of downtown Hagerstown. Enter your photos to win a prize from the Washington County Arts Council. Enjoy music and snacks at some of the stops along the tour. Sponsored by city of Hagerstown.
Friday, Dec. 29
Festive Favorites Concert
Friday, Dec. 29 – 7 p.m.
St. James the Greater Catholic Church
49 Crosswinds Drive
Charles Town, W.Va.
The Appalachian Chamber Music Festival‘s string musicians and vocalist Bill Townsend. A mix of contemporary works, classic favorites and twists on familiar holiday tunes. $13 to $39 (children younger than 16 attend free with the purchase of an adult ticket). Go to www.AppalachianChamber.org or https://www.appalachianchamber.org/2023-winter-residency.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Duo Delights: Festive Treats
Saturday, Dec. 30 – 10:30 a.m.
The Station at Shepherdstown
111 Audrey Egle Drive
Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival musicians. $13 to $39 (children younger than 16 attend free with the purchase of an adult ticket). Go to www.AppalachianChamber.org or https://www.appalachianchamber.org/2023-winter-residency.
Winter Warmers Concert
Saturday, Dec. 30 – 7 p.m.
Camp Hill-Wesley United Methodist Church
601 Washington St.
Harpers Ferry, W.Va.
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival musicians. Works by Vivaldi, Barber, Bach and an arrangement of Schubert’s Gute Nacht. $13 to $39 (children younger than 16 attend free with the purchase of an adult ticket). Go to www.AppalachianChamber.org or https://www.appalachianchamber.org/2023-winter-residency.
Sunday, Dec. 31
Donut Drop
Sunday, Dec. 31 – 5 to 7 p.m.
Public Square
Hagerstown
Kick off 2024 in Hagerstown’s Public Square, complete with fireworks and live music from DJ Sidekick. Free AC&T coffee and hot chocolate, and Krumpe’s donuts to the first 5,000 people. Sponsored by city of Hagerstown.
New Year’s Eve Worship
Sunday, Dec. 31 – 10:45 a.m.
Pikeside Unite Methodist Church
25 Paynes Ford Road
Martinsburg, W.Va.
Special music, readings and more. Handicapped accessible. Call 304-263-4633 or go to www.pikesideumc.org.
Celebrate in Style Concert
Sunday, Dec. 31 – 3 p.m.
War Memorial Building Second Floor Ballroom
102 E. German St.
Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival musicians. $13 to $39 (children younger than age 16 attend free with the purchase of an adult ticket). $13 to $39. Go to www.AppalachianChamber.org or https://www.appalachianchamber.org/2023-winter-residency.
2nd Annual New Year’s Eve Martin’s Famous Potato Roll Drop
Sunday, Dec. 31 – 5 to 9 p.m.
Downtown Chambersburg, Pa.
DJs at Brussel’s Café and Avocado Café, candy drop, giveaways from local vendors, $1,000 giveaway and more. Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, home of Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls, will drop a pack of rolls at 9 p.m. to inaugurate 2024. Hosted by Downtown Chambersburg Inc. Email dci@chambersburg.org.
Saturday, Jan. 13
21st Annual Polar Bear Plunge
Saturday, Jan. 13 – check-in 10:30 a.m., plunge at noon
Greenbrier State Park
21843 National Pike
Boonsboro
Costume judging onsite from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Awards for fundraising and costumes. Register in advance for $25. Register by Dec. 21 to receive a custom shirt. Option to plunge virtually at home. To register, go to www.hswcmd.org/polar-bear-plunge, email aconaway@hswcmd.org or call 301-733-2060 ext. 242. To sponsor a participant, search for favorite “polar bear.” All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Washington County.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Local holiday fun abounds with The Nutcracker, Donut Drop and more