Saturday, December 17th Events

Annual Christmas Bird Count

Time: Contact Dave, info below
Place: Contact Dave, info below
Price: Free

Ages: Older crowd

For Hancock, Peterborough and surrounding towns. It’s the 38th year of the count—the first 19 years coordinated by Meade Cadot, and now it’s the 19th for Dave Rowell too! You need not be an expert to participate in this, the world’s oldest and largest biological survey and “citizen scientist” endeavor, To join the fun and learn the location of this year’s end-of-day, pass-the-hat, pizza-and-potluck party call Dave Rowell at 924-8790.

The 12 Days of Christmas

Time: 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM
Place: Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, NH (about 51 miles from Keene)
Price: $12.50 children/$16.50 adults
Ages: All

A gift for all! Students of Eastern Ballet Institute and singers from Concord Community Music School’s “Purple Finches” children’s chorus present a wonderfully festive collaboration, centered by a creative rendition of the classic holiday tune, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.
From the” Twelve Drummers Drumming” to the” Partridge in a Pear Tree” and over one-hundred young performers cast, this will truly be a community based holiday event, not to be missed! Buy tickets.

Martial Arts Fun Night

Time: 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
Place: Martial Arts Principles, 233 Marlboro St., Keene, NH
Price: $10
Ages: 4-12

Deserve a night off? Kids fun night! Fitness, safety, life skills in a fun, friendly, safe environment. Pizza and drinks included in price. Register today by calling Joanna at 603-352-2299. Website: martialartsprinciples.com

Ballet Misha "The Nutcracker"

Time: 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Place: The Dana Center at Anselm's College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH (about 63 miles from Keene)
Price: $18 per person
Ages: All

Ballet Misha presents "The Nutcracker", on Saturday, December 17th at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and on Sunday, December 18th at 1:00 PM, at The Dana Center at St. Anselm's College, Manchester, NH.  This full length production of the classic holiday ballet features original choreography by artistic director, Amy Fortier, and a cast that includes over 50 local children.  Tickets are $18.00 in advance or $20.00 at the door. 

Tickets are available at www.balletmisha.com, or at the Dimensions in Dance studios, 575 South Willow Street, Manchester, NH.  For more information, visit www.balletmisha.com or call 603-668-4196.

Winter Solstice Party

Time: 7:00 PM-11:00 PM

Place: Nelson Town Hall, Nelson, NH (about 11 miles from Keene)
Price: $5
Ages: All

On Saturday, December 17 the Monadnock Folklore Society will hold their Annual Solstice Party starting at 7:00 PM. The Monadnock Folklore Society brings this community event to the Nelson Town Hall each year, admission is $5, and treats are appreciated for the dessert potluck. 

This year the evening will begin with a holiday concert featuring a selection of traditional and original seasonal music; as part of the concert 2011 Johnny Trombly Scholarship recipient  will entertain us with their musicianship. The Folklore Society invites you to bring along your favorite holiday dessert and we’ll supply the beverages for the intermission. After the concert the chairs and benches are cleared to make way for a traditional New England Contradance. 

Unfortunately, or not, the dance is often interrupted by various groups of unsavory characters presenting their idea of seasonal entertainment. These diversions, sometimes involving costumed individuals making complete fools of themselves or performing ancient ritual dances to help us through this dark time of the year, are generally tolerated as once they are applauded and fed we can return to dancing the night away.

American Girl Club

Time: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Place: Village Square Booksellers, Bellows Falls, VT (about 22 miles from Keene)
Price: Free
Ages: 5 and up

Reading aloud, coloring & crafts based upon American Girl dolls. Ages 5 & up (independent craftswork).Bring your dolls & your friends.
Call 802-463-9404 or email the bookstore to reserve a space – info@villagesquarebooks.com

The Language of Cats and Dogs

Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Hancock Library, Hancock, NH (about 22 miles from Keene)
Price: Free
Ages: Older crowd

With Dr. Michelle Posage. Have you ever wondered what your pet was trying to say to you? Dog and cats are talking to us all the time, but unfortunately their message often is lost in translation. Miscommunication leads to poor training, behavior problems like aggressive behavior, and fatal blows to the human-animal bond. This review of canine and feline communication will discuss how dogs an cats use scent, vocalization, and body language relate to each other and to us. Dr. Michelle Posage enjoys talking about dogs and cats almost as much as she loves being around them. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with concentrations in neurobiology and animal behavior, also from MSU. She teaches small animal behavior in the Applied Animal Science department at Thompson School and is a practicing veterinary behaviorist at the Animal Medical Center of New England where she accepts referrals from other veterinarians and animal professionals to treat serious behavior issues in dogs and cats. Dr. Posage has published her research on animal shelter adoptions in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and is a contributing author for the books, Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff and Mental Health and Well-being in Animals. Subscribers enjoy her monthly Pet Column in the Nashua Telegraph. Free and open to all.

Holiday Concert

Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Saxtons River Community Arts Center, Saxtons River, VT (about 25 miles from Keene)
Price: Free
Ages: All

Main Street Arts will offer Songs for a Winter’s Eve, its annual musical gift to the community, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m., with a 3 p.m. matinee Saturday.
Cota and Cota Oil is the sponsor of this year’s event at the Saxtons River community arts center.
The 14-voice adult chorus will offer songs of the season, including How Like a Winter, An Evening in December and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.
The enthusiastic children’s chorus will add its own magical touch to the program with seasonal songs from American, Sephardic and Israeli traditions. The program will also include several pieces written by New England composers Lui Collins and Kathy Lowe. Harpist Carol Wood will accompany the chorus for several numbers on the Irish harp.
The concert features a community sing, readings, duets, quartets and solos and concludes with the traditional Celtic blessing sung to a special light display.
Elizabeth Giguere-Kimball is director of the adult chorus, and the children’s chorus is directed by Valerie Kosednar.
There is no admission charge for the concert, but donations for Main Street Arts are welcome. Those attending are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food for Our Place Drop-in Center in Bellows Falls.
Further information is available by contacting MSA at (802) 869-2960, e-mailing info@mainstreetarts.org or accessing the center’s Web site at www.MainStreetArts.org.

Pictures with Santa
 
Time: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Place: Colony Mill Marketplace, first floor, Keene, NH
Price: Free
Ages: All

Professional photos with Santa. Also the 18th.

Holiday Festival of Music

Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Monadnock Regional Middle/High School, Swanzey, NH (a few miles from Keene)
Price: $6 Adults/$3 Children
Ages: All

Tickets are now on sale for the MRMHS Fine and Performing Arts Department's annual Holiday Festival of Music.  Call 352-6575 x 170 or stop by the music room to see Roni Hoffman to purchase or reserve tickets.  Admission is $6 for adults, and $3 for children under 12.
Our traditional holiday show features the MRMHS chorus, polyphonic choir, high school band and jazz ensemble.  Favorite scenes such as the Toy Soldiers and the Angel scene are always crowd-pleasers.  MRHS choral alumni are always invited to join the high school chorus to sing the Hallelujah Chorus.  There will also be novelty acts and dance performances.  The public is invited to attend any of the three scheduled performances, starting at 7 pm in the high school auditorium, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, December 15, 16 and 17.

What's special about today?

National maple syrup day
Wright Brother's day
John Whittier's birthday, 1807