Maybe you need the right Christmas as much as a white Christmas.
Because the holidays reach people in ways as different and varied as each snowflake.
Some need carols presented with the richness of a full orchestra. Some search for bazaars with candies and breads of the season. Others opt for drama, live Nativities or the classic tales of yuletides of yore.
Whatever you’d like your holidays to be, we’ve rounded up a few possibilities to get you into the spirit of the season. And if your budget is as tight as your winter cap, no sweat. Many of the events are free.
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MUSIC
- Columbus City Band "Sounds of the Season and Christmas Classics Concert," 2 p.m. Nov. 25, The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus. Free.
- Tim Shelton’s Very Vintage Christmas, Nov. 29, The Commons. Holiday concert with 12-piece band featuring old-time classics from artists such as Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and others. Free. Information: veryvintagechristmas.com.
- Columbus Symphony Orchestra "A CSO Holiday," 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2, The Commons, 300 Washington St. in Columbus. Free. Information: csoindiana.org.
- Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, "Philharmonic Holidays!" 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Judson Erne Auditorium, 1400 25th St. in Columbus. Tenor Justin John Moniz, 2018 winner of the American Prize in Vocal Performance, headlines the identical concerts. Information and tickets: 812-376-2638 or thecip.org.
- Hot Horns presenting "Christmas Passion," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22, St. Bartholomew Concert Series, St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1306 27th St., Columbus. Free, but donations accepted. Information: 812-379-9353.
DANCE
- Dancers Studio Inc. presentation of "The Nutcracker," 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16, Judson Erne Auditorium, 1400 25th St. in Columbus. The story of a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream paired with Tchaikovsky’s classic music of the season. Information and tickets: 812-376-8080 or dancers-studio.org.
DRAMA
- "A Christmas Carol: A Radio Show," 7 p.m. Dec. 14-15, 21-22, The Harlequin Theatre inside FairOaks Mall, 2380 25th St. in Columbus. A readers theater, 1940s-style comic radio show offering a twist on the Charles Dickens tale. Tickets: $15 in advance at the mall office and Viewpoint Books, and $20 at the door. For those 12 and younger, $10. Information: theharlequintheatre.com.
LIVE NATIVITY
- Live Nativity, Dec. 14, hours to be determined (normally 90 minutes to two hours), outside at Bethel Baptist Church, 142 Deaver Road in Columbus. Free. Cookies and hot chocolate served inside for visitors. Information: 812-342-4005.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY
- Sixth Annual Christmas Village, 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 1, The Commons, 300 Washington St. Free. Music, food, holiday displays, children’s games and activities and other offerings.
- Festival of Lights Parade, 6 p.m. Dec. 1, mostly northward on Washington Street downtown. Free.
- Annual QMIX Christmas Musical Fireworks, 7:15 p.m. Dec. 1, Second and Washington streets. Free. Fireworks set to holiday music on QMIX Radio at 107.3 FM.
- Skate With Santa, noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 24, Hamilton Community Center & Ice Arena, 2501 Lincoln Park Drive, Columbus. Skate with Santa, make crafts and reindeer food, and more. Cost is $7.50 and includes skate rental.
- “Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Columbus East High School’s Clarence E. Robbins’ Auditorium, 230 S. Marr Road. Tickets are available at millracetheatre.org. Advance tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $10 for adults. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door: $8 for students and seniors, $12 for adults.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Christmas Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17, First Baptist Church, 3300 Fairlawn Drive, Columbus. Local artists and craftsmen will showcase their work. Various media will be represented including glassware, jewelry, watercolors, wood crafts, bath and body products made from goat’s milk, and fabric art.
- Christmas of Yesteryear celebration, historic Hope Town Square, Main Street, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18. Free. Featuring Santa’s arrival, a live Nativity, costumed historical characters, carolers, shops open late, cookie decorating at The Yellow Trail Museum and Visitors, and carriage rides. Information: Facebook page for Christmas of Yesteryear.
- Christmas Cards For Camp Atterbury USO, through Nov. 30, Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Patrons can donate blank Christmas cards which will be taken to the Camp Atterbury USO in early December for soldiers stationed there. Drop your cards at the main library or at the Hope Branch Library.
