Concerts, Caroling, Holiday Movies & More: 19 Holiday Happenings In & Around The Upper Valley

Dec 07, 2018 02:58PM ● By Kevin

The holiday season is coming to the Upper Valley! We've put together a list of 15 places where you can experience the magic, wonder, and thrill of the holiday season with lights, music, food, and events for the whole family.

Caroling, Concerts, & the Arts

Christmas is a time for magic, wonder, and excitement! What better way to celebrate than with holiday music and local performances? Everyone in the family is sure to love these Christmas picks!

Clara’s Dream, a nutcracker story

The crisp December air heralds the return of Clara’s Dream, a nutcracker story, to the Lebanon Opera House stage. New choreography lends fairytale magic to our version of The Nutcracker, a timeless classic that brings the season’s dreams to life. With ever-changing backdrops and costumes that shimmer with winter’s crystalline beauty, you will find your heart dancing with the City Center Ballet performers as Clara and the Nutcracker Prince overcome obstacles on their way to the Land of Sweets. It’s the perfect holiday entertainment for adults and children alike.

Matilda The Musical

This Tony Award-winning musical follows the struggles of Matilda against her neglectful parents and cruel headmistress. An avid reader and brilliant young girl, Matilda dreams of a better life and a happy home. With the help of her kind teacher Miss Honey, the other students in her class, and a touch of magic, Matilda takes a stand against the evil forces in her life. The addictively raucous score propels this heartwarming story of empowerment.

Còig – Celtic Holiday Concert

Nova Scotia’s powerhouse Còig presents an evening of fiery Celtic holiday tunes from their 2015 album Carols. Còig is one of today’s most exciting new North American Celtic groups. The members of Còig all have traditional roots, but each brings something more. Fiddler Chrissy Crowley has touches of world and contemporary music. Pianist Jason Roach has a jazz degree, Darren McMullen (guitar, banjo, mandolin, etc.) has worked everywhere from Irish to rock groups, and fiddler Rachel Davis is the most Cape Breton trad, but with folk and roots infused flavors as well. Còig’s music is a unique combination of influences that could only come from these four players. It’s traditional, but it’s performed in non-traditional ways. With a combined total of over 30 group and solo awards and nominations, the four members of the band are already recognized as major stars of the Celtic world.

The Bel Canto Chamber Singers presents “Last Month of the Year”

The Bel Canto Chamber Singers presents “Last Month of the Year,” a musical celebration of the holiday and winter season featuring Dietrich Buxthehude’s cantata, Das Neugeborne Kindelein, contemporary pieces by Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo, a piano solo of the “Miniature Overture” from The Nutcracker with Pierre Fournier, a cello solo of Ernest Bloch’s “Prayer” from Jewish Life with Margaret Gilmore and several spirituals and carols. Jane Woods is music director and accompaniments include string ensemble, piano, organ and hand drums.

The Christmas Revels: A Venetian Celebration of the Winter Solstice

It’s holiday time during height of the Renaissance, and the vibrant city of Venice is bursting with excitement! East meets West in this maritime hub, where merchants and craftsmen ply their trade alongside some of the Old World’s finest artists and musicians. But as la Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) approaches, the city administrator, the Doge, is too overwhelmed to feel the spirit. Will a tatty troupe of comedians, fresh off an unsuccessful European tour, succeed in changing his mind? Join Revels North for its 44th Christmas Revels, and celebrate the season with music, dance, and laughter.

Hanover Christmas Mystery

The Hanover Christmas Mystery has become a time-honored choral celebration of the Nativity story with Hanover High School senior girls playing the roles of angels and senior boys as shepherds, and local men lending their voices as elder-shepherds, the wise men, and Joseph. The identity of Mary is a mystery until the performance. She is a member of the previous year’s graduating class and is chosen by a secret vote of her angel group.

A Baker’s Dream

One of our favorite parts about the holiday season is all of the delicious baked goods! We've got a list of spots that are helping you do it yourself this year, regardless if you want to learn solo or plan a fun outing for you and your friends and/or family.

Do It Yourself: Holiday Gifts-Chocolate Truffle Assortment

Learn about how to work with chocolate including what is a ganache and how to temper chocolate so you can make luscious truffles. We will then get hands-on and make several flavors, a perfect assortment. These are a great gift that you can make ahead of time. Light refreshments will be served.

Simply in Season: New Year’s Good Luck Foods Class

We all want health, wealth, and heaping gobs of good luck. But are we being overly superstitious by following rituals to ensure we have a prosperous New Year? Superstition or not, why hedge your bets? These rituals are not only fun, they're absolutely delicious! Come to learn a little lore, tasty recipes and start your New Year off right. Come ready to cook, eat and share your own stories.

Christmas Baking Workshop

All around the world Christmas is celebrated with traditional, festive baked goods. In this class, we’ll cover a wide variety of products from yeast breads to cookies and cakes. Bake with us, for this most wonderful time of the year!

Holiday Film Classics

It’s all good if you like cozying up in your pajamas with a cup of hot chocolate while enjoying your favorite holiday flicks, but it’s even better when you can get out and watch them in style. We’ve found a series of Christmas film showings that you won’t want to miss!

Film: CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT at Pentangle Arts

Part of Pentangle Arts' Wassail Movie series. While recovering in a hospital, war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) grows familiar with the “Diary of a Housewife” column written by Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck). Jeff’s nurse arranges with Elizabeth’s publisher, Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet), for Jeff to spend the holiday at Elizabeth’s bucolic Connecticut farm with her husband and child. But the column is a sham, so Yardley hastens to arrange a publicity ploy by setting up single, nondomestic Elizabeth on a country farm. Also starring Sydney Greenstreet. Directed by Peter Godfrey.

Film: THE HOLIDAY at Pentangle Arts

Part of Pentangle Arts' Wassail Weekend movie series. Dumped and depressed, English rose Iris (Kate Winslet) agrees to swap homes with similarly unlucky in love Californian Amanda (Cameron Diaz) for a much-needed break. Iris finds herself in a palatial Hollywood mansion while Amanda navigates the lanes of a picture-perfect English village. Soon enough, both lovelorn ladies bump into local lads perfect for a romantic pick-me-up. Also starring Jude Law, Jack Black, and Eli Wallach. Directed by Nancy Meyers.

Film: HOME ALONE at Pentangle Arts

Part of Pentangle Arts' Wassail Weekend movie series. When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O’Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home. Directed by Chris Columbus. Plus!

Holiday Film: WHITE CHRISTMAS at Pentangle Arts

Singers Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) join sister act Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont. There, they run into Gen. Waverly (Dean Jagger), the boys’ commander in World War II, who, they learn, is having financial difficulties; his quaint country inn is failing. So what’s the foursome to do but plan a yuletide miracle: a fun-filled musical extravaganza that’s sure to put Waverly and his business in the black! Directed Michael Curtiz.

Festivals & Miscellaneous Holiday Cheer

Whether you’re looking for some festive places to shop before the holidays arrive or love enjoying holiday light displays, we’ve got you covered with a hodgepodge of activities happening throughout the month of December, including all things having to do with Christmas trees!

Celebrate the Season

Gather your neighbors, family, and friends and enjoy Celebrate the Season together. Join in on a complimentary evening of community and holiday festivities starting in Norwich Square on Thursday, December 6 and then Celebrate the Season is next in downtown Hanover on the evening of Friday, December 7, 2018. Soup Tasting with a Purpose follows on Saturday, December 8 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, and Restaurant Week begins at dinner on the very same night! There are many activities to do, and much music to be heard. Choose the places to stop that fit your family’s celebration.

Wassail Weekend

Get ready for Woodstock's 34th Annual Wassail Weekend! Filled with twinkling lights, historic decorated homes, breakfast with Santa, and so much more, the town transforms into the holiday wonderland of your dreams, complete with sleigh bells during our Wassail Parade and holiday decorations at Billings Farm that harken back to historic 19th century charm. There's something for all ages throughout this festive holiday weekend

Christmas at the Billings Farm

Experience the traditions of a 19th century Vermont Christmas. Visit the authentically decorated farmhouse and the dairy farm for interactive programs; farm life exhibits, holiday programs and making historic ornaments. Don't miss a winter visit to the farm. Dec.26 -Jan 1.: horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides (conditions permitting)

The Hanover Garden Club Holiday Sale

Once again the Hanover Garden Club is offering their famous handmade tabletop boxwood trees & centerpieces! There will be tables of vintage jewelry, attic treasures & baked goodies that make great gifts for most anyone. NEW this year: small houseplants in unique pots, handmade Christmas Crackers (aka poppers), ceramic Hanover Garden Club ornament and several Club artisans will be presenting their wares. Come join us and bring a friend! Convenient, free parking behind the Hanover High School, 41 Lebanon Street Proceeds support the Hanover Town Gardens, which are planted and maintained by the Hanover Garden Club.

Festival of Trees Gala Reception

Invite your family and friends and join us for an evening of holiday cheer at the Enfield Shaker Museum! Be part of the fun as we draw the winning tickets from the Festival of Trees, and award the trees. One-of-a-kind "artist trees" will also be available to bid on. Holiday music, cocktails, hors-d'oeuvres, and extended hours in the Museum Gift Shop will round out the evening.

New Year’s Eve

Let’s not forget to end 2018 with a bang. If you’d like to end your year in style and kick off 2019 with lavish hors d’ouerves, a gala buffet dinner, and dancing, Lake Morey Resort is the place for you. Check out the details below.

Lake Morey Resort 2019 Party!

Start the evening with a lavish hors d' oeuvres party followed by a gala buffet dinner, then get ready to dance the night away with the Boston based band "Party Factor". Party favors, champagne toast, and midnight snack buffet round out the evening. Sleep in New Years Day and enjoy the bloody mary mimosa brunch extravaganza.

Life+Leisure, Today Holiday Events