LAKEWOOD LIGHTS UP

The festive Light Up Lakewood, happening on Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lakewood Shopping Center/Harrell Park, is sponsored by Lakewood Neighborhood Association as well as a number of neighborhood businesses. It started small back in 2002 as a simple customer appreciation event by Talulah and Hess owner Elizabeth Mast. Within a couple of years, most of the surrounding businesses joined the holiday effort. The focus of the event is not on shopping, as you might expect, but on community. There’s something for everyone, including a visit from Santa, a petting zoo, face painting, a balloon artist, a marionette show, toy soldiers on stilts and more. Hear the choirs from Lipscomb and Woodrow Wilson sing carols, along with the Woodrow marching band. But be sure you don’t miss the huge tree lighting at 7 p.m. —PATTI

Light Up Lakewood

Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m.

Lakewood Shopping Center, Gaston at Abrams lakewoodserviceleague.org

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House Of Worship Holiday Celebrations

BRATION will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Greenland Hills United Methodist Church, 5835 Penrose Ave. For more information call 214.826.2060.

7 An afternoon of sharing CHRISTMAS SONGS in the form of caroling is set for Dec. 11, hosted by Northridge Presbyterian Church. It will be followed by a SUNDAY SCHOOL PAGEANT at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 at the church, 6920 Bob O Link Drive. For more information call 214.827.5521.

8 Join ST. MATTHEW’S IN CAROLING at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 18. The singers will be out again at 10 p.m. on Dec. 24, after the children’s Christmas pageant at 5 p.m. that day at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, 5100 Ross Ave. For more information call 214.823.8134.

9 Take in the HANGING OF THE GREEN with vocal and instrumental performances at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 and listen to portions of HANDEL’S MESSIAH sung by the church choir at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Dec. 18 at Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Road. For more information call 214.452.3100.

10 Get your latkes and a whole host of other treats when HANUKKAH HOOPLA hits the Jewish Community Center on Dec. 11. From noon-4 p.m., the festival includes a holiday market, craft fair and games for the kids. Get all the details at jccdallas.org.

VINSON

11 The younger members of the MUNGER PLACE CHURCH, 5200 Bryan St., will be putting on their own Christmas pageant at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24. Then on Christmas day the church will hold a pancake breakfast at 11 a.m. For more information call 214.823.9929.

12 Warm up with a soup dinner at the CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1000 Easton Road, at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 before taking in the live nativity at 7 p.m. The church’s choir, along with a jazz ensemble, will be performing at the MUSEUM OF BIBLICAL ARTS on Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m. For more information call 214.327.2222.

13 Within 5 minutes of our neighborhood you can take part in a richly traditional HANUKKAH SHABBAT service and dinner at CONGREGATION SHEARITH ISRAEL , 9401 Douglas Ave. As Hanukkah runs Dec. 24-Jan. 1 this year, the event is set for Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. Email organizer Katie Venetsky at kvenetsky@shearith.org for more details.

14 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1928 Ross Ave., will bring to life the classic opera, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS. The production will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 and 4. For more information call 214.220.2727, ext. 218 or send an e-mail to rotundatickets@fumcdallas.org.

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Musically Whimsy Celebrations

1 After a long run at the Lakewood Theater, RICKI DEREK and his orchestra are back for a live performance at the Granada Theater. “A Merry Little Christmas Show” is an old-fashioned holiday revue that always drums up nostalgia. It takes place at 8 p.m., Dec. 16, at the Granada, 3524 Greenville Ave. Get tickets at granadatheater.com or call 214.824.9933.

12 Days of Christmas

The beloved carol “The 12 Days of Christmas” was first printed in England in 1780 but didn’t become the classic song we know today until 1909 in an arrangement by English composer Frederic Austin, who added the iconic “five golden rings.”

Over at the Dallas Arboretum, they take the traditional tune to new heights. Want to see nine ladies dancing or seven swans swimming? The botanical garden sets up fanciful scenes with painstaking attention to detail, right down to the rhinestone-encrusted pears surrounding a rotating partridge.

2 Christmas collides with pop rock when the POLYPHONIC SPREE concert is performed this month. The annual “Holiday Extravaganza” takes place Dec. 10 at 6 p.m., but is moving from East Dallas to downtown at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Visit theholidayextravaganza.com or call 214.670.3687 for details.

3 When Liz Simmons’ house is lit up, you know it’s Christmas. This year the ELECTRIC LIZZYLAND CHRISTMAS light display on Newell Avenue promises to be just as big and maybe just a bit brighter. The light show, timed with music, will run Dec. 17 through New Year’s Eve, setting the neighborhood aglow when the sun drops down. Get all the details at facebook.com/theelectriclizzyland

4 THE LONE STAR CIRCUS marks its 10th year of bringing its festive holiday “La Fête” showcase of acrobats and aerialists, music and mimes. You’ll want to get there 45 minutes early to take in the pre-show with music, poetry and more. The show runs Dec. 27-Jan 1, during which showtimes vary by day. Get tickets and more at lonestarcircus.com.

5 Even more music is coming to the Granada this winter in the form of “LOCAL HONEY’S HOLIDAY MIX” on Dec. 18. The band, led by Kelly Brown, lives up to its name by bringing an eclectic roundup of different artists and a slew of songs. Times will be posted on the theater website: granadatheater.com

Called “12 Days of Christmas at Night,” the event offers a rare chance to tour the arboretum after dark. The expansive gardens glow with the twinkle of more than 500,000 holiday lights, which are paired with classic carols for a festive holiday evening. Tickets are $12.

The historic DeGolyer House will be open on select nights, serving up robust meals like roast pork with raspberry chipotle sauce in a merry setting. The entire home is expertly decorated for the season, and this year will feature Claus Collection Santa Exhibit, a display dedicated to St. Nick in his many iterations. Dinners are $55 a person and reservations are a must by calling Emily Gavin at 214.515.6511. Tours of the home are available during normal garden hours.

—EMILY CHARRIER

12 Days of Christmas at Night

Nov. 9-Dec. 30, 6-9 p.m. (except Christmas Eve and Christmas) dallasarboretum.org

3 Holiday Highlights We Miss

THE CASA LINDA TREE LIGHTING was like a party for residents. It was a chance to gather the neighborhood and give good cheer, and it is sorely missed. Talk around the Casa Linda Plaza water-cooler is that merchants are hoping to bring it back, or perhaps launch a new holiday tradition.

For years, the stately TREE ON LAKESHORE at Boulevard Drive has been a holiday bright spot for residents. The tree long stood aglow with the twinkle of hundreds of lights, but this year will remain dark. The new property owner, however, says it might happen again in the future.

Nothing brings about nostalgia like watching the 1954 movie, “A WHITE CHRISTMAS.” And while the Lakewood Theater’s tradition of showing the musical may have discontinued, that doesn’t mean we can’t still sing the songs so many have grown up listening to during the holidays.