Planet Princeton Weekend Picks, Dec. 20-22

festivaloftreesFriday, December 20

Lantern Walking Tours at Washington Crossing State Park – Tours of the Nelson House, Stone Barn, and Johnson Ferry House begin at the Nelson House. Refreshments. Tickets $10. Tours at 7 and 7:30 p.m., Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville.

A Christmas Carol – The holiday favorite is performed at McCarter Theatre Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at  2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets $20 and up.

Christmas Pops with the Westminster Community and Chamber Choirs – The choirs perform at Bristol Chapel on the Rider University campus in Princeton. 8 p.m. Tickets $15.

Princeton Folk Music Society Concert – The group celebrates Christmas as it was known for centuries in Britain and North America by singing songs from an age when midwinter was a time for joyous celebration and expression of older, perhaps Christian and pagan ideas. 8:15 p.m., Christ Congregation Church, 40 Walnut Lane, Princeton.Tickets $20, discounts for students, seniors and members.

Saturday, December 21

Festival of Trees at Morven Museum – View the holiday trees decorated by area business, garden clubs, and organizations. 55 Stockton Street, noon to 4 p.m., admission $6.

First Day of Winter Celebration – Celebrate the first day of winter with the Historical Society of Princeton at the Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road. Explore the grounds, browse the museum galleries including photographs by members of the Princeton Photography Club and paintings by the A-TEAM artists of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Nature lovers can try a scavenger hunt and see what’s growing in the Unity Garden. Noon to 4 p.m.

Holiday Laser Lights Show at the New Jersey State Museum Planetarium – Show for all ages, 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 205 W. State St., tickets $7.

Cafe Improv – Music, stand up comedy and more at the Arts Council of Princeton, 7 to 10 p.m., admission $2.

Chamber Choir, Kinnara Ensemble – Christmas programs features solos and ensemble numbers. All Saints Church, 16 All Saints Road, Princeton, 8 p.m. Tickets $20.

Sunday, December 22

20th Anniversary Celebration at Small World Coffee – 
The Princeton High School String Quartet performs from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Witherspoon St. location. Party from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring Chris Harford and the Band of Changes,  and the Nomad Pizza truck.

Princeton Pro Musica Presents Handel’s Messiah -Don’t miss this performance of the complete Messiah by a 90-voice chorus, professional orchestra, and vibrant young soloists who are rising stars of the New York concert scene. Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. 2 p.m. Tickets $25 and up.

Trenton Brass Quintet Plus One at the Princeton Public Library – Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa selections. 3 p.m. in the community room, free.