Planet Princeton Weekend Picks, Dec. 9-11

Cast members for “A Christmas Carol.” Photo by Charles Erickson.

Friday, December 9

Hugs For Brady Holiday Light Show – The Hugs for Brady Holiday Light Show runs daily through December 30. The Hugs for Brady Holiday Light Show, will take place at the DeVry Campus in North Brunswick. Daily shows at varying times, will feature a 110 ft. by 3 story high display of thousands of constantly changing brilliant colored lights, all synchronized to music. DeVry University, 630 Route 1, North Brunswick. $10 – $15 More information

Holiday Wonderland with Santa – Free photos with Santa, carriage rides, martial arts performances, and more holiday fun. , Princeton Forrestal Village, 206 Rockingham Row, Princeton.  . 5:30 pm – 8:30 p.m., Forrestal Village, 206 Rockingham Row, Plainsboro. Free More information

Holiday Jam and Toy Drive on Palmer Square – Performances by Acapellago, eXpressions Dance Company, the Footnotes, the Princeton University Gospel Ensemble, the Jugglng Club, the Katzenjammers, Kindred Spirit, Más Flow, Old NasSoul, the Roaring 20, Sympoh, the Nassoons, the Tigerlilies, Umqombothi, and the Wildcats. All attendees are encouraged to bring a new toy for donation to the YWCA Princeton St. Nicholas Project. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. , Free More information

Harry Potter Magical Holiday Ball – Calling all muggles, wizards and witches! Head to your local Barnes & Noble store to celebrate the wonder of the wizarding world with a festive event inspired by the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Enjoy a magical evening of Harry Potter-themed crafts, wizarding games, enchanting music, and spellbinding surprises. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Barnes and Noble, Market Fair, 3535 US Highway 1.  More information

Greg Wood as Ebenezer Scrooge. Photo: T Charles Erickson.

A Christmas Carol – McCarter Theatre presents a re-imagined production of Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge on a magical journey through Christmas past, present, and future. Ensemble members from the community. Matthews Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25-$104.50.. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton. More information

The Princeton University Chapel will be filled to capacity for Westminster Choir College’s Readings and Carols.

An Evening of Readings and Carols at the Princeton University Chapel – An annual Princeton tradition. Westminster Choir College performs music for choir, organ, and brass interspersed with seasonal readings. Tickets $40 to $70. 8 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday (Sat. evening performance almost sold out). Princeton University Chapel, Princeton More information

Saturday, December 10

Hopewell French Gift Sale – The French Ephemeral Boutique Oh-la-la! is presenting a sale of food, photographs, fine art, jewelry, pottery, paper crafts, home decor, collectible books and more. Organized by a group of mostly French local designers, artists and vendors, this pop-up event will provide plenty of French gift ideas for the holidays. 2-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Hopewell Train Station Shed, 2 Railroad Place, Hopewell. More information

Troon Brewing Grand Opening – A new brewery opens in Hopewell opens behind Brick Farm Tavern. Beer tastings in the tavern’s wine cellar, brewery tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. 130 Hopewell Rocky Hill Rd, Hopewell. Free.

Candle Making Workshop – Celebrate the approaching winter solstice and the return of the light by making candles with the Teacher-Naturalists. 1 p.m., Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Rd Pennington. $10 – $15 More information

Holiday Music on Palmer Square – 
Music by the Jersey Harmony Chorus, visit from Santa. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Princeton Ringers Christmas Concert – Hand bell concert featuring a selection of traditional Advent hymns and classic Christmas carols. An audience sing-along to the merry song. 2 p.m., Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer Street, Princeton. More information

Princeton University Glee Club Stravinsky Anniversary Concert – The Princeton University Glee Club and So Percussion will celebrate the 50th anniversary the Princeton residency of the composer Igor Stravinsky. At the invitation of the University, the Stravinsky came to Princeton in 1966 to write a new work for chorus and orchestra, the Requiem Canticles, for a world premiere performance at McCarter Theatre.  Concert at 3 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University. Tickets $15, $5 for students.

Home for the Holidays – The Eastern Wind Symphony presents its annual holiday concert at Princeton Meadow Church The program includes a variety of Christmas music from around the world. 8 p.m., Princeton Meadow Church, 545 Meadow Road, Princeton. $15 More information

Sunday, December 11

Breakfast with Santa – Toy drive in collaboration with the Junior League of Greater Princeton benefiting Home Front. West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company, 153 South Mill Road, West Windsor, 8 a.m. to noon. $5  More information

Reenactment of Washington Crossing the Delaware  – General Washington delivers a speech and then leads his troops across the river. Washington Crossing Park, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, Pa. 
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $8.

Hopewell French Gift Sale – The French Ephemeral Boutique Oh-la-la! is presenting a sale of food, photographs, fine art, jewelry, pottery, paper crafts, home decor, collectible books and more. Organized by a group of mostly French local designers, artists and vendors, this pop-up event will provide plenty of French gift ideas for the holidays.. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hopewell Train Station Shed, 2 Railroad Place Hopewell, NJ. Free More information

Grand Opening of Terhune Orchards Vineyard and Winery Barn – The grand opening celebration for Terhune Orchards’ winery production barn will be held at 1 p.m. Following a grand opening ceremony, guided tours of the facility will be held during the afternoon. Free wine tastings and light refreshments will be served. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. Free.

Holiday Music on Palmer Square – 
Music by the  Snow, Sleighbells, and Saxophones, and a visit from Santa. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

HomeFront Artists Team and Creative Collective “Gratitude” Show Reception – The artists of HomeFront, an Ewing-based organization that helps struggling families in Mercer County, and the artists of the Lawrence-based Creative Collective present a joint exhibit at Artspace, on the HomeFront Campus, at 101 Celia Way in Ewing. The exhibit’s theme is “Gratitude.” Reception 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. More information

Small Ensembles concert at Mayo Hall – A concert by the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey’s small ensembles will be performed Sunday, December 11, in Mayo Hall at The College of New Jersey. The 3 p.m. concert will feature a brass choir and ensemble, flute choir, percussion prep and ensemble, saxophone ensemble, and woodwind choir and chamber ensemble. The College of New Jersey campus, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing. $10 – $15 More information

Princeton Pro Musica presents “Holiday Classics” – The Princeton Pro Musica Chorus and Orchestra present “Holiday Classics” with special guests from the Trenton Children’s Chorus. Pro Musica Director Ryan Brandau has written a full-length suite for full orchestra and chorus that combines favorite movements from Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with arrangements of holiday favorites like O Holy Night, Deck the Hall, and Auld Lang Syne. 4 p.m., Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. $10 – $60 More information

Concerts at St. Andrew’s presents Phil Orr & More: “Jingle Bell Jazz” – The best songs of the season, untraditionally seasoned. Fun and thoughtful reworkings of holiday favorites such as “Jingle Bells,” “Carol of the Drums,” “All I Want for Christmas is You” and many others in swing, post-bop, Brazilian, Afro-Latin, New Orleans and even klezmer-infused jazz styles. Nationally recognized, multi-genre musicians Phil Orr (piano), Michael O’Brien (bass) and Sean […]. 4 p.m., St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 50 York Street, Lambertville. $20 More information

Children’s musical directed by Tom Shelton – Children tell a musical story, “Twas the Light Before Christmas,” at Princeton United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Nassau and Vandeventer, on Sunday, December 11 at 5 p.m. Directed by Tom Shelton, assistant professor of sacred music at Westminster Choir College and director of PUMC’s Children’s and Youth Choirs. Entrance in the back of the building off Vandeventer Avenue in downtown Princeton. Free More information

Pet Photo Nights at Quaker Bridge Mall – Bring your pet to visit and take a picture with Santa on the following Sundays from 6-7:30 p.m. Use the entrance ear Dunkin Donuts.Quaker Bridge Mall, 150 Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrencevillle. Free. More information

Christmas Choir Concert – The Stone Hill Arts Series Sacred Edition presents a Sacred Christmas Concert. This choir concert will feature works by Saint-Saens, Buxtehude, Bach, Rutter, and others. The concert is free and open to the public. Sunday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Stone Hill Church, 1025 Bunn Drive, Princeton. Free More information

To be considered for our weekend picks, please submit your event to our community calendar by clicking the add event tab at the top of our homepage or following this link: https://planetprinceton.com/events/community/add . Thanks to the many organizations in our community that submit events and share news with our readers.