Well, things do fall apart, not only for Mr. Achebe but also for the Owl, but not too badly. It’s Friday evening and no weekend calendar! How will anyone figure out what to do with their one precious weekend? Here are some ideas:

All Weekend

Commonwealth Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Regis College: Join the family party set before a magical tree and enjoy the laughter, magic, and wonder of this holiday classic accompanied by the beloved Tchaikovsky score. This fully staged production is sure to captivate and entertain (almost) all ages. The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, including one intermission. Recommended for ages 4 and older. December 17th – 7:00 pm, December 18th – 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm and December 19th – 1:00 pm. Information and tickets here.

DeCordova Holiday Market, The Trustees DeCordova Museum, Lincoln. Rotating holiday vendors at the Museum store, 10 am-5 pm. More information here.

Holidays Under the Umbrella at the Umbrella Arts Center, Concord: the Umbrella’s beloved holiday concert returns to the mainstage after last season’s virtual presentation. Familiar faces and Umbrella Stage favorites will return to sing seasonal songs and share their own holiday memories. Holidays Under The Umbrella is a family-friendly concert to put everyone in the spirit of the season! December 17 at 8 pm, December 18 at 8 pm, and December 19 at 3 pm. More information here: https://secure.theumbrellaarts.org/74175

Saturday, December 18: Also known as Keith Richards’ 545th birthday

What? It’s true.

Stewardship Saturday with WFTA: Re-Discovering the Merriam Barn, 10 am – 12 pm. Help out clearing brush and invasives from the mighty stone ramp. Yes, there may be a little light snow. It will be fun anyway. Wear work clothes. Meet and Park at Brush Dump on Merriam Street. More information here.

Museum of Fine Arts Ancient Worlds Galleries Re-Opening Event, 10 am – 5 pm. Free admission (!!) Opening December 18, five newly transformed galleries will invite visitors to explore nearly 550 objects from one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Classical art in the world. The new galleries of art of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Byzantine empire feature some of the oldest works in the MFA’s collection. Free general admission tickets available online until 10 am day of; also available in person on a first-come, first-served basis. More information and tickets available here. The MFA is located at 465 Huntington Avenue in Boston.

Skylark Vocal Ensemble Presents A Christmas Carol, First Parish Church, Weston, 7-9:30 pm. In their first ever Christmas storytelling concert, Skylark again partners with master storyteller Sarah Walker to offer a new musical interpretation of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Working from the original text abridged by Artistic Director Matthew Guard, Composer Benedict Sheehan (our recent collaborator for Once Upon A Time) has created a new concert-length story score that weaves familiar Christmas carols into the fabric of the Dickens story. Bringing timeless carols of the season together with the beloved characters of Charles Dickens promises to create an unforgettable new version of a Christmas classic. More information here. First Parish Church is located at 349 Boston Post Road.

Sunday, December 19

Messiah Sing with Opera 51, Concord, 2 pm. Sing this holiday favorite in a fundraiser event benefitting 51 Walden.  Alan Yost conducts the Opera51 orchestra and principal soloists Margretta Beaty, Debra Gleason Swartz, Sean Parr, and James C. S. Liu. Scores will be available to borrow for those who do not have their own. General admission tickets are $20/$10 students, pay at the door. Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test will be required at the door, and masks required at all times. More information is here.

That’s all I’ve got, Weston. Enjoy the snow tomorrow and see you out on the trails!