Capture a bit of the holiday spirit this weekend during the Festival of Trees.
There will be a family scavenger hunt among the Christmas trees, live music by local choirs and performances by dance groups. Families can bring their pets for photos with Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.
The distinctly decorated trees each represent a larger prize package raffled off to the community at 4 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds will benefit the Vancouver Rotary Foundation’s programs.
The festival is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. Admission is a $5 suggested donation. Visit www.rotaryfestivaloftrees.org.
The community talk show “Hello Vancouver” will do a special show at the Festival of Trees featuring Groove Nation Dance Academy, a celebrity gift-wrapping challenge and an interview with Santa Claus. The “Hello Vancouver Holiday Spectacular” is at 6:30 tonight at the Hilton Vancouver Washington. Admission is free. Visit www.hellovancouver.us.
Local choir groups will perform at the annual Christmas Festival of Lights, from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30. The Grotto’s gardens and sanctuaries will be decorated with more than 500,000 lights to encourage nightly strolls with hot beverages, caroling, a petting zoo and puppet shows. Five choral performances are each night in the chapel. Admission to the Grotto, 8840 N.E. Skidmore St., Portland, is $10, $9 for seniors, $5 for ages 3 to 12, free for ages 2 and younger. Call 503-261-2400 or visit www.thegrotto.org/christmas.
Holiday concerts abound in the weekends ahead. The Clark College Chorale and Women’s Choral Ensemble will give a “Bounteous Feast of British Holiday Masterpieces” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. Admission is free; donations are encouraged. Call 360-992-2662 or visit www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/music/music-concerts/index.php.
Christmas with Jim Fischer and Friends is an annual concert hosted by local entertainer Jim Fischer to benefit Friends of the Carpenter. Guests include Northwest Harmony Chorus and King’s Way Christian High School Choir. Two concerts are at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver. Tickets are $15 to $20. Call 360-750-4752 or visit www.friendsofthecarpenter.org.
Local finger-style guitarists Doug Smith, Mark Hanson and Terry Robb are also known as Acoustic Guitar Summit. They will host a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. at the Old Liberty Theater, 115 N. Main Ave., Ridgefield. Tickets are $15. Call 360-887-7260 or visit www.oldlibertytheater.com.
Vancouver USA Singers will present a “Ceremony of Carols,” featuring cellist Britta Horlings, harpist Kate Petak and the Battle Ground High School Jazz Choir. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver. Tickets are $17 to $20, free for ages 12 and younger. Visit www.vancouverusasingers.org.
And the annual Big Horn Brass Holiday Show will feature singer Shirley Nanette as the ensemble presents its take on traditional carols and familiar songs. There will also be an adaptation of “The Night Before Christmas.” The concert is 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Lloyd Auditorium, Washington School for the Deaf, 611 Grand Blvd., Vancouver. Tickets are $25, $10 for students. Call 360-735-7278 or visit www.vancouversymphony.org.
