Times Leader

First Posted:

THIS WEEK: DEC. 14 to 20, 2012

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, a holiday market with more than 125 national artisans, live holiday music, German and Austrian food favorites, ice carvers, breakfast with St. Nicholas and make-your-own-glass-ornament sessions. PNC Plaza, SteelStacks, 645 E. First St., Bethlehem. Through Dec. 23: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $7. 610-332-3378.

A Magical Fireside Christmas, the annual festivities at The Inn at Pocono Manor with holiday storytelling, live baby reindeer, Santa photos, cookie decorating, gingerbread-house display, horse-drawn sleigh rides, chestnuts and s’mores around an open fire, toy trains, holiday crafts, ornament making, face painting, music, hors d’oeuvres and more. Through Dec. 30: 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays; noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays. Also open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Dec. 23 to 30. $5. 800-233-8150.

Holiday Lights Spectacular, a drive-through display with more than 100,000 lights creating various holiday scenes. Nay Aug Park, 1901 Mulberry St., Scranton. Open nightly 5 to 9 through Jan. 7. 348-4186.

Holiday Story Time for Grown-Ups, readings of a hilarious David Sedaris holiday story and an adult version of the children’s tale Elf on the Shelf along with candy-cane martinis, adult hot cocoa and desserts. Wear your most hideous holiday sweater. West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave. 7 tonight. $25. Reservations: 654-9847.

Buddy Valastro: The Cake Boss, America’s favorite baker on his Homemade for the Holidays Tour. Included: holiday traditions and stories from his family at Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, techniques for creating fabulous cakes and holiday recipes. F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. 8 tonight. $45, $25. Limited VIP passes ($85) with a post-show meet and greet and special holiday surprises. 826-1100.

Christmas Cookie Walk. Buy an $8 container and fill it from 15 different kinds of homemade holiday cookies. Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church Hall, 420 Main Road, Hanover Township. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. 825-5723.

Model Railroad Open House at the 2,000-square-foot HO-scale layout of the Hudson Model Railroad Club, Polish American Building, 97 Martin St., Hudson section of Plains Township. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Jan. 5. Also open Sundays on Dec. 30 and Jan. 6. 985-8340.

Model Railroad Open House, with a custom-built layout depicting Lehigh Valley’s Hazleton Branch passing through the towns of Weatherly, Cross Creek, Ashmore, Jeddo, Drifton and Eckley along with a model of Hazleton in the 1940s and ’50s. Anthracite Model Railroad Club, 1057 Hanover Court, Hazle Township. Through Jan. 6: noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Free but donations accepted. See amrclub.org.

WWE Supershow, with WWE favorites including Randy Orton, Sheamus, Daniel Bryan, Kane, Alberto Del Rio, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, the Divas and more. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $95, $50, $35, $25, $15. 800-745-3000 or 970-7600.

Christmas in Kingston, with children’s crafts, games, art exhibit, hot chocolate and pastries, caroling, storytime and Santa’s arrival for the lighting of the Christmas tree. Hoyt Library Grounds and 14 businesses on Wyoming Avenue between Hoyt and Market streets in Kingston. 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. 287-5544.

Festival of Trees, holiday trees decorated by area organizations. Educational Conference Center, Luzerne County Community College, 1333 S. Prospect St., Nanticoke. Through Dec. 21: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 740-0732.

Grey Towers Holiday Tours, guided tours of all three floors of the decorated mansion in Milford. Through Dec. 22 at 1 and 3 p.m. 296-9630.

Celebrating the Start of a New Era, a party the day after the predicted Mayan calendar end of the world. With meditation, a catered dinner, music, footage of celebrations happening around the world and a drumming session. Unity of Northeastern Pennsylvania: A Spiritual Center, 140 S. Grant St., Wilkes-Barre. 4 p.m. Dec. 22. $12. Reservations: 824-7722.

Reality Check. Meet Lacey Schwimmer and Kyle Massey, contestants on Dancing with the Stars who perform and answer questions from fans, pose for photos and sign autographs. Breakers, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, 1280 Route 315, Plains Township. 2 p.m. Dec. 29. 888-946-4672.

New Year’s Eve Party, with a dinner buffet, open bar, champagne toast and music by the Cameron Avenue Band and Kaelyn Marie. Dupont Hose Company, 308 Main St. Dec. 31 with doors at 7 p.m., dinner at 8 p.m. and dancing from 9 p.m. $40. Reservations: 457-7665.

Malanka, the 9th annual Ukrainian New Year’s dinner dance with a Ukrainian and American buffet, cash bar, complimentary champagne toast and dancing to the Ukrainian orchestra Fata Morgana. St. Vladimir Parish Center, 428 N. Seventh Ave., Scranton. 6 p.m. Jan. 11. $40. 489-1256.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Home & Garden Show, the 12th annual show offering the latest in products and services for the home. With Brian Santos (The Wall Wizard) and Harry Rinker (The Collector Inspector). Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 2 to 7 p.m. Jan. 25; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 26; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27. $7.50, $5.50 seniors. 970-7600.

iPad Class for Adults, basic and advanced functions. Bring your own iPad or borrow one from the library. West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29. Free. 654-9847.

Valentine Workshop and Luncheon, creating Valentine cards and crafts using quilling, schrenschitte, woven wheat and embroidery. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 347 Quiet Valley Road, Stroudsburg. Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with morning and afternoon sessions. $35 includes all materials. Reservations: 992-6161.

Romancing the Cake, making a special strawberry mousse cake for your sweetheart. West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4. $20. Reservations: 654-9847.

Arenacross, high-octane, on-track motorcycle competition. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. With pro racing 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9 and amateur racing at noon on Feb. 10. Also: A Monster Energy Track Party 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9. $17.50, $10 children. 800-745-3000.

Spanish Film Club Series, a screening of From the Land to Your Table (2009), a documentary about the conditions and cultural diversity of produce markets throughout IberoAmerica. With English subtitles. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall, 320 Madison Ave., University of Scranton. 7 p.m. Feb. 21. Free. 941-6160.

Harlem Globetrotters, the basketball innovators on their You Write the Rules World Tour in which fans decide the rules that could affect the outcome of the game. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 3 p.m. Feb. 24. 800-745-3000.

War and Peace: Current Issues, with scholar Daniel Serwer of the Middle East Institute who discusses the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iran. Brennan Hall, 320 Madison Ave., University of Scranton. 5:30 p.m. March 5. Followed by a reception. 941-7816.

European River Cruise, a fundraiser for the Everhart Museum in Scranton including eight days cruising through the canals of Holland and Belgium April 8 to 15, 2013. Cabins from $3828 per person includes air fare, transfers and all meals with unlimited wine and beer at dinner. Reservations: 504-7575 or everhartrivercruise.com.

Best Bet

The Back Mountain Harvest Assembly in Trucksville once again will be alight with its annual holiday spectacular The Gift, a Christmas present to area residents. The free outdoor musical covers the events that happened in Bethlehem long ago with more than 100 performers, original songs, new choreography and a menagerie of animals including camels, horses, sheep and goats. Head to the Carverton Road church grounds, where bleachers and straw-bale seating are provided. Don’t forget to dress warmly and pack a blanket. Performances are at 6 and 8 tonight and Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Call 696-1128 for details.