Roswell Weekender: Holiday Treats and Remembering Newtown

Thursday, Dec. 12 

Northminster Presbyterian Gift Wrap Fundraiser -- The church's youth group will be wrapping gifts from 6-9 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday. The proceeds will be used for its mission trip to Honduras next summer. 2400 Old Alabama Road.

Glory of Christmas: Visions of Christmas -- A free holiday concert by the Chancel Choir at Orchestra of Roswell First Presbyterian Church begins at 7:30 p.m., and repeats on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Free, but childcare reservations are required. 755 Mimosa Blvd.

Friday, Dec. 13

Candy Cane Hunt -- Pizza dinner kicks off the night's festivities starting at 5:30 p.m. at the East Roswell Recreation Center; bring a flashlight and a bag, sack, backpack, etc. to carry all the candy canes you can find. Cost is $12 for Roswell residents; $18 non-residents. 9000 Fouts Road.

Santa Night Benefitting the CDA -- Singing Santas will be visiting The Roswell Tap with cheery holiday carols during trolley tours through the North Fulton area to raise funds for the Child Development Association. 1090 Alpharetta Street. 

North Atlanta Christmas Festival -- The 8th annual event at Mt. Pisgah UMC is a musical and dramatic display featuring state-of-the-art technology, stage production and choreography along with a 150 voice choir and 40 piece live orchestra. Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and at p.m. Saturday (ticket information). 2850 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. 

Christmas Festival Concert at RUMC -- The Sanctuary Choir will be performing holiday music at 7:30 p.m. Friday at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The concerts are free but tickets are required to ensure seating. 814 Mimosa Blvd. 

Babes in Toyland, The Nutcracker Land of Sweets -- The Atlanta Dance Theater will perform at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center for shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mother Goose characters come to life, and the handsome Prince leads Clara through the moonlit forest to a decadent celebration arranged by the Sugar Plum Fairy (ticket information). 950 Forrest St. 

Saturday, Dec. 14

Centennial HS Baseball Pancake Breakfast -- The team will be serving up pancakes, bacon, juice, milk and coffee starting at 8:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 8 and includes a photo with Santa. 9310 Scott Road. 

Santa's Magical Playhouse -- A morning of games, decorating cookies and arts & crafts for children ages 5-10 begin at 9 a.m. at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building, and continues until noon. A special visitor will stop by to see if the girls and boys have been naughty or nice. Ages 5-10. Cost is $22 for Roswell residents and $33, non residents. 10495 Woodstock Road.

No More Silence: A Call for Remembrance and Resolve -- A call for an end to gun violence will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North (UUMAN) on the first anniversary of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. Guests are asked to bring a bell and participate in a bell-ringing to remember the victims. 11420 Crabapple Road. 

Night at the Polar Express -- It’s family movie night, so bring the whole family in your comfy clothes at the East Roswell Recreation Center, starting at 6:30 p.m. Polar Express will be shown on the big screen, accompanied by popcorn, hot chocolate, and goodies. Parents are free, but children must register individually. Cost is $8 for Roswell residents; $12 non-residents. 9000 Fouts Road.

Sunday, Dec. 15

Holiday Gift and Gourmet Market -- The merchants of Sweet Apple Village will be selling their wares, inviting children to a storytelling visit with Santa (at 2 and 4 p.m.) and inviting the public to enjoy food, fun and holiday festivities from 1-5. The Georgia Center for Musical Therapy will be performing twice. Holiday gift baskets and baked goods are among the most popular items. The merchants will be supporting Talk About Curing Autism of Georgia as their holiday cause this year. 12020 Etris Road. 

Reindeer Day at Chattahoochee Nature Center -- Warm up by the Campfire and meet Live Reindeer making their special holiday appearance, straight from the wintery north from 1-4 p.m. 9135 Willeo Road.