December Fun Calendar: 63 fun things to do in the Beaver Valley

Ho, ho, whoa ... do you realize how many activities are planned this December in the Beaver Valley?

There's lots and lots of fun to be had − and it's not all Christmas-y.

To help pick your adventures, take a look at our December Fun Calendar:

Dec. 1

A Novel Noel, a fundraiser for the Carnegie Free Library in Beaver Falls, with food, spirits, holiday decor, raffle baskets and musical entertainment from NASH.V.ILL's Byron Nash and Jacquea Mae.

More: Scott Tady: See some cool shows in Beaver and Beaver Falls

"The Game's Afoot: Holmes for The Holidays" a comedic murder-mystery opens 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland. Continues Dec. 2-3, 7-10, 14-17. lincolnparkarts.org/events

Wassail Walk, 6:30 p.m. at participating downtown New Brighton businesses. Benefits the New Brighton Public Library.

"Let There Be Lights," the Ellwood City light up night, 6 p.m., Lawrence Avenue closed to traffic from Fourth to Sixth streets. Entertainment from Sanctuary Jazz Brass Choir, the Riverside High School Chorus, New Castle Playhouse's Holly Marshall and a local deejay.

R-ACT Theatre presents its annual charity show, a1940s-style USO Holiday Musical Revue, 7:30 p.m. Segriff Stage 134 Brighton Ave. Rochester. Continues 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. Dec. 3. showclix.com. Proceeds benefit American Cancer Society.

More: Rochester theater group presents 1940s USO Holiday Musical Revue

"Tick, Tick ...Boom!" the musical opens at Iron Horse Community Theatre, Ambridge. Runs through Dec. 16. ticketleap.com.

Sewickley Light-Up Night, 5-9 p.m. Broadway and Beaver streets, includes musical entertainment from Elias Khouri, Mount Calvary Gospel Choir, Allegheny Brass Band and an Earth Wind and Fire tribute band.

Dec. 2

Hopewell’s Holiday Trail & Holiday Express. From noon to 4 p.m. celebrate the holidays with hometown merchants providing specials, free appetizers, and free mini ornament giveaways. From 4-7 p.m., Hopewell Community Park hosts an event themed around the holiday movie "Polar Express" with a North Pole train ride for kids, visit with Santa. hot chocolate and cookies, movie screening and free model train exhibit. hopewelltwp.com.

Beaver Falls Cookie Tour, noon-5 p.m. a city-wide cookie tour at local businesses. Hosted by the Beaver Falls Business District Authority. eventbrite.com.

Breakfast With Santa, 9-11 a.m. Blackhawk High School includes choice of breakfast meal, swag bag, ornament decorating and storytime. All proceeds benefit Blackhawk High School Student Council and Benjamin M. Banks Jr. Memorial Foundation benbanksfoundation.org.

Christmas in Chippewa 4-8 p.m. Wright Fields at Veterans Park. Synthetic ice rink, Santa, lights displays, vendors and four food trucks. chippewa-twp.org.

Monaca Borough Hometown Christmas, 5 p.m. Downtown Monaca parade, vendors, music, food trucks and Santa.

"An Evening of Music" 6:30 to 10 p.m. presented by South Side Historical Village at the Hookstown Volunteer Fire Department Hall. Live music, Christmas bake sale, auction and basket raffle.

Ellwood City Christmas Parade, 3:30 p.m. Lawrence Avenue. ellwoodchamber.org

Christmas Open House at the Vicary Mansion, 2-8 p.m., 1235 Third Ave., Freedom. bchrf.org.

8th annual Holiday Model Railroad Open House, noon to 4 p.m., Rochester Area Heritage Society, 350 Adams St., Rochester.

Ohio Valley LinesMiniature Railroad Open House, noon to 5 p.m., two floors of model trains at 1226 Merchant St., Ambridge. Continues Dec. 3, 9-10, 16-17, 23, 30-31.

Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with 70 vendors, breakfast with Santa, kids' crafting area and gift shop, Community Life Center, 118 McMillen Ave., Chippewa Township. chippewaumc.org.

Ridings Family Holiday Train Display 11 a.m. at the McCarl Industrial Museum, Darlington. Multiple trains running through many lighted buildings, plus holiday movies showing for the kids and cookies and candy. Santa will be at the adjacent log cabin at 1 p.m. Runs weekends through December. littlebeaverhistorical.org.

Beaver Valley Choral Society presents its Christmas Carol Sing and Light-Up Night, 2:30 p.m. Rochester Area High School, 540 Reno St., Rochester.

Christmas at Old Economy Village/Ambridge Historic District, 2-9 p.m. candlelit cobblestone street and interpreters demonstrating 19th century wares. Local choirs will entertain. Children’s crafts and activities along with Belsnickel (Pennsylvania Dutch Santa Claus) will be in the Granary. The Ambridge Historic District also will have carriage rides, pictures with Santa at the Laughlin Memorial Library and a Live Nativity at Saint John’s Lutheran Church at 5 p.m.

Crafters and vendors event, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. John-Wayman A.M.E. Church, 715 Mulberry St., Bridgewater. Includes scents, kids crafts, homemade crafts, clothes, jewelry, fudge and bakery items.

Moon Lights Holiday Festival, 5 p.m. Moon Park with holiday lights displays, visits from Santa and the Grinch and musical entertainment from John Sarkis, handbell choir, Moon High School Band.

Holly Jolly Christmas Concert, 7 p.m. Hopewell High School starring Joe Munroe, Hermie Granati, Rick Witkowski, Bailey "BayTay" Taylor and Ashley Marina. .m7shop.com.

More: Hermie Granati, Bailey Taylor, Rick Witkowski, Joe Munroe star in Hopewell holiday show

Dec. 3

Christmas at Old Economy Village, continues 2-7 p.m. with festive decorations, demonstrations of 19th century wares, local choirs, children’s crafts and Belsnickel (Pennsylvania Dutch Santa Claus) will be in the Granary.

PUSH Beaver County's Tailgate for Tots, 11 a.m. Grumpy Beaver, Bridgewater. Everyone is asked to bring an unwrapped toy to support the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots toy drive. A complimentary buffet will be offered to those donating toys.

Marion Hill Grill's annual chili cookoff, 12:30 p.m., Pulaski Township.

Holiday Market and Boozy Brunch, Sweetwater Center for The Arts, Sewickley, ends its four-day holiday local artists' market with a $20 brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. providing two specialty cocktails from Big Spring Spirits, and walking brunch hors d'oeuvres for shoppers. sweetwaterartcenter.org.

Holiday Shop & Sip, 4-8 p.m., Monaca Brewing, a seasonal pop-up with 15 holiday vendors, craft beer and live acoustic music by Bobby Thompson.

Dec. 4

Christmas Light-Up drive-through holiday lights, Clinton Park, 600 Clinton Park Drive, Findlay Township. Open 5-10 p.m. daily. findlay.pa.us

Dec. 5

Hump Day Hike, 10 a.m. North Country Trail, South Beaver Township. Meet at the Watts Mill trailhead. Sponsored by the Wampum chapter of the NCT.

Dec. 6

Extempory Improv Comedy Show, 7 p.m. Fermata Brewing, Ambridge, an evening of outlandish improv comedy a-la "Whose Line is it Anyway" Food provided by Cousins Maine Lobster.

"Scrooge" starring Albert Finney screening for free at noon the Warner Cascade Theatre Museum in New Castle. Repeats at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and noon Dec. 12 and Dec. 21. Part of a month-long free holiday movies at the theater atThe Riverplex on Mill Street, downtown.

Dec. 7

Annual Howl-A-Day Pawty 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Beaver County Humane Society Thrift Store, 1900 Seventh Ave., Beaver Falls. beavercountyhumanesociety.org.

Dec. 8

Ambridge Christmas Parade, festivities beginning at 5 p.m. at PJ Caul Park and the parade beginning at 6. ambridgeregionalchamber.org/event-details

"The Nutcracker" starring Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre opens at the Benedum Center, Pittsburgh. Runs through Dec. 28.

Steel City Con begins with celebrity guests Alec Baldwin, Famke Janssen, Kiefer Sutherland, John Cleese, Neve Campbell and Giancarlo Esposito. Runs through Dec. 10 at the Monroeville Convention Center. steelcitycon.com

Dec. 9

Forestry Fantasy Fundraiser, with live bluegrass from Wolf Tones and locally sourced, farm-to-table food and spirits from McLaughlin Distillery, plus auction items and raffles, 6-9 p.m. Bradys Run Four Seasons Pavilion, 121 Bradys Run Road, Brighton Township. The inaugural fundraising event celebrates our forests. Speakers will touch upon the importance of creating and executing sustainable goals in Beaver County and throughout the world. reforestourfuture.org

Midland Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. along Midland Avenue.

Fire & Ice New Brighton, 2 to 9 p.m. offering numerous family activities like skating, gigantic snow globes, fire pit marshmallows, and an amusement park-sized carousel, Third Avenue, New Brighton.

More: Fire and Ice brings skating, sleigh rides, fire dancing & more outdoor fun in New Brighton

Merry Merrick Christmas with Santa of The Woods, 3 p.m. Dec. 9, Merrick Art Gallery, New Brighton. Free Christmas cookies, ornament design center, Christmas coloring contest, museum tours. Reservations requested at 724-846-1130. merrickartgallery.org.

"The Muppet Christmas Carol" Concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, featuring a Heinz Hall screening of the movie and live orchestral music. pittsburghsymphony.org,

Hopewell Community Big Band Free Holiday Concert, 1 p.m. Beaver Valley Mall.

Breakfast With Santa, 8 a.m. to noon, Hookstown Volunteer Fire Department.

Free photo with Santa, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ambridge Do It Best Home Center.

Live Nativity, 6 p.m. St. John's Burry's Church, 1835 Route 68, New Sewickley Township. burryschurch.com.

Harmony Township Community Day, 1-5 p.m. with Santa, petting zoo, bounce houses and touch-a-truck.

Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble annual free holiday concert "Sounds of the Season" 7 p.m., Rochester High School auditorium.

Dec. 10

Live Nativity, continues 6 p.m. St. John's Burry's Church, 1835 Route 68, New Sewickley Township. burryschurch.com.

Benefit Concert for Ukraine,5 p.m. Park Presbyterian Church, Beaver, features solo and chamber performances by seven members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Beaver Valley Choral Society presents "Joy of Every Longing Heart," 4 p.m., Our Lady of the Valley Parish / Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 200 Third St., Beaver.

Cello Fury concert, 7:30 p.m. Beaver Station Cultural & Event Center, Beaver. RSVP.beaverstation.org.

Dec. 11

A Very Yinzer Christmas with Scott Blasey, Joe Grushecky, Hermie Granati, Jeff Jimerson, Gene the Werewolf and Miss Freddye, 7:30 p.m. Benedum Center, Pittsburgh. $40 at yinzerchristmas.com.

Dec. 12

Holiday Bake Sale Fundraiser, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Center at The Mall, Beaver Valley Mall. centeratthemall.net. Continues Dec. 13.

Dec. 13

Wine Club Wednesday, 6-9 p.m., a new event featuring a different winery and fun activity each month at Brickhause Event Space, 303 Eighth Ave., New Brighton. This month features gingerbread house decorating with gingerbread houses made fresh from Kitchen Witch Bakery, and wines from Harkins Mill Wines in Ambridge.

Dec. 14

"The Game's Afoot: Holmes for The Holidays" a comedic murder-mystery continues 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland. lincolnparkarts.org/events

Tchaikovsky’s "The Nutcracker" opens at 7:30 p.m. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. The Midland center's longest-running annual tradition continues through Dec. 17. lincolnparkarts.org.

Dec. 15

"A Musical Christmas Carol" presented by the Pittsburgh CLO opens at the Byham Theater, Pittsburgh. Stage production runs through Dec. 23. PittsburghCLO.org.

Spaghetti with The Yeti, 4-7 p.m. at Redeemer Trinity Lutheran Church, Monaca. Proceeds benefit the Beaver County CYS Advisory Board to support the supplemental needs of youth and families. eventbrite.com.

Dec. 16

Breakfast With Santa, 9-11 a.m. Economy Fire Department Social Hall, 2854 Conway Wallrose Road. A pancake breakfast with drink, surprise treat for children, special entertainment, free rafflle. RSVP by Dec. 11.

Holiday Market, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. B.F. Jones Memorial Library, Aliquippa. beaverlibraries.org.

Season’s Greetings Saturdays with Santa and a Penguin throughout December at The National Aviary, Pittsburgh's North Side. Guests can take a picture with Santa plus an African Penguin, then sing along to very bird-y holiday carols, enjoy a fun story time featuring a special feathered friend, write a letter to Santa to place in the National Aviary’s North Pole-approved mailbox, and create a festive craft to take home. aviary.org

Beaver Valley Choral Society presents "Joy of Every Longing Heart," 4 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 393 Adams Street, Rochester.

Dec. 17

Santa on The Air, noon to 3 p.m. at the Patterson Township Volunteer Fire Department, 319 Darlington Road, with amateur radio association WW3AAA inviting families to bring the kids to talk to Santa on the radio and tell him their Christmas wishes. Hot cocoa and snack provided.

Dec. 18

"Blue Whales: Return of The Giants" opens at The Rangos Giant Cinema inside Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh. Runs through June, narrated by award-winning actor Andy Serkis.

Dec. 19

Griswold's Pop-Up Bar Experience opens on the rooftop at ShuBrew brewpub, Zelienople. Two-hour timed ticket slots. Runs through Dec. 23.

Dec. 20

Holiday Concert, 7 p.m. MainStage Theater of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland, celebrating the holiday season as performed by the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School Orchestra and Choirs, Symphonic Band and the Guitar, String, Percussion, and Jazz Ensembles.

Dec. 21

Live Nativity, 5:30 to 8 p.m. 520 Third Ave., New Brighton, hosted by Tiger Paws Youth Ministry. Includes Tiger Pause Children’s Choir, train display, hot chocolate and cookies.

Dec. 22

River City Brass Spectacular, playing carols and other popular Christmas songs, 7:30 p.m. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Midland.

Dec. 23

Beaver County Model Railroad and Historical Society Christmas Season Open House, opens and continues each Saturday and Sunday through December. 416 Sixth St., Monaca. bcmrr.railfan

Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Hike on the North Country Trail. An 8-mile intermediate hike meeting at 9 a.m. at the Watts Mill Trailhead, 478 Watts Mill Road, South Beaver/Darlington townships. meetup.com..

Dec. 25

Merry Christmas!

Dec. 26

Holiday Late Nights opens at the National Aviary, Pittsburgh's North Side. Running 5-8 p.m. nightly through Dec. 29, family-friendly activities and different live entertainment each night, such as decorating a gingerbread house, watching a dance performance by The Shining Stars, or painting a beautiful portrait of a seasonal cardinal with instruction from a professional artist, plus hot chocolate, hot apple cider, seasonal cocktails and holiday menu items. aviary.org

More: Beaver County has the region's newest holiday lights attraction; here's a full list

Dec. 27

Enchanted Lights – A Magical Christmas Stroll, the region's newest holiday lights attraction, open weekends in December and Dec. 27-28 at Three Rivers Paintball, 282 Rochester Road, New Sewickley Township. Entrance hours are 6 to 9:15 p.m., with the leisurely walks estimated to last 40-60 minutes. EnchantedLightsPittsburgh.com

Dec. 28

Yinzer Home for the Holiday's Pierogie and Wine Pairing event, 6 p.m. Black Dog Winery, Steubenville Pike, Oakdale.

Dec. 29

The Honky Tonk Heroes play classic country and Southern rock, 8 p.m. at Mario's 410 Grille, Bridgewater.

Dec. 30

Dazzling Nights at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, 799 Pinkerton Run Road, North Fayette Township. A holiday lights show and walk through the woods with spectacular photo ops and 1 million lights. Includes the Lotus Pond, featuring 100 beacons of light, 10 feet tall, dancing to music. Sweet treats, and holiday (and adult) beverages. Timed entry will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. weekends. www.dazzlingpittsburgh.com.

Dec. 31

Ambridge Bicentennial New Year's Eve celebration with music from Occasional Reign, 7:30 p.m. Franzee's & Javy's Banquet Halls, Ambridge. Includes buffet dinner, dancing, open bar, midnight champagne toast, midnight buffet, raffles, prizes. eventbrite.com.

Got an entertainment tip for the January Fun Calendar? Email the details to Times Entertainment Editor Scott Tady at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 63 fun things to do in the Beaver Valley this December