EVENTS

Fall Open House: Nov. 23, 9 am-1 pm at Hen House Ministries at Hwy 3 and Whetstone Rd, Swansea. Come visit the hand-made crafts, bake sale, and unique yard sale. There will be a raffle for a hand-made USC quilt. Questions? Call 803-568-5499 and leave a message. All calls will be returned.

Gem mineral & Jewelry show: Nov. 22 & 23, 10 am-6 pm. Nov. 24, 12-5 pm at Jamil Temple, 206 Jamil Rd, Columbia. Adults $5, children 16 and under free. All military and dependents free. For more info visit www.cgms.rocks or 803-736-9317.

Good Samaritan Clinic Chapin: 2nd & 4th Thurs. each month, at 1808 Chapin Rd, Chapin in former We Care building. Patient registration open 4-6 pm. Fully staffed, volunteer primary medical care clinic for the uninsured and under-insured. No form of payment accepted. To volunteer, contact clinic director Susan Boland at kdsboland@bellsouth.net or 803-528-6365. For more info visit https://goodsamaritansc.org .

Operation Turkey: Nov. 27, 3:30-8:30 pm and Nov. 28, 10 am-1 pm. At Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church Gym, 5503 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington. For the 25th year Saxe Gotha members will prepare and deliver over 1000 Thanksgiving Day meals to people in need in our community. To volunteer for this ministry or make an online donation, please go to saxegotha.org/events . Contact Dawn Cochran at dawncochran1@gmail.com or Mary Mc-Ilwain Fuller at scmcilwains@gmail.com with any questions.

Food and fun

FREE DINNER & A MOVIE: Dec. 6, 6 pm, Grace United Methodist Church, 410 Harbison Blvd, Columbia. Free hot dog supper with chili, kielbasa, German kraut, ice cream, cake, and cookies under the stars, followed by the movie “Breakthrough” with popcorn.

Lunch & Learn: Dec. 10, 12-1 pm at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 1000 Springhill Rd, Gilbert in the Fellowship Hall. December’s topic - Holiday safety/ getting around to it. $10 for catered lunch. RSVP by Dec. 5 to 803-359-7586.

Holiday Events

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS BOAT PARADE: Dec. 7, 6 pm, Lake Murray. Viewable from homes on shore and Lexington Park site at the dam. Visit www.LakeMurrayCountry.com for info/registration.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS: Dec. 1, 1-5 pm, SC State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia. Christmas trees for sale, and the market will be decked out with wintry decorations, festive music and holiday treats from food vendors. Children can make and take home Christmas crafts. Santa Claus will be on site passing out candy canes and listening to Christmas wishes. Bring your camera to take pictures! Free event.

Evergreen Holiday Art Show: All of December at Old Mill Brew Pub, Lexington. 30 or so artworks on display, all varying by medium and style and available for purchase. Show features work by numerous local artists. Event organized and curated by Candace Thibeault.

Nativity Exhibition: Dec. 14-15 from 2-6 pm each day at Calvary United Methodist Church, 1130 Calvary Church Rd, Swansea. Admission is free. Over 300 nativities from around the world will be on display. Santa’s Gift Shop will be open for holiday shopping. Hot cocoa and coffee will be available. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more info call 803-568-9712.

PICTURES WITH SANTA: Dec. 1, 2-4 pm, Bethel Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 2081 Dutch Fork Rd., White Rock. Children can have their pictures taken with Santa and enjoy cookies, milk, and hot chocolate. There will also be holiday crafts and a bake sale for families to enjoy. Registration is $5 or a donation of nonperishable goods which will go to the pantry at We Care. Call the Bethel Lutheran Church office at 803-781-2134 to register.

Sandy Run Christmas Parade: Dec. 21,10 am, Old Sandy Run Rd. (Hwy. 31), in the Town of Sandy Run. To participate, call 803-939-4856 or email sandyrunparade@gmail.com .

SANTA & GRINCH HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Nov. 23, 9 am-noon, Tri-City Leisure Center, 485 Brooks Ave., West Columbia. Free admission and free breakfast as long as supplies last. Crafting and pictures with Santa for children. 50 vendors selling handmade items, jewelry, candles, beauty products. Proceeds benefit Dream Makers (local children’s charities).

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: Dec. 14, noon, 11th annual wreath-laying ceremony at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4107 Percival Rd., Columbia. Parking will be at the Blue Cross Blue Shield parking lot at 4101 Percival Rd., across from the cemetery and you will be shuttled into the cemetery. Shuttles start at 10:30 am for general public and 9 am for volunteers. No parking in the cemetery on Saturday, but limited handicapped parking on a first come first serve basis with proper identification. To volunteer contact Carol Davis, waaftjackson@gmail.com or call 803-467-4482. To raise funds visit www.weathsacrossamerica.org/ .

lessons/training

GAL Training: Free 30-hour volunteer Guardian ad Litem training teaches about the family court system, how to recognize abuse and neglect and how to communicate with children, foster parents and every party involved in the case. For more info and how to become a GAL volunteer, visit http://gal.sc.gov or call 803-957-6484

meeting

Friends for LaVie: Nov. 24 at 4 pm at Midlands Christian Church, 1312 W. Main St., Lexington. This community pro-life group supports LaVie Pregnancy Care Center through talents, abilities, or donations of items. The group is open to everyone and donations are welcome. For more info email friendsforlavie@gmail.com .

Home League: Every Thursday at noon, women age 16 and up are welcome to meet at the Salvation Army at 7532 Irmo Dr., Irmo. Enjoy fellowship, education, worship and service as part of the Salvation Army Church of Irmo women’s fellowship club. For more info call or text Captain Amy Rockwell at 803-466-1071.

Parkinson’s Support Group: 2nd Friday of each month at 2 pm at Deepwood Estates, at 203 Old Chapin Road, Lexington, SC 29072 inside Deepwood Estates Retirement Community in the activities room. Open to all those impacted by Parkinson’s. Patients, loved ones, and caregivers are welcome to learn and share.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group: Meets every month 3rd Tuesday at 2 pm at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington. For more information, call Carolyn Brooks 803-960-9949.

SMART Recovery: Tuesday nights at 7 pm, at LRADAC Richland County’s campus at 2711 Colonial Dr, Columbia, in Room 604. The meeting offers Self-Management And Recovery Training for all ages. For more info on this or other programs by the Courage Center visit www.couragecentersc.org .

Youth Recovery Support: Monday nights at 7 pm, youth ages 15-18 are invited to meet at the Courage Center, 860 Park Rd, Lexington. For unique recovery support and mentoring personalized to the individual. For more info on this or other programs by the Courage Center visit www.couragecentersc.org .

Music/theater

A Christmas Story: Dec. 6,7 & 13-14 at 7:30 pm, Dec. 8 & 15 at 3 pm, at Village Square Theatre, 105 Caughman Rd, Lexington. $18 for adults. $16 for seniors, military, students. $14 for 12 and under. Play based on the motion picture. For more info call 803-359-1436.

Dixieland Jazz: Dec. 8, 2:30-5 pm at the Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle, Maxcy Gregg Park, Columbia. Bring a snack and soda for yourself or bring munchies for the hospitality table as you enjoy ragtime, jazz, and swing. $10 adults, free to 18 and 9:30 pm at Johnson Hall, USC younger. For info visit www.caro- Darla School of Business, 1014 linajazzsociety.com or contact Greene St, Columbia. See Kenny Red Smith at 803-432-1504. Barron and the SC Jazz Master- FEAST, FAST & FROLIC: A works Ensemble. For info and concert of holiday music by Pal- tickets visit www.scjazz.org or metto Master Singers Nov. 22, call 803-238-7944. 7:30 pm, St. Joseph Catholic SC Philharmonic: Dec. Church and Nov. 24, St. An- 15, 3:30 pm at Harbison Theatre drews Presbyterian Church. Tick- at Midlands Technical College. ets $15 at the door or online at Do you hear what we hear? www.palmettosingers.otg . Morihiko Nakahara and the S.C. GOSPEL SINGING: Dec. 7, Philharmonic musicians return for 6 pm, The Midland Gospel Sing- another year with 2 performancing Center, 705 Martin Smith es of this wildly popular show. Rd.,Gilbert. Guests will be Glory- Tickets available online at www.land and the Chordsmen Quartet. HarbisonTheatre.org or by calling Free admission. A love offering the box office at 803-407-5011. will be accepted and refresh- THE NUTCRACKER: Coments will be served. lumbia City Ballet will perform HAIL BRITANNIA: A concert this classic six times Dec. 14 by the Lake Murray Symphony through 22 at the Koger Center, Orchestra. Nov. 24, 3:30 pm, Columbia. Features magnificent Harbison Theatre at Midlands costumes, sets and scenery. Technical College, 7300 College Tickets can be purchased at St., Irmo. A rousing tribute to www.kogercenterforthearts.comBritish composers, Vaughn-Wil- or calling (803)-251-2222. liams, Sullivan and more. Free WINTER’S HOPE: A Christ-admissions; donations accepted mas concert by the Dutch Fork at the door. Info: LMSO.org or Choral Society, Dec. 12, 7:30 call 803-400-3540. pm, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Holiday Concert: Dec. 170 St. Andrews Rd., Irmo. In-8, 3 pm at Lexington 1 Perform- cludes Vivaldi’s  Magnificat and ing Arts Center at Lexington High “Winter”  from his Four Seasons, School. This concert by the Lex- and the well-loved Seven Joys of ington Community Band is free Christmas.  Free. Donations ac-and open to the public. Everyone cepted. Info: Call Jim Buck, (803) is welcome to attend. 318-0488 or (803) 414-2222 or

visit www.dutchforkchoralsoci- Jazz Piano: Nov. 23, 7:30- ety.com .