What's happening in our area this week

Wednesday:

Party for a Cause

Absolute Global and Wolfson Childrens Hospital presents Party for a Cause on Wednesday. It will be held at Rush Street at the Jacksonville Landing beginning at 7 p.m. Entry fee is a new toy. All toys will be given to Wolfson Childrens and Hubbard House.

Nutcracker Sweets

You can attend a dessert and wine pairing during Nutcracker Sweets on Wednesday. It will be held at the Tasting Room on Cuna Street in St. Augustine beginning at 7 p.m. Guests will enjoy a sized portion of wine and desserts in a festive holiday spirit. This event will benefit the St. Augustine ballet.

Thursday:

“The Lost Christmas Eve”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra is teaming up to Hallmark Channel to present a rock opera, “The Lost Christmas Eve.”  You can see the show on Thursday at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena beginning at 8 p.m. Portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold will benefit the Greater Jacksonville Arena USO. Tickets begin at $31 and can be purchased at www.livenation.com, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Box office, all Ticketmaster Outlets or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

Holiday Concert

The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra heads to St. Augustine for a holiday concert on Thursday.  The concert will be led by James Lowe. He conducted Anything Goes on Broadway. It will begin at 8 p.m. at the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College. Tickets are $30. You can purchase tickets by calling 904-797-2800.

Friday:

Picnic in the Park

Pack a lunch and have picnic at Hemming Plaza on Friday. Picnic in the Park will be held on Friday beginning at 11:30 a.m. There will be live music, games and more for you to enjoy.

Eric Church

He received his first CMA Award nomination last year. You can hear the music of Eric Church on Friday at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Special Guests will be Justin Moore and Kip Moore.  Tickets can be purchased at the Arena Box office, all ticketmaster locations and www.ticketmaster.com.

 Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks

Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks is coming to Ponte Vedra on Friday. He will perform at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Friday. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $35 for first six rows and $30 for all other rows. Tickets can be purchased at Concert Hall and St. Augustine Amphitheatre Box offices.

 Zoo Lights

Come celebrate the season at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Zoo Lights begin on Friday and run through New Year’s Eve. Thousands of lights transform the zoo into a winter wonderland. There will be a festive carousel for kids and 4-D theatre ride feature the Polar Express. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cost is $9 for non-members, $7 for members. For more information, go to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

First Coast Nutcracker

You can enter the magical world of childlike imagination at the First Coast Nutcracker. Shows begin on Friday and run through Sunday at the Times Union Center. For tickets and show times, call 904-354-5547 or log onto www.jaxsymphony.org.

A Very Merry Christmas

Stage Aurora Theatrical Company will present a Very Merry Christmas beginning Friday. It is an evening of songs, dance, and poetry. The musical show, which will feature holiday music of Motown, will be held at the Stage Aurora Performance Hall located at Norwood Avenue. The show will run through Sunday. Ticket prices are $15 in advance for all shows. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketleap.com or by calling the box office at 904-765-7372.

Drive thru Nativity

This is the last weekend to visit the Drive-thru Nativity in Lake City. It will be held at 314 Southwest Ziegler Terrace in Lake City. This event is free and begins at 6 p.m. each night. It will conclude on Sunday. For more information and directions, call 386-935-9375.

Willow Creek and Adrian Ray Bands

You can see the Willow Creek and Adrian Ray Bands in concert this weekend at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Willow Creek band will take the stage on Friday in the music hall. Adrian Ray Bands will perform on Saturday. For tickets, go to www.musicliveshere.com.

Saturday:

Fall Commencement Ceremony

Jacksonville University will host its largest fall commencement ceremony on Saturday. It will be held on the Science Green. The speaker will be Ronald A. Autrey, a 2001 JU Graduate and current board of trustee chair. Commencement begins at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be broadcasted online at www.ju.edu.

Kids Christmas Party

Jacksonville Beach kids can enjoy a Christmas Party on Saturday. It will be held at Turner Ace Hardware beginning at 11 a.m. There will be free hot dogs, drinks, crafts and games. You can also have your picture taken with Mr. And Mrs. Santa for free. There will also be a free bicycle raffle every hour. This party is sponsored by the Jacksonville Beach police Department.

The Nutcracker

The St. Augustine Ballet will present the Nutcracker beginning Saturday. This year’s cast includes dancers ranging from age 5 to 70 years old. Saturday’s shows will be held at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s show will be held at 2 p.m. The show will be held at Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College.  Tickets can be purchased at www.staugustineballet.com or Abella’s School of Dance.

 Christmas in Old St. Augustine

Florida Living History will present its second annual Christmas in Old St. Augustine on Saturday. It will include live historian in period clothing, a Christmas Procession, and a Spanish Christmas Play. It will begin at 6 p.m. at the Mission Nombre de dios.

Big Orange Chorus

The Big Orange Chorus will host its annual Christmas show on Saturday. The chorus is Jacksonville’s men’s barbershop and a cappella chorus. The concert will be held at the Florida Theatre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $25 for adults, $15 for kids. To purchase tickets, call 904-233-5245 or go online to www.bigorangechorus.com.

Cat Adoption Event

Are you looking for a cat this holiday season? There will be a cat adoption event at the Regency PetSmart on Monument Road on Saturday. It will begin at 11 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. It is sponsored by the Friends of Jacksonville Animals.

Nature’s Supermarket

See how a variety of plants help people survive in the swamp. Join a park ranger for a discussion at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m. Meet the park ranger in front of Chesser Island Homestead.

Bingo for Books for Adults

It’s an opportunity for you to combine your love for books and bingo into one. The Anastasia Island Library Branch will host Bingo for Books beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Come to the library to play bingo and hopefully win a free book.

Secrets of the Salt Mash

Join a park ranger at Fort George Island Cultural state park to learn more about the estuarine systems that surround the barrier islands. The ranger-guided hike will point why these areas are important. The discussion will begin at 2 p.m. at the Ribault Club. No reservations necessary.

Free Photos with Santa

Santa will make two stops at the Jacksonville Landing on Saturday and you can have your picture taken for free. The photos will be taken from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. You will have o show proof of purchase from a business at the landing with a minimum of $10 purchase and get one free 4X6 photo or bring your own camera.

My Focus: A Community Response to the Art of the 80’s

If you are a fan of the 80’s art, you don’t want to miss this event at MOCA Jacksonville. Members of the creative community will share their stories of life and how they were inspired during the 80’s during an event on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

“Christmas Party in the Golden Isles”

The Southern SophisTicats will host a Christmas party cat show beginning Saturday. It will be held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Rescue cats and kittens will be up for adoption. Entry fee is $6 for adults, $4 for students, military, senior and FLETC. Children under the age of 6 will be admitted free. You can receive a $1 off entry price if you bring a can of cat food.

Let’s Move Jacksonville

You can learn how to lean and fit for the holiday during the Let’s Move Jacksonville event on Saturday. It is a block party at the corner of Kings Road and Fairfax near Edward Waters College Gym. There will be free activities, free food, and exercise tips. This event begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call 904-924-0756.

The Cool Side of Yuletide

The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus presents a holiday performance called The Cool Side of Yuletide on Saturday. It will be held at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. The concert will feature holiday songs. There will be a matinee performance beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 each. You can purchase tickets at www.JaxChildrensChorus.com or by calling 904-353-1636.Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus.

Sunday:

Jacksonville Bank Marathon

Lace up your shoes and participate in the Jacksonville Bank Marathon on Sunday. It will begin at 7 a.m. at the Bolles School on San Jose Boulevard. You can qualify for the Boston Marathon at this event. To register, go online at www.1stplacesports.com.

 Posada

Posada, the journey of Mary and Joseph in song and prayers will be presented by the Knights of Columbus Council on Sunday. It will be held at St. Patrick’s Church on Broward Road beginning at 1 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 904-521-1781.

 Yappy Hour Christmas Paw-ty

The final Yappy hour of the season will be held on Sunday. It will feature free dog pictures with Santa, holiday drink specials and a pet food drive. It will begin at 2 p.m. Yappy Hour will return in March of 2013.