Collingswood Calendar: Parade of Lights, Second Saturday, Civil War Christmas

Tuesday, December 10, stop by the Scottish Rite Auditorium at 7:28 p.m. to see the Collingswood Community Chorus (directed by Dale Carey) perform its "Here We Come A-Caroling" concert. The show is free. For more info, call 856-854-6024.

Report cards come out this week for Collingswood schoolchildren, and parents of elementary school students should note that their schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Then, on Wednesday, December 11, actor-playwright Colin Wolfe leads a discussion of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in the Collingswood Community Center. Starting at 6:45 p.m. and running until 8:30 p.m., the "Coffee and Shakespeare" discussion is free. Contact Ruth at 856-833-0661 for more details.

(Shakespeare fans who want to do more than just talk about The Bard are invited to audition for a performance of Measure for Measure at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church this weekend. Click here for details.)

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice Tree of Life ceremony will come to the community center, helping local people share the memories of their loved ones in a candlelit ceremony of mourning. Optional donations benefit the patients, families and programs of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice.  

Friday, December 13 is one of the most fun events of the holiday season in Collingswood: the Parade of Lights. Starting at 7:30 p.m., engines from area fire companies drive down Haddon Avenue from Zane Avenue to the post office, aglow in lights, tossing candy to the kids, and bringing Christmas cheer to the hundreds of families that line the avenue. A great treat for young and old.

Saturday, December 14 brings with it "the one-day, handmade blitz of crafters" that is the Grooveground holiday bazaar.

Stop by the coffee shop on Haddon Avenue to browse a selection of locally made gifts, including jewelry, chocolates, pottery, and other hand-made gifts. RSVP on Facebook by clicking here.

While you're there, you can check out the work of award-winning photographer, Jessica Kimmel Manelis, the featured artist of the month.

Then, at 11 a.m., you can visit the SOHA Arts Building on the White Horse Pike to connect with local artists and take a tour of their creative spaces.

At 2 p.m. the Collings-Knight House invites history buffs to experience a Civil War-era Christmas celebration. Talk with actors playing soldiers and locals from the era, and get a taste of the past. Members of the Collings-Knight house get in for free; non-members pay $5 apiece, and families pay $10 apiece at the door. No reservation is required. 

Plus, it's Second Saturday in Collingswood. Take advantage of the free parking downtown and all the holiday cheer to do some shopping and dining along Restaurant Row. 

There are lots of parties and events to occupy you during the evening. At 8 p.m., go to the Collingswood Community Center to tell "a sad, funny, or poignant story about the holiday season" with the liberti church crew.

Throughout the evening, you can celebrate at The Factory holiday party. Visit with Santa in his workshop, see a train platform display, enjoy "free adult beverages," and take home some door prizes—a free membership to the factory, an Intro to Sewing class at "Stitch-N-Bitch," a coffee basket from Revolution Roasters. 

Finally, on Sunday, December 15, stop by the sister location of the Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown to hear Oaklyn resident Sara O'Brien perform her Holiday Rock, Sing, and Dance-along holiday workshop. Parents are welcome to stay, or drop off kids aged six and older. Workshop includes supplies and light refreshments, and all participants will be entered for a chance to win "a giftable holiday prize."