You know it’s December when the fight
or flight instinct kicks in. If picking a fight with your sister-in-law has
lost its appeal and escaping to Puerto Vallarta isn’t in your budget, channel
your energy in a new direction. Take the family to a free or low-cost seasonal
event.
The annual It’s a Wonderful Life Festival takes place December 3 through 5 in
Seneca Falls. The classic movie of the same name helps us remember what’s
really important during this hectic time of year. Not losing large sums of
cash, right? Oh, and family is cool and stuff like that.
See the movie in the quintessential
small town that provided inspiration for fictional Bedford Falls on December 3
at 8 p.m. at ZuZu’s Cafรฉ on Fall Street, or December 5 at 2:30 pm in the
library on Cayuga Street. Karolyn Grimes, the actress who played ZuZu, will
sign autographs at ZuZu’s Cafรฉ from 2 to 5 p.m. on December 3. A parade and
concert will follow. More activities are planned, most are free. You can tell
Mr. Potter isn’t running this town! Call 315-568-1542 for details.
Old
Fort Niagara, in Youngstown, has an open house on December 5from
1:30 to 4 p.m. The Fort’s French Castle, built circa 1726, is the oldest
structure on the Great Lakes. And I thought that honor belonged to my leaky
basement. Enjoy light refreshments and musical entertainment. Sorry, no can-can
dancers. The English chased the French out of the Fort in 1759. An 18th-century
style silent auction is planned, but you’ll need 21st-century money to
participate. Everything else is free. For info call 716-745-7611.
Also happening on December 5,
Ganondagan’s annual Native American
Winter Festival at McQuaid High School from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This event
showcases local Native American talent. Hoop dancers will create visual
suggestions of birds and animals. That’ll be a welcome upgrade from Uncle Al’s
visual suggestion of Santa passed out on the couch Thanksgiving Day.
Learn Iroquois social dances and
enjoy stories. Native American artists from across New York State will offer
items for sale. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for kids under 12. For details
visit www.ganondagan.org or call 742-1690.
Once
Upon a Holiday, RIT’s annual multicultural celebration, is December 15 from
5 to 7 p.m. in the Grace Watson Building. It’s never too early to get the kids
used to the idea that someday they’ll have to turn off the Xbox long enough to
get into college.
Thirteen holidays (and their food)
will be showcased at this free event, including Diwali, Bodhi Day, Winter
Solstice, St. Nicholas Day, Chinese New Year, Hanukkah, Ramadan, and Christmas.
Yep, the kids should write a pretty compelling college application essay after
a high-quality experience like that. Call 475-6023 for info.ย ย
The Jewish Community Center hosts a Family Fun Day on December 25, from 1
to 8 p.m. It’s free and open to the public. Enjoy swimming, roller-skating,
music, crafts, and the playgym. Adult visitors can use the cardio equipment.
Make reservations by December 17 for kosher Chinese food (fee applies). Everybody
wins when you bond with the kids over sand art and get out of making dinner,
too. Visit www.jccrochester.org or call 461-2000.
There’s a festival of ultra-rare 3-D short films at the Dryden Theatre on
December 30 and 31. The same 75-minute program, suitable for all ages, will be
screened at 5:30 p.m. both nights. See Casper the Friendly Ghost, a Tchaikovsky
ballet, and an atomic blast as you’ve never seen them before. It’s Normal
Rockwell tinged with surrealism, the perfect way to wrap up the season. The
cost is $6, $5 for students. Check out www.eastmanhouse.org or call 271-4090
for more info.
Remember, you don’t have to shell out
big bucks to make big memories. Unless, of course, you’ve been really naughty.
If that’s the case, Puerto Vallarta is lovely this time of year.
See more of Linda’s writing at
www.junkstorecowgirl.com.
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2004.
