Florida Culture for the Week of November 26 by Josh Garrick

November 30 – Downtown Orlando’s Tree Lighting Ceremony

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invites Central Florida families and visitors to join him as he rings in the Holiday Season with the annual Holiday Lights Orlando event on November 30. The Mayor will be joined by the 100-voice Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Choir leading to the lighting of the City’s Christmas tree, adorned with thousands of holiday lights. Festivities also include a sampling of holiday treats and an outdoor viewing of the film Elf. Running from 4 to 10 pm, (tree lighting at 6:15) admission is free at the Lake Eola Park Amphitheatre on Rosalind Avenue in Downtown Orlando. Visit: cityoforlando.net/holiday

November 30 to December 16 – A Christmas Survival Guide

The Garden Theatre – in Winter Garden – presents the Florida Premiere of A Christmas Survival Guide, a comic musical revue of holiday songs including parodies, traditional classics, and everything in between. In a series of ‘situations,’ this would-be-jolly cast of characters remains optimistic as they search beyond the commercial hustle and bustle for the true essence of Christmas. Join them as they learn to cope with the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming. Presented from November 30 to December 16, call 407-877-GRDN (4736) or visit gardentheatre.org

November 30 to January 13 – The Magic of Landscape

November 30 marks the Opening of the Lake Eustis Museum of Art’s new exhibit entitled The Magic of Landscape: Kevin Boldenow, and it also introduces LEMA’s new location at 1 W. Orange Avenue on Lake Eustis in Ferran Park. Photographer Kevin Boldenow presents a rich variety of landscapes, many from Central Florida. “At an early age,” he says, “I learned how ignoring Mother Nature’s wonders could only lead to disaster. I am not interested in coercing people to become die-hard environmentalists, but rather to look at my photography and recognize the beauty, vitality, and necessity of our natural resources.” Call 352.483.2900 or visit lakeeustisartmuseum.org

Illustration:  KEVIN BOLDENOW, Blue Cypress Revisited.  ©K. Boldenow

December 1, 2012 at noon – Letters to Santa at the Enzian

The whole family will enjoy holiday treats, activities and a kid-friendly film matinee at the Enzian on December 1 when children under 12 will receive a FREE letter writing kit to send their wish list to Santa. The kit is complete with return address envelope so Santa can send the letter back to Mom & Dad as a keepsake after he reads it. A special menu including cookie decorating kits and hot cocoa will be available to order, and Santa will stop by for visits and photographs (available for purchase). Call 407-629-1088 or visit Enzian.org

December 1 & 2 – Crealde’s Annual Holiday Art Sale

Just in time for the holidays, the talented Artists from Crealdé School of Art will offer their artwork for sale to the public. Unique gifts including jewelry, ceramics, glass, and paintings are available on December 1 and 2 with a portion of the proceeds supporting Crealdé’s educational programs. Crealdé is located at 600 Saint Andrews Boulevard in Winter Park Call 407-571-1886 or visit Crealde.org

December 4 to 9 -- Direct from Broadway, SISTER ACT

The hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical hit Sister Act is coming to Orlando. Called “DIVINE!” by the Associated Press, Sister Act will be at the Bob Carr PAC from December 4 to the 9th.  When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun, she uses her fabulous ‘disco voice’ to inspire the choir, but it’s soon nun-on-the-run time, and she can only be saved by her newly found sisterhood. Produced by Whoopi Goldberg, and featuring an original score by Alan Menken, Sister Act received five 2011 Tony Award nominations. Visit OrlandoBroadway.com or by call 1-800-982-2787

December 5 – History Holiday in Heritage Square

The Orange County Regional History Center invites us to bring friends and family to the Museum for this Free Holiday celebration with Mayor Teresa Jacobs “lighting the Square.”  Enjoy holiday music, visit with Santa Claus, create holiday crafts, and enjoy milk and cookies at 65 East Central Boulevard in downtown Orlando on Wednesday, December 5 from 6 to 8 pm.  Admission is Free.

December 5 and 6 -- Kate Zaloumes

With the voice of a Christmas angel, the charming and effervescent Kate Zaloumes will present Singing Myself Home as she returns to The Winter Park Playhouse on December 5 and 6. Accompanied by pianist Christopher Leavy, and featuring holiday music and standards that remind her of warmth and family, Kate is a Central Florida favorite. Tickets are $20 and include a drink from the bar. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

December 6 – Winter Park’s Christmas in the Park Celebration

For 34 years the Holiday Season has ‘officially’ begun with this festive evening of art, music and friends at the Morse Museum’s Christmas in the Park. Nine illuminated Tiffany windows from the Museum’s collection will cast their vibrant glow as the 150-voice Bach Festival Choir performs a free outdoor concert of seasonal favorites. The program begins at 6:15 pm when the signal is given to turn on the Tiffany window lights. The Morse Museum is at 445 N. Park Avenue in Winter Park. Visit morsemuseum.org.

December 7 – Free Friday Nights at the Morse Museum

For each of the Friday evenings in December, visitors to the Morse Museum can enjoy free admission and live music from 4 pm to 8 pm. In addition, the Morse will offer curator tours of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall, the major exhibition in the Museum’s new wing. The December 14 program includes a family tour of selected galleries with a free take-home art activity for children. Admission to the Museum is also free on December 22 and 23. For a complete schedule of Morse Museum holiday events, visit morsemuseum.org

December 8 at noon  -- Saturday Matinee Classic: It’s a Wonderful Life

The Holiday Season would not be complete without a screening of the Frank Capra winter-time classic film It’s a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart. We can all ‘help an angel earn her wings’ with this five-time Academy Award nominated film at the Enzian at 1300 S. Orlando Avenue (17-92) in Maitland. Call 407-629-1088 or visit Enzian.org

December 8 at 4 pm -- Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra

The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will collaborate with WMKG Local 6 to present a Holiday Benefit Concert in support of the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Network. Hosted by WKMG news anchors, and featuring all four FSYO Orchestras, the concert presents the sounds of the season and a visit from a very special ho-ho-holiday guest at the Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando. Admission is Free, and a donation to the Salvation Army is suggested. Visit fsyo.org

Open in Time for Holiday Shopping – Kiehl’s at Millenia Mall

Since 1851, the venerable New York-based store for quality skin and hair care – Kiehl’s – recently opened its newest store at The Mall at Millenia. Celebrating 161 years of retail service, Kiehl’s President Chris Salgardo was on-hand to bring an early Christmas to Orlando’s Hope & Help service organization with 1% of all sales being donated to the clients of Hope & Help through January 31. Thank you, Kiehl’s. The Holidays will be brighter here in Central Florida thanks to the foresight and charity from this new store.

Josh Garrick with Kiehl's president Chris Salgardo

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators