Festival of Trees
There are trees, and then there are trees like the ones you’ll see at the Festival of Trees downtown at the Shaw Conference Centre this weekend. They’ve been decorated for Christmas by community groups and individuals, each one attempting to outdo the others in lights and tinsel. The annual holiday celebration and fundraiser for the University Hospital Foundation also features lots of musical entertainment, holiday accent pieces, fabulously decorated gingerbread houses, Santa’s breakfast and decorated cakes. Check the online schedule for more information.
When: Thursday, Nov. 26 to Saturday, Nov. 27, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave.
Admission: $10, adult; $5, senior and student; $2, children.
Info: festivaloftrees.ca
Big, The Musical
You’re guaranteed all of the memorable moments from the original film in this musical treatment of the Tom Hanks classic about a small boy who gets his desire for an early adulthood from a wish-making Zoltar machine at a carnival. Now a 30-year-old man with a job that any kid would love, he finds out that life is a little more complicated than expected when all of those responsibilities roll in. The cast in this St. Albert Children’s Theatre production is comprised of 36 actors ranging in age from nine to 28 years.
When: Thursday, Nov. 26 to Dec. 6. Playing at various times; check the website for schedule.
Where: Arden Theatre, 5 St. Anne St, St. Albert
Admission: $27, adult, $21 children and seniors, available from the Arden box office, 780-459-1542
Info: stalbert.ca
Kids-Only Christmas Shopping
The Old Strathcona Antique Mall wants to make sure all the littlest gift givers have access to inexpensive presents and a way to shop for them in secret for their grown-up loved ones. This weekend, children are welcome to a top secret supervised shopping experience where all gifts will cost between $5 and $20. Grandmothers from the GANG (Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation) will be on hand to help the kids pick out and wrap their gifts. Cash only, and the mall will cover the GST.
When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Old Strathcona Antique Mall, 10323 78th Ave.
Admission: Free
Info: facebook.com
A Christmas Carol
An Edmonton tradition that just keeps growing in popularity, the lavish Citadel Theatre version of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol is now in its 16th consecutive season. You know the story of Scrooge and his belated recognition of the importance of Christmas, but it never grows old in the telling. Directed by Bob Baker, and starring James MacDonald as the scowling miser with ghost troubles.
When: Sunday, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. Performances at various times; check the online schedule for more info.
Where: Citadel Theatre
Admission: $25 to $95, available from the Citadel box office, 780-425-1820, or the website
Info: citadeltheatre.com
Youth Orchestra
Michael Massey conducts the next generation of musical stars as the Edmonton Youth Orchestra Association perform their annual concert at the Winspear Centre. Welcome Ode and excerpts from Friday Afternoons by Benjamin Britten are among the numbers being performed, as well as Symphony No. 94 by Haydn and Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Special guests for this afternoon concert are the Shumayela and Kikimasu Choirs.
When: Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
Where: Winspear Centre
Admission: $15, adult; $10, senior and student, available from Tix on the Square, 70-420-1757
Info: tixonthesquare.ca
Family Five is compiled and written by Tom Murray. If you have ideas for the column, email livingwell@edmontonjournal.com with Family Five in the subject line.
