Athens Weekly Planner: Nov. 28 - Dec. 4

The Downtown Parade of Lights, which takes place on Thursday, Dec. 1, might just be the highlight of the week for Athens families. The parade starts at 7pm at the corner of Dougherty and Pulaski Streets, then winds its way down Clayton, Thomas, Washington and College before ending up back at Dougherty at 8:30pm. Check the Athens-Clarke County Calendar for other holiday-inspired, family-centered events happening in December.

It’s that time of year again, time to shop your local, conscious, unique-gift-loving heart out! Athens is home to more than a few artists, and the month of December is chock full of art festivals and open houses. You can look forward to the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa, the and a  this coming weekend. Shopping at these great venues will warm your heart and soul, and keep food on the table of some local, hungry artist.

And don’t forget to visit one of many nearby art galleries and pottery studios for gifts (or for yourself, you know...). When you visit the , you can also conveniently check out Jeff Bishop at 1790 Salem Rd., and Geoff Pickett at 1171 Freeman Creek Rd., both of whom will be holding Open House pottery sales on Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 3-4) from 9am-5pm. Also a short drive from Athens are in Watkinsville and the Blue Bell Gallery in Comer.

Shop for local veggies, bread, baked goods, grains, pasta, soaps and crafts at Athens Farmers Market this Saturday morning from 9am-12pm.

The , Tuesday at 12:15pm at the , will feature , the editor of Athens Patch. Participate in this program to learn how you can get the most out of the Athens Patch local news website. Feel free to bring a lunch to this 45-minute program; beverages will be provided. This event is free and open to the public and will be held in the Story Room of the library.

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music presents its annual Holiday Concert on Thursday and Friday at 8pm in the at the UGA Performing Arts Center. Ticket sales will go to support the 2nd Thursday Scholarship fund in the School of Music. The evening’s program features six choral ensembles in the school of music: the UGA Hodgson Singers, University Chorus, Women’s Glee Club, Men’s Glee Club, Classic City Jazz and Collegium Musicum. Accompaniment for the concert will be provided by the UGA Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mark Cedel. The Symphony orchestra will also perform musical interludes including Act II from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

The First Friday EATS program, sponsored by the UGA Office of Sustainability and the Academy of the Environment, is a "green-bag" bring-your-own-lunch series focusing on sustainability topics in a conversational atmosphere. This Friday at noon, Pamela Turner and Sharon Gibson (Family and Consumer Sciences/Cooperative Extension) will speak about the UGA GreenWay program and give tips for staying sustainable at home and Neil Priest (TrueSouth Radio) will speak about his own experiences converting his home to solar and working within our community on a range of issues related to sustainability.

This Friday is Opening Night for the performance of Cornerstone Production’s “Overnight Christmas” at the Morton Theatre. The show promises a wonderful evening of great music, grand Broadway-style production numbers, and fun for the entire family. The show runs Friday, Dec 2 through Sunday, Dec. 11.

The recent box office hit Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Steve Carrell, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Gosling, is showing at the Tate Student Center Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm, 6pm and 9pm. Tickets are only $1 for UGA students and $2 for regular folks!

Friday night, the UGA Observatory will be open to the public. If skies are clear, the quarter moon, Jupiter and various stars and constellations will be visable. The Observatory will be open from 7pm-8:30pm.

UGA’s Black Theatrical Ensemble will be performing “They Sing Christmas Up In Harlem” at the Seney Stovall Chapel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The performance is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale A Christmas Carol that takes place during the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz music, urban flavor, and African American Vernacular English help create a unique environment in which Ebenezer "Scratch" Scrooge, a ruthless loan shark, encounters three Ghosts who teach him the true meaning of Christmas.

Remember to register for late Winter and early Spring programs offered by ACC Leisure Services, this Saturday from 9am-noon. Programs include tennis, gymnastics, theatre, art, dance and more for adults and children. Registration this Saturday is for Athens-Clarke residents only - registration for non-residents will open next week.

Join staff of Sandy Creek Nature Center for a walk and check out the butterflies, frogs, and other wildlife in our woods, this Saturday from 10am-11am.

Your pets will be delighted to know they can pose with Santa this Sunday from noon-6pm at Pet Supplies Plus.