On the calendar

Friday, Dec. 11, 2009

Concerts

COSMIC — The community orchestra will perform Handel's "Messiah" at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at Patuxent Presbyterian Church, 23421 Kingston Road, California and at 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at Crossroad Christian Church, 150 Ball Road, St. Leonard. Tickets are $10, $8 for students, senior citizens and military. Go to www.cosmicmusic.org.

St. Maries Musica — Fundraising madrigal dinners will be held at the State House in Historic St. Mary's City on Dec. 11-13. Call 240-895-4991. The group will perform its last concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Patuxent Presbyterian Church, 23421 Kingston Creek Road, California.

Winter choral concert — The College of Southern Maryland will have it annual winter concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in the fine arts center, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Fee is $5. Call 301-934-7828.

Patuxent Voices — The choral group will perform a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Middleham Chapel, 10200 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby.

Latin ensemble — The College of Southern Maryland's Latin ensemble will perform its annual winter concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 in the fine arts center, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Fee is $5. Call 301-934-7828.

Chesapeake Community Chorus — Tthe group will perform holiday music at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Edmonds United Methodist Church, 2000 Dalrymple Road, Chesapeake Beach. Donations will be accepted. Call 410-535-0892 or 301-855-1226.

Christmas open mic — Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance's HomeSpun CoffeeHouse will be held from 7:30-10 p.m. Dec. 11 at Christ Episcopal Church's parish hall, 37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Fee is $5. Call 301-373-2661. Go to www.smtmd.org.

Christmas contra dance — Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance will have a contra dance from 7:30-10 p.m. Dec. 12 at Christ Episcopal Church's parish hall, 37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico. Fee is $8. Go to www.smtmd.org.

Galleries

Artworks@7th — "Christmas at the Beach" will continue throughout December. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Monday. The gallery is at 9128 Bay Ave., North Beach. Call 410-286-5278.

Lexington Park Library — A show featuring Candy Cummings, the gallery's director, will continue though Jan. 15. The library is at 21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park. Call 301-863-8188.

Mattawoman Creek Arts Center — A holiday salon show will continue through Dec. 13. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday. The gallery is in Smallwood State Park, Route 224, Marbury. Call 301-743-5159.

North End — The holiday show will continue through Jan. 3. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and from noon-4 p.m. Sunday. The gallery is at 41625 Fenwick St., Leonardtown. Call 301-475-3130.

Special events

Christmas doll and train exhibit — St. Clement's Island Museum's 23rd annual Christmas exhibit will continue through Jan. 3. The museum is in Colton's Point. Call 301-769-2222.

Tree lighting and Winter wonderland — The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual event from 5-10 p.m. Dec. 12 at the firehouse , 46900 S. Shangri La Drive, Lexington Park. Call 301-481-3191.

Holiday Exhibit — Piney Point Lighthouse will have its exhibit from Dec. 12 to Jan. 3 at 44701 Lighthouse Road, Piney Point. Hours are noon-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call 301-994-1471.

Antebellum Christmas — An Antebellum Christmas open house will be held from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 13 at Mount Aventine, Chapman State Park. The park is at 3452 Ferry Place, Indian Head. Call 301-753-6754.

Ring in the holidays — Candlelight tours will be held from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Thomas Stone National Historic Site, 6655 Rose Hill Road, Port Tobacco. Call 301-392-1776.

Christmas market — The event will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12 at All Saint's Church, 100 Lower Marlboro Road, Sunderland.

Talk with a naturalist — John Page Williams, senior naturalist of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, will speak at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at La Plata United Methodist Church, 3 Port Tobacco Road.

Santa and Mrs. Claus visit the square — Meet the Clauses from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 12 in downtown Leonardtown. Call 301-475-9791.

Meet ‘Santa Claws' — The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will host a holiday breakfast featuring the mascot Pinch, or "Santa Claws," from 8 a.m.-noon Dec. 12 in the Legends Club. To buy tickets, call 301-374-1130. E-mail cfreeland@somdbluecrabs.com. The stadium is at 11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf.

Little Minnows — See puppet show of "Jenny Jellyfish." Learn about jellyfish through song, crafts and peeking in the tanks. Registration is required. Fee is $7. The museum is at 14150 Solomons Island Road, Solomons. Call 410-326-2042. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Holiday parties — Children of all ages can listen to holiday stories and participate in crafts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Lexington Park Library, 21677 FDR Blvd (301-863-8188); at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Charlotte Hall library, 37600 New Market Road (301-884-2211); and 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at Leonardtown library, 23250 Hollywood Road (301-475-2846). The events are free but registration is required.

Plan ahead

Book signing — Leo Bretholz, author of "Leap Into Darkness: Seven Years on the Run in Wartime Europe," will sign books at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Westlawn Inn, 9200 Chesapeake Ave., North Beach. Call 410-257-0001.

Chesapeake Choral Arts Society — Under the direction of Michael Santana and Peter Ullman, the Chesapeake Choral Arts Society will present "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "Christmas Carols from the 20th Century" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 20. Lyric soprano Angela Powell will appear in the role of Mother. Tony Teleky will portray Amahl and the three kings will be played by John Sheer, Michael Mickey and Larry Robinson. The concerts will be held at the fine arts center at the College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Tickets are $12, $10 for students and senior citizens. Call 301-934-7828.

Christian music concert — Christian singer-songwriter Derek Sandstrom, with Russ Dean and the Waldorf SDA Singers, will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 19 at My Brother's Place. Tickets are $10 in advance, $20 at the door, children younger than 6 get in for free. Bring a can of food to benefit the Southern Maryland Food Bank and pay $5 less for admission. Buy tickets at Hot Licks Guitar Shop, Bullock's Piano Salon East, Joe's Groceries & Deli and Island Music Company. My Brother's Place is at 3081 Old Washington Road, Waldorf. Call 301-899-4020. E-mail jsat12@netzero.com.

Sanford Concert Series — Washington National Opera members Patricia Hussey (mezzo soprano), Tim Augustin (tenor), Linda Kirk (soprano) and Donald Schramm (baritone) will return to St. Andrew's Church at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Tickets are $25, $10 for students. The church is at 44078 St. Andrew's Church Road, California. Call 301-862-9541. Go to www.sanfordconcertseries.com.

Encore Kids — The Port Tobacco Players' Encore Kids will perform "Psalty's Christmas Calamity" from 3-4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Port Tobacco Players Theater. Psalty, a singing songbook, and children are putting on a Christmas show, a press release states. While practicing, the children find that Psalty's pages are so dusty that it's hard to read the music. But later, after God speaks to Psalty, the children learn that anything can be accomplished with His strength. Port Tobacco Players Theater is at 508 E. Charles St., La Plata. Call 301-932-6819. Go to ptplayers.com.

Tubachristmas — The 8th annual Solomons Tubachristmas concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at Southern Calvert Baptist Church, 12140 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby. The event is free, and the concert features traditional Christmas carols arranged for tuba and baritone players. Call 410-326-4608.

Leonardtown Rotary Performing Arts Series — Legendary Ladies of Song will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Great Mills High School. Tickets are $25, $15 for children younger than 15. Season tickets are $75, $50 for children younger than 15. The high school is at 21130 Great Mills Road. Call 301-475-6999.