Lego challenge, holiday house tours and Dickens in NW Philly this weekend

So much to do… it’s tough to choose! Whether you’re looking to celebrate Christmas or hoping to avoid that altogether, there’s plenty to do in and around the NW this weekend…

Christmas Activities:

It’s a Dickens of a Christmas in Chestnut Hill! Go back in time to celebrate Christmas old-school. REALLY old-school. The Hill will be transformed during the month of December into a festive Victorian village with special holiday and Dickens performances, extended store hours, and Dickens-themed activities all along the avenue.

Saturday: all events are FREE at The Woodmere Art Museum (admission is free too!)

1-2pm Tea with Scrooge at The Night Kitchen Bakery with free tea and cookies for children.

2-3pm Victorian Holiday Card Making workshop families at the Woodmere Art Museum

3:30 – 4:30 Holiday Reception: Phila. Girls Choir concert @ Woodmere

3:00 – 3:30 Reading from a Christmas Carol @ the WoodmereArt Museum

If you’re hoping to break into song, the 35th annual Carol Night will take place on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. in the GORGEOUS Rotunda of St. Joseph Hall at Chestnut Hill College. The celebration includes student performances by the Wind and Jazz Ensemble, the Hill Singers, and the Men’s Singing Group. The program will include a lively selection of holiday favorites and features a visit from Santa. FREE. Come see the campus decked out for the season!

http://www.chc.edu/News/2011/November/35th_Annual_Carol_Night_and_Christmas_Concerts/

Also in Chestnut Hill, (but more for the grown-ups), the Holiday House Tour is this Saturday!

http://www.chestnuthill.org/?p=1278

On the other end of the Avenue, you’ll find more Christmas fun in Germantown. On Saturday from 2-4 p.m., visit historic Stenton at 4601 North 18th Street, for their annual Holiday Tea where you can enjoy light refreshments and make a holiday craft. Call 215.329.7312 to reserve a space. And keep the holiday spirit going at 6 p.m. that night with the Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust as they host a Carol Sing in the 18th century meetinghouse at 6133 Germantown Avenue. Both programs are FREE and open to the public.

http://stenton.org/index.php/2011/11/stentons-annual-holiday-tea/

And for Non-Christmas Fun…

LEGO: Experience a spectator sport unlike any other! You’ll find a gymnasium full of excited kids and their cheering fans at the 2011 Springside Chestnut Hill LEGO League Challenge. 26 area teams, ages 9-14, go head-to-head using their engineering, research, and presentation smarts to conquer a high-tech challenge. Meet the student teams, roam the “pits,” watch robot demos, and create your own LEGO contribution to add to LEGO town. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy gymnasium. Saturday: 9-5 p.m. (late morning may be best for the most action), with 12-1 p.m. lunch and demos of robots of all sizes.

ALBUM RELEASE PARTY: The album release of The Cat’s Pajamas newest recording, Backseat Driver is going to be released Saturday in concert at 11 a.m. at the World Cafe Live. This band has several connections to our neck of the woods, since 5 of the band members have taught at Germantown Friends School! They’re also scheduled to perform live on G-Town Radio on November 30th at 7pm.

http://tickets.worldcafelive.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=4064

Jen Bradley is the editor of Germantown Avenue Parents.