Fine art by Laurel Astor and Betsy Blackard. Also pottery, jewelry, knitted hats and scarves, handmade Santas, hand-painted ornaments, handmade soaps, potpourri, specialty baked goods and much more. Tuesdays through Fridays 4-8 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Red Canyon Plaza, 3768 Highway 82, Suite 205, across from Holy Cross Energy.For more information, call 945-0905.

The Basalt Chamber is offering sponsorship opportunities for the 2007 Peace Tree Lighting ceremony to be held from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. In exchange for sponsorship, your name will be listed in all advertising for the event and your banner displayed in the park the night of the event. Call 927-4031 or e-mail info@basaltchamber.com for more information.

Saturday, Dec. 22, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Bring the kids and the camera for visit with St. Nick.

---

---

The Frontier Historical Society Museum will host a free holiday open house from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the museum located at 1001 Colorado Ave. Appetizers, hot cider, desserts and wine will be served. The museum has been decked out in Victorian-style finery and decorated with several unique Christmas trees. Tour the museum, enjoy holiday music, sample delicious food and drink and shop for holiday gifts in the gift shop. For more information, call 945-4448.

The artists of S.A.W. (Studio for Arts and Works) will be showing new work for the holidays from Dec. 6-28. The opening reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, to coincide with Carbondales First Friday. The studio is located across from Taipei Tokyo, off Highway 133.Artists featured include Nancy Barbour (ceramics), Stanley Bell (paintings and drawings), Steven Colby (ceramics), Max Cooper (paintings), Kate Davenport (encaustic paintings), Anne Goldberg (ceramics) and KC Lockrem (mixed media paintings).The Artstream Nomadic Gallery, in a renovated Airstream trailer, will be onsite during the opening, featuring the work of the S.A.W. ceramic artists along with that of Alleghany Meadows. The Artstream will also be onsite and open at S.A.W. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays until Christmas.For more information, call 963-0201.

---

---

New Castle Recreation is hosting Breakfast with Santa from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at the New Castle Community Center. Register online at http://www.newcastlecolorado.org or stop by the community center. Deadline for Registration is Dec. 12. For more information, please call 984-3352.

Ancient Excursions is offering a special holiday excursion, providing area residents the opportunity to travel to Denver at the holidays without driving over the passes. A luxury bus will pick up at the Glenwood Springs Community Center at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, returning clients to the same location the evening of Sunday, Dec. 16. Ancient Excursions will provide everything from a gourmet breakfast and movie en route to a matinee performance of White Christmas at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, a plated dinner and accommodations at the Curtis Hotel, a tour of the holiday lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the choice on Sunday to get your holiday shopping done at the Cherry Creek Mall or to visit the Titanic Exhibition.Call now for tickets; there are only a few seats left, and Ancient Excursions has recently reduced the cost of the trip.

Canyon Leathers, Mona Lisa, 7th Street Salon and Robert Stull Goldsmith, the shops in the Hotel Denver, are hosting a Holiday Customer Appreciation open house from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. Customers old and new are invited for hors doeuvres and refreshments.

The Basalt Chamber presents the 13th annual Peace Tree Lighting from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Join Santa at the Basalt Regional Library in Lions Park and take a spin through town on Matt Nieslaniks horse-drawn wagon. Enjoy a steaming bowl of chili from the Basalt Regional Heritage Society, and free hot chocolate and cookies from the Basalt Lions Club, as the Basalt Middle School Band plays holiday favorites. Santa will be available to hear holiday wishes from 4-6 p.m. Basalt Mayor Leroy Duroux lights the grand fir tree at 6 p.m. sharp. Mason Morse will provide a warming station with appetizers from local restaurants and hot cider until 7 p.m. at 144 Midland Ave.

Basalt Chamber gift certificates make perfect gifts. Purchase your gift certificate in any denomination at the Red Caboose in Basalts Lions Park. Basalt Chamber gift certificates are valid at participating businesses including Aspen Health & Harmony, Express Yourself, Higher Spa & Studio, Montecito Loft & Home, Mountain Greenery, Susans Flowers & Gifts, Toklat Gallery, and Wienerdog Kids Toys. More businesses are signing up every day.For more information, call 927-4031.

New years Eve, Monday, Dec. 31. Great food, live music and a champagne toast at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by NCC Productions, will be presented at 6 p.m. Dec. 18-22 in the Devereux Room of the Hotel Colorado, with a noon matinee performance Dec. 22. Seating for each show will begin 15 minutes before the start time.Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket hotline: 984-0233.

The Glenwood Springs Art Guild will be hosting its annual Christmas Party at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11. A buffet dinner will be served. The annual gift exchange will take place for the gifted artists; and then for the non-artists, so bring a gift to share. This is always a terrific evening of fun and frivolity after a year of hard work, so come and join the fun. For information, please call Alice at 319-9773 or Pat at 945-7345.

The community is invited to the lighting of the large community Christmas tree in front of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association building, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. The holiday celebration includes Christmas caroling with the Girl Scouts, a lesson in the history of the largest tree in town and a visit from Santa Claus, who traditionally lights the tree. Dress warmly and visit with Santa following the lighting ceremony. The Christmas tree was planted in the 1930s and dedicated to Louisa Schwartz, a kindly woman who was dubbed Mrs. Santa Claus, because she loved to serve cookies warm from the oven to neighborhood children as they got out of school. The annual lighting is a highlight of the holidays and has been a Glenwood tradition for several decades. For more information, contact the chamber at 945-6589.

The Basalt community will celebrate the season with the 2007 Peace Tree Lighting from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in Lions Park, Old Town Basalt. Included in the festivities, Santa hears holiday wishes from 4-6 p.m. at the Basalt Library, Matt Nieslaniks horse-drawn wagon offers free tours through historic downtown Basalt, the Basalt Heritage Society serves hot chili bowls; the Lions Club doles out free hot chocolate and cookies, the Basalt Middle School Band plays holiday favorites, and Mayor Leroy Duroux lights the giant evergreen tree in front of the Red Caboose at 6 p.m. For more information, visit info@basaltchamber.com or call 927-4031.

A Holiday Pottery Sale, hosted by the Potters Guild of Aspen, will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7; and from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 8 at the Colorado Mountain College Aspen campus in the Airport Business Center.Check out the work of over 20 local potters. From sculpture and wall hangings to beautiful functional pots, there is something for everyone.

The Mountain Madrigal Singers will present A Perfect Christmas, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7; Sunday, Dec. 9; and Saturday, Dec. 15, at First United Methodist Church, 824 Cooper Ave. in Glenwood Springs. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Free child care will be provided.For the 27th holiday season, the Mountain Madrigal Singers will present its concert of vocal music celebrating the sounds and spirit of the holidays. The program will be a blend of traditional and contemporary songs, some classical and some light. Many in the community consider the Madrigal concerts to be the start of their Christmas season.

The Aspen Choral Society presents the 30th annual Messiah performance by the Aspen Community Chorus, Glenwood Springs Community Chorus and the Aspen Choral Society Orchestra, directed by Ray Vincent Adams at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12 at the United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs.Additional performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen.

Bring in the new year with a soak in the mineral rich thermal waters along with your favorite companions. This annual tradition on Dec. 31st has grown in popularity over the years and is a fun non-alcoholic event the whole family can enjoy. Noisemakers will be provided to everyone for the big countdown to midnight. There is even a chance to win an annual pool pass. On New Years Eve, the pool and athletic club will extend their hours past the normal 10 p.m. closing, and remain open until 1 a.m.

Alpine Christian Academy will host a holiday gingerbread house decorating workshop on Saturday, Dec. 8. Children will have the opportunity to express their creativity as they decorate their own gingerbread house. Sign up for one of three sessions: 9-11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or 2-4 p.m. Refreshments and all decorating supplies are included in the per-house donation. Call 927-9106 to reserve a space. Walk-in participants are welcome as space permits. All proceeds benefit the eighth-grade graduation fund. The academy is located at 20449 Highway 82, midway between Basalt and El Jebel across from the Willits subdivision.

Bring your child aged 1-6 to a catered lunch and enjoy a visit from Santa. from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 8, at Carbondale Town Hall. This special lunch hour will include a Christmas story read by Santa and his helper. Pre-registration is required by Friday, Dec. 7, at the Carbondale Recreation Department.Let Santa know what you want for Christmas. Write a letter to the North Pole and drop it off at Santas mail box in front of City Market in Carbondale from Dec. 1 to Dec. 20. The letters will then be delivered to Santa at the North Pole. Make sure to sign your name and address, so Santa can write back!Kids age 6-12 can make a gingerbread house for the holidays and get messy while having some fun from 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Carbondale Town Hall. The cost includes the gingerbread house kits, candy, and toppings. Registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 14, at the Carbondale Recreation Department.The town of Carbondale Recreation Department, along with CCAH is inviting kids and adults of all ages to light up downtown Carbondale and welcome Santa from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at the Fourth Street Plaza. Free hot chocolate and cookies will keep you nice and warm.