The Carbondale Community United Methodist Church will host a “Parents Day Out,” offering child care and activities for the kids from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the church, located at 385 S. Second St. in Carbondale, so parents may get their last-minute holiday shopping and other chores done.

Pizza, snacks, movies and games will be offered for the kids, provided on a donation basis. To reserve a spot, call the Carbondale Methodist Church at 963-4461 and leave a message. Someone will call back after Monday, Dec. 17, to confirm.

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.

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The remaining performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen.

Celebrate the holidays with the Roaring Fork Peace Coalition at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Yampah Mountain High School, 695 Red Mountain Drive, Glenwood Springs. Festivities include food and drink, live music, poetry and a solstice reading. Please feel free to bring music, a holiday reading or prayer of your own to share.

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Call 984 3161 for more information.

The Frontier Historical Society Museum will have a Holiday Open House from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the museum located at 1001 Colorado Ave. Free and open to the public; 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 Glenwood Springs Middle and High school choirs invite members of the community to watch their holiday concerts.

GSMS will present “The Quilt: Memories of Holidays Past,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the middle school. Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders will perform songs and a series of plays. GSHS is presenting its holiday choir concert, “A Joyous Noel,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, at Mountain View Church (by Buffalo Valley). The Builders Club and EPYCS will sell refreshments after the concerts.

Please come celebrate with your local choirs as they commemorate the season.

Local merchants and galleries celebrate the season with refreshments, openings and holiday specials Dec. 14-16 in Basalt.

Contact: Basalt Chamber of Commerce at 927-4031 for more information.

The Mountain Madrigal Singers will present “A Perfect Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. 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.

Jingle Jam, an interactive family production for parents and kids to enjoy together, will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Christ Community Church, 20351 Highway 82, Basalt (near El Jebel). Free music, games, drama and video.

Call 927-3889 for more information.

The Grand Valley Model Railroad Club Christmas Train Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16; Dec. 22 and 23; and Dec. 29 and 30 at Cross Orchards Historic Site, 3073 F Road in Grand Junction.

The display depicts the Rio Grande Railroad as it traveled from Denver to Salt Lake City with special emphasis on the railroads in the mountains of the Western Slope of Colorado. Static displays, railroad art and videos will also be displayed.

For more information, call (970) 245-3273.

Diane Kenney’s holiday open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 and 22, at her studio six miles from the Carbondale 7-Eleven, 0172 N. Bill Creek Road. Items for sale will be pottery, new wood-fired pieces and terra cotta pieces.

For more information, call 963-2395 or 948-2411.

“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.

Carbondale holiday happenings

Let Santa know what you want for Christmas. Write a letter to the North Pole and drop it off at Santa’s mail box in front of City Market in Carbondale from Dec. 1-20. 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.

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

The Toast of the Top at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park originally scheduled for New Year’s Eve, has been cancelled so employees can spend the evening with their families.

Two local architects will present their award-winning Semilla House in gingerbread for Wyly Community Art Center’s Holiday Stroll Exhibition from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 14; and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, in Basalt.

For information, contact the Wyly at 927-4123.

Rifle Fireside Lanes is offering an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve party from 9 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31. A bowling and buffet package is offered. Call 625-2231 for reservations.

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.