Glenwood Springs, CO ColoradoTODAYA holiday boutique, featuring fine art by Laurel Astor and Betsy Blackard; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Red Canyon Plaza, 3768 Highway 82, Suite 205, across from Holy Cross Energy. The Holiday Customer Appreciation open house will be hosted by the shops in the Hotel Denver from 4-8 p.m. Christmas tree lighting in front of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association from 5-7 p.m.A holiday reception for the new exhibit, “Close Up Classics” from 5-9 p.m. at the Roadside Gallery, 320 E. Main St. in Carbondale.Light-up downtown Carbondale and welcome Santa from 5-7 p.m. at the Fourth Street Plaza in downtown Carbondale.An opening reception for “Abstract by Nature,” a collection of plein air paintings by local artist Chris Erikson, will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Colorado Mountain College, at the corner of Ninth Street and Grand Avenue. A live portrait of beloved long-time Carbondale resident John “Doc” Philip painted by Majid Kahhak, at 6 p.m. at Kahhak Fine Arts & School, 411 Main St. in Carbondale. The annual Benefit Cup Auction; 6-8 p.m. at the Carbondale Clay Center. Bidding closes at 7:30 p.m. The students at S.A.W. (Studio for Arts and Works) will hold an opening reception for new work for the holidays from 6-9 p.m. The studio is located across from Taipei Tokyo, off Highway 133.The Danse Arts Theatre Company will perform the “Enchanted Christmas Party” 7 p.m. at the Roaring Fork High School auditorium. Adults: $15; Seniors, children and students: $10The fourth annual Holiday Readers Theatre will be presented at 7 p.m. by the Thunder River Theatre Company at TRTC, on the Red Brick Walkway between Main Street and Colorado Avenue in downtown Carbondale. The documentary movie, “Sicko,” by Michael Moore, will be shown at 7 p.m., at St. John Middle School, 460 Stone Quarry Road in Battlement Mesa.The Mountain Madrigal Singers will present “A Perfect Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Church, 824 Cooper Ave. in Glenwood Springs. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. SATURDAYBeginning and intermediate frame drumming workshop, will be presented by Lisa Loeb, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pyramid Peaks Center, 65 N. 4th St., Suite 3, in Carbondale. To register or for more information, call 963-2798. A holiday pottery sale, hosted by Potter’s Guild of Aspen at the Colorado Mountain College’s Aspen Campus from 10 a.m. to noon.A holiday boutique, featuring fine art by Laurel Astor and Betsy Blackard will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Red Canyon Plaza, 3768 Highway 82, Suite 205, across from Holy Cross Energy.A holiday open house and sale will be held at ceramist Diane Kenney’s studio from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at her studio six miles from the Carbondale 7-Eleven, 0172 N. Bill Creek Road. For more information or directions, call Kenney at 948-2411.A visit from Santa and a catered lunch for children will be available from 11 a.m. to noon at Carbondale Town Hall. Pre-registration is required by Friday at the Carbondale Recreation Department.A gingerbread house decorating workshop will be hosted by the Alpine Christian Academy from 9-11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. The academy is located at 20449 Highway 82.The 13th annual Peace Tree Lighting will take place from 4-6 p.m. at 144 Midland Ave.. in Basalt.Winter-Palooza, the annual holiday extravaganza for the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts, will begin at 4:30 p.m., with an encore presentation at 6 p.m.”Advent Service of Lessons and Carols,” a musical performance, will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 546 Hyland Park Dr. For tickets, call 927-0555.SUNDAYA holiday boutique, featuring fine art by Laurel Astor and Betsy Blackard will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Red Canyon Plaza, 3768 Highway 82, Suite 205, across from Holy Cross Energy.The Mountain Madrigal Singers will present “A Perfect Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. at First United Church, 824 Cooper Ave. in Glenwood Springs.TUESDAYAn annual Christmas party will be hosted by The Glenwood Springs Art Guild at 6:30 p.m. 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. For information, please call Alice at 319-9773 or Pat at 945-7345. The Aspen Choral Society presents the 30th annual “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. at the at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs.WEDNESDAYThe fall student band concert will be held at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School at 7 p.m. at the CRMS Barn, 1493 County Road 106 in Carbondale. The Aspen Choral Society presents the 30th annual “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs. THURSDAYA Grand Holiday, an annual holiday celebration in downtown Glenwood Springs will be held at Centennial Park, at the corner of Grand Avenue and Ninth Street, from 4-7 p.m.A book signing will be held for local author Michael Chandler from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Through the Looking Glass bookstore , 816 Grand Ave.. in Glenwood Springs.Dec. 14″The Nutcracker” will be performed by the Crystal River Ballet School at 7 p.m. at the Church at Carbondale ,110 Snowmass Dr. in Carbondale. Prices are $20 for adults, $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and seniors over age 65. Families can get in for $50 (immediate family only, please). .The award-winning Semilla House in gingerbread will be presented by two local architects at from 6-8 p.m. at the Wyly Community Art Center in Basalt.A fall art show will be held by Colorado Rocky Mountain School students from 6:30-8 p.m. in the CRMS Barn, 1493 County Road 106 in Carbondale. The Basalt holiday stroll, when local merchants celebrate the season with refreshments, openings and holiday specials will take place in downtown Basalt.Dec. 15Aspen Theatre Auditions for Aspen Theatre’s 2008 summer session will be held at the at the Red Brick Center for the Arts Rehearsal Studio, 110 East Hallam St., Suite 103 in Aspen. Equity actors will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an open call from 1:30-5 p.m. Auditions are by appointment only. For more information, or to set up an audition appointment, call Marisa at Theatre Aspen, 925-9313 ext. 3, or emailmarisa@theatreaspen.org.Jingle Jam, an interactive family production for parents and kids to enjoy together, will be held at 4 p.m. at Christ Community Church, 20351 Highway 82, Basalt (near El Jebel). “The Nutcracker” will be performed by the Crystal River Ballet School at 7 p.m. at the Church at Carbondale, 110 Snowmass Dr. in Carbondale. Prices are $20 for adults, $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and seniors over age 65. Families can get in for $50 (immediate family only, please). The Basalt holiday stroll, when local merchants celebrate the season with refreshments, openings and holiday specials will take place in downtown Basalt.Dec. 18-22 “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” by NCC Productions, will be presented at 6 p.m. 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.Wednesday, Dec. 19A piano recital will be held by Annig Agemian Raley’s students at the Hotel Colorado. The younger pianists will perform at 7 p.m., while the more experienced students will share their talent at 7:45 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 31The Hot Springs Lodge and Pool will host a New Year’s celebration. 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. The pool and athletic club will extend their hours past the normal 10 p.m. closing, and remain open until 1 a.m.