PASTIMES

Thursday, Dec. 3

Lunch with Santa
Stafford County Parks and Recreation invites children ages 1 to 5 to have lunch with Santa and his gang from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rowser Building in Stafford. For more information, call (540) 658-5116.

Instrument Petting Zoo
From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., musicians of the University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra will meet with youngsters who want to get close and try instruments. There is no admission fee. The event will be held in George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium, at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Visit .umw.edu/orch or call (540) 654-1024.

Thursday, Dec. 3 – Friday, Dec. 4

‘Holiday POPS: Christmas Then & Now’
The University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra will perform a special concert featuring the up-tempo music of Mannheim Steamroller. “Holiday POPS: Christmas Then & Now” will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium in University of Mary Washington’s George Washington Hall, Fredericksburg. Visit.umw.edu/orch or call (540) 654-1024.

Saturday, Dec. 5

Holiday Craft Show
The Rappahannock Area YMCA, Massad Branch, on Butler Road in Falmouth will hold its sixth-annual holiday craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature handmade crafts, a silent auction and other activities. For more information, visit www.family-ymca.org or call (540) 371-9622.

Open House at Rippon Lodge
Rippon Lodge will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which will include a tour and other activities. The cost is $5 per person; free for children younger than 2. Call (703) 499-9812.

Sunday, Dec. 6

‘The Star of Bethlehem’
“The Star of Bethlehem,” a multi-media demonstration will be presented at Spotswood Baptist Church on Lafayette Boulevard by guest speaker Rick Larson, attorney and law professor who has presented his factual evidence to millions in numerous countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, and on the BBC and PBS Television networks. The event is free. Call (540)898-0757 or e-mail geneww@comcast.net.

Dec. 8 – Jan. 3

‘Red Shoes with Attitude’
From Dec. 8 through Jan. 3, Denise Shamoun Phalan’s “Red Shoes with Attitude” oil paintings will be on display at The Loft Gallery in Occoquan. Visit loftgallery.org.

Wednesday, Dec. 9

Graham cracker house workshop
Children ages 3 and older are invited to the Rowser Building in Stafford from 7 to 8 p.m. to learn to make a graham cracker house using frosting, candy and other holiday goodies. Call (540) 658-5116.

Holiday Crafts
Stafford County Parks and Recreation invites children ages 3 to 10 make several holiday crafts at the Rowser Building in Stafford. Call (540) 658-5116.

— Press releases