Here's something to do while you're scoping out a spot to watch the Lansdale Mardi Gras Parade.
Public tours of the Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts will be offered following an indoor dedication ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday. Note that although the center's street address is 311 Main St., the entrance is on the Madison Avenue side of the building.
"The formal dedication is not going to be very long," said Borough Manager F. Lee Mangan.
Along with mayor Andrew Szekely, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-13th District, and state representatives Rob Wonderling, R-24th District, and Robert Godshall, R-53rd District, have committed to speak, he said.
The dedication, Mangan said, will explain "what it means to the community and invite them to use their imagination on its future."
A reception will follow the dedication and the public can then take a look at the center's completed phase one, which includes a 210-seat theater, an art gallery and classrooms. The center will be open till 11 a.m.
"The focus is on: 'This is what we've got so far. Help us make the next step'," said Tracy Flynn, Lansdale Borough's director of communications.
"The focus is on: 'This is what we've got so far. Help us make the next step'," said Tracy Flynn, Lansdale Borough's director of communications.
Meanwhile, the rest of downtown Lansdale will be glowing for the season thanks to the Lansdale Business Association supplying strings of lights to the businesses in town. The lights are intended to complement the twinkling lights on the trees.
Business association member and president of Lansdale Tutoring and Testing, Christine Leichtman, shed further light on the subject. "It paints Lansdale as having a bright future. The lights symbolize that bright future," she said.
According to Leichtman, the lighting tells the public: "We are open for business." The lights take the place of the storefront window painting from years past. "It's neat (but) it's a lot of work to coordinate. It's a lot of work to clean up," Leichtman said, adding that the artwork isn't as visible at night.
At a glance, here's how to ring in the holidays right.
The 58th annual Lansdale Mardi Gras Parade starts at 1 p.m. Saturday on Main Street. Read more about the parade in Thursday's "Go" in The Reporter.
Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. is a free concert with the Montgomery County Concert Band at Calvary Baptist Church, 1380 Valley Forge Road, Towamencin. The program will include "Sleigh Ride," an arrangement of Shostakovich's "Festival Overture" by Souderton resident Don Hunsberger, a medley of Christmas songs, a Sousa march and a piece called "An American Elegy." A freewill offering will be taken.
The Tree Lighting with carol singing, Santa and Little Miss Lansdale starts shortly after dark - about 6:30 p.m. - Dec. 5 at Railroad Plaza on Main Street.
The Holiday History Tour runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6. The starting point is the Jenkins Homestead, 137 Jenkins Ave., Lansdale. Tickets are $15.
The free, outdoor Merry TubaChristmas concert is set for 2 p.m. Dec. 7 in Railroad Plaza. Between 65 and 70 tuba, euphonium, baritone and sousaphone players show up to play, said director Steve Frederick. Musicians can find the music at www.tubachristmas.com and register at 12:30 the day of the concert at Fairmount Fire Company on Vine Street, Lansdale. In the event of inclement weather, the concert moves indoors to St. John's United Church of Christ, 500 W. Main St.
"The first weekend in December is becoming a tradition," said Frederick, who directs the Montgomery County Concert Band and will also be supervising the assortment of musicians that will be scattered throughout the Holiday History Tour.
Also, observe the first night of Hanukkah with the Menorah Lighting after sundown - about 6:30 p.m. - Dec. 21 at Railroad Plaza.