Princeton Weekend Guide Dec. 7-9

Friday

Princeton Junior School will host a presentation by early childhood expert Rick Ellis,  RSVP required, 8:30 a.m. 

Arts Council of Princeotn will host Canvas of Care - a silent auction to help the NJ residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. Proceeds will go the American Red Cross, 5 p.m. 

The Lewis School of Princeton will host its 39th Annual Tree of Light Celebration. Enjoy gourmet foods and beverages, a Lewis Choir holiday concert, a silent auction and tree lighting, 6-10 p.m.

Nine Princeton University a cappella groups will perform holiday music on the Palmer Square Green. Bring a new unwrapped toy to donate to the YMCA St. Nicholas Project, 6-8 p.m. 

St. Nicholas Bazaar Preview Party at Trinity Church, includies multiple silent auction items, 7-9 p.m.

American Boychoir will perform at Grounds For Sculpture, 7:30 p.m., 

Princeton University Orchestra will present the world premiere of graduate student Gilad Cohen's "Dragon Mother" with Martha Elliott, soprano. Also: Copland's "El salon Mexico"; Bartok's Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Richard Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday

St. Nicholas Bazaar at Trinity Church will feature holiday shopping and family activities including gingerbread houses, balsam wreaths, hand-knit sweaters, evening shawls, grass-fed beef, cookie walk, bake sale, boxwood topiaries, and more. Children's activities, story telling, and shopping. Photos with Nicholas., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

All SET, a program for children in grades 1-5 who are invited to participate in hands-on science, engineering and technology activities, 2 p.m. 

Film and discussion: "Not a Feather, but a Dot." A 60-minute documentary film that examines the history, perceptions and evolution of the Indian-American community. Director Teju Prasad participates in a Q&A afterwards, 2 p.m. 

VOICES Chorale presents "CHRISTMASTIDE: Choral Gems through the Centuries."  The concert includes chants from the 8th century, a Palestrina "Hodie" from the Renaissance, and favorites by Monteverdi and Handel from the Baroque. Other gems include Mendelssohn's There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth, Tchaikovsky's The Crown of Roses, and the Hodie  by Britisher James Whitbourn, 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. 

The Waldorf School of Princeton presents Folk Tale Puppets' "Jonathan's Journey." Geared for families with children age 5 and older, 3 p.m. 

Holiday Handbell Concert at Princeton Theological Seminary. Ringing of holiday songs by students, spouses, staff, alumni and friends, 3 p.m. 

A Christmas lights display and performance by Grammy nominated singer. Enjoy 75,000 lights dancing to the music. Includes includes 10,000 "Shooting Fountain of Light!" a 20 foot by 20 foot wall of snowflakes with 6,400 lights, a mega tree which has 9,600 lights and a lawn has more 25,000 lights. 2011 Grammy nominated singer Judy Pancoast performs at 7 p.m. 

Princeton University Orchestra will present the world premiere of graduate student Gilad Cohen's "Dragon Mother" with Martha Elliott, soprano. Also: Copland's "El salon Mexico"; Bartok's Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Richard Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, 7:30 p.m. 

Courtyard Holiday Celebration at Princeton Shopping Center. Includes gingerbread house decorating for children, food tastings, Princeton University Tigertones, lighting of the Christmas tree and Menorah lighting. 

Sunday

Study: The New Jim Crow, an adult class at Princeton United Methodist Church will be examining the ideas and issues raised in Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow – Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness.“ 9:30 a.m. 

Tour Drumthwacket, the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey and enjoy 'Songs of the Season' theme created by garden clubs throughout the state. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Princeton University Glee Club and Chamber Choir will perform "A Holiday Celebration of Latin American Music." Enjoy folkloric and classical traditions which have shaped choral music in South America since the early 17th century, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. 

Paul Chapin conducts chorus and orchestra in a reading of Handel's 'Messiah.' All singers are invited to join. No auditions. Vocal scores provided, 4-7 p.m.