What To Do This Weekend In and Around The Creek

Dog Pack Rescue: Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., 3630 Peachtree Parkway. Dog Pack Rescue announces a new adoption location in Johns Creek and Suwanee at the Johns Creek PetSmart on Saturday (weather permitting). This is the largest free run, no-kill dog shelter in the state of Georgia and is a non-breed specific rescue, saving dogs from animal control facilities. They house up to 150 dogs at their facility, so they urge the public to visit their web site to view all animals available. They cannot bring all the dogs to adoptions, so they take requests via phone and email, and do their best to accommodate the public. E-mail dogpackrescue@hughes.net with questions.

Santa at Southeastern Railway Museum: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bring your camera to get pictures with Santa. Southeastern Railway Museum, 3595 Peachtree Road, Duluth. For more information, call 770-476-2013. Cost: $8; $6 seniors (65 and older); $4 children (ages 2-12); 1 and younger free.

Photos with Santa: See Santa at his workshop in the lower level of Dillard's court. If the wait is longer than 15 minutes you will receive a pager so you'll know when it's your time to see Santa. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday. North Point Mall, 1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta. For more information, call 770-740-8636.

Gwinnett Gladiators vs. Pensacola: See ECHL pro hockey on Saturday at 7:35 p.m., Gwinnett Area, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. For more information, call 770-497-5100. Tickets are $10-$20.
Cost: $10-$20

Humane League's "Homes for the Holidays": Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the PetSmart on Market Place Blvd. in Cumming. Adopt a homeless pet this holiday season and a volunteer will deliver on Christmas Day. Call 404-358-4498 for more information. We highly recommend you get pre-approved for adoption before coming to the event.

Christmas Tonight: Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street, Cumming. 770-781-9178. Enjoy a Christmas celebration by the Cumming Playhouse Singers. Director, Van McCollum. Call 770-781-9178 for more information. Tickets are $15 for Friday’s performance and $10 for Saturday’s matinee.

Radio Disney Jingle Jam: Sunday, 2 p.m. at Duluth Festival Center, 3142 Hill Street, Duluth. Call 770-497-5312 for more information. Free admission. Hear recording artists Keke Palmer ("Akeelah & The Bee") and Drew Seeley ("High School Musical") perform, and enjoy Hasbro's Hyperslide tabletop game demonstrations.

"A Christmas Story": Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at ACT1 Theatre, Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta. Call 770-663-8989 for more information. Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940’s follows Ralphie in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Tickets are $15 for adults or $12 for senior citizens (60 and over) and children 12 and under.

"Spirit of Roswell": Friday and Saturday, times vary. Call 770-650-1008 for more information. Azalea Park, 203 Azalea Drive, Roswell. Board the Riverboat "Spirit of Roswell" for a visit to the Ancient River in a modern city, up-close and personal. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is one of America's premier urban greenways - view it from an authentic 63-foot paddle wheeler. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more.

Christmas at Sweet Apple: World premiere! Theatre in the Square, Alley Stage, 11 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta. Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $7-$35. Warmly human yuletide yarns from the pen of beloved author Celestine Sibley come to life onstage in a brand new show. Tales of “Jingles,” the dancing cow, Miz Tippens, the “hero” of Snout Island and other colorful and pithy characters are told to the accompaniment of traditional and original holiday music by Phillip DePoy. A must for the whole family. Call 770-422-8369 for more information.

”A Christmas Carol”: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Kudzu Playhouse, Main Stage, 10743 Alpharetta Highway. Call 770-594-1020 for more information. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors for evening performances, and $14 for adults, $12 for student and seniors at the matinees. A holiday classic for the entire family.

”The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”: Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Kudzu Family Playhouse, 10743 Alpharetta Highway. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. Call 770-594-1020 for more information. Hilarious Christmas tale about a couple struggling to put on a church pageant.

Midtown Atlanta:
“A Christmas Carol”, Alliance Theatre
Holiday in the Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Shoemaker and the Elves, Center for Puppetry Arts
Holiday Group Show, Reinike Gallery
Atlanta Ballet’s “Nutcracker”, Fox Theatre
“A Christmas Carol”, New American Shakespeare Tavern
“A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, 14th Street Playhouse
“Three Kings and a Prince”, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
A Very Merry Holiday Pops with Eileen Ivers, Atlanta Symphony Hall

Published Dec. 20, 2008