Emmaus offers several festivities that will help to get you in the holiday mood.

The Friends of the Emmaus Public Library will host a wine and cheese reception and holiday book sale 6 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Margaret Knoll Gardner room of the library, 11 E. Main St. Musicians from Emmaus High School will entertain.

The borough's "Old Fashioned Christmas" is set for Dec. 1. The event features holiday storytelling at the library 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The historic homes will hold open houses noon to 4 p.m. Each child may make an ornament which can then be hung on the children's tree at Triangle Park. The Emmaus Historical Society will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can take a horse and carriage ride from the Triangle 4 to 7 p.m. (There is a cost to ride.)

The entertainment on Triangle Park's stage 4 p.m. includes dancers from Allegro Dance Studio, the Lower Macungie Cadence Choir, the Moravian Church's Brass Choir, the Bethel Bible Fellowship's orchestra and a community sing-along. To add to the festivities, the aroma of hot roasted chestnut and almonds from the Girl Scout Troop's table will fill the air and the Emmaus Kiwanis' members will offer cocoa and cookies. Then it will be time to cheer the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus and to 'ooh' and 'ahh' as the switch is pulled lighting the borough's holiday tree.

The next weekend, the retail committee of the Emmaus Main Street Partners invites you to "Holiday Cheer," a progressive wine and cheese event, 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 in several of the downtown shops and the Emmaus Historical Society museum. Several merchants are collection spots for items for the school district's Angel Network. Be sure to visit the festive indoor mini mall at the Clock building, 322 Main St. Bob Boehmer, designer of the 2012 holiday card titled "An Emmaus Christmas to Remember," will be on hand to meet and greet. The cards will be on sale at this site as well as several other sites in the borough. This year's card depicts the Remembrance Garden at the Knauss Homestead, one of Emmaus' historical sites. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Emmaus Arts Commission.

The Emmaus Public Library, 11 E. Main St. will offer a holiday art class for children ages four to nine, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Two art instructors will collaborate to instruct the students in the basic techniques of drawing and painting. As they learn and develop these skills, the students will be making beautiful holiday decorations and cards. The cost includes materials. Registration is required. Call 610-435-5054 to register. Stars and Rainbows storytimes for ages 3 and 4 will be held 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5 and 12 and the adult book discussion group will meet 7 p.m. Dec. 11. The library will be open Dec. 22 and 29 and closed Dec. 24 and 25. It will close at 6 p.m. Dec. 31.

Be sure to stop at the Emmaus Historical Society museum, 563 Chestnut St., 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30. The museum will be open to unveil its redesigned train putz in a winter wonderland scene. The museum will hold an open house 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 1. Children will be able to decorate pine cones and hang them on the children's Christmas tree at Triangle Park. The museum will be open 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 during the downtown's "Holiday Cheer," festivities. The society will hold its covered dish Christmas party at St. John's Lutheran Church 7 p.m. Dec. 19. The party includes Christmas entertainment. Call 610-965-1970 to sign up if you plan to attend. The museum will be open 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 as well as its regular Saturday hours, noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 8, 15 and 29. The museum will be closed Dec. 22. The society offers many gift ideas for holiday shopping which include the society's 20th anniversary ornament, Northwood Cemetery book, limited editions of Emmaus Christmas balls along with a limited supply of wooden miniature ornaments. Other items available include: 2009 memorabilia, World War II books, Emmaus postcards, the 1949 Firemen's Parade DVD and booklet and Emmaus Historical Society golf shirts, T-shirts and caps. For information, visit emmaushist@ptd.net.

The Christmas concert of The Emmaus Chorale, "Make a Joyful Noise," under the direction of Mark Suter, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Faith Presbyterian Church, North Second and Cherokee streets. The chorale will be joined by instruments in several musical selections. Admission is free. Refreshments will follow.

The Emmaus Kiwanis Club is busy during the holiday season with community service projects. Among them are Salvation Army bell ringing Dec. 1 at Redners; providing cocoa and cookies at the Emmaus Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony; visiting the senior citizens at DevonHouse and hosting the Special Needs Christmas Party Dec. 12 at St. John's UCC. Plaudits to the club for its continuing service to the community.

The Emmaus Winter Farmers' Market will take place 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday from Thanksgiving until New Year's and then every other Sunday in 2013 until the regular market starts up again May. The Winter Market will be held at the KNBT parking lot, 235 Main St. The vendors will vary during that time but 14 of the regular vendors have agreed to be present at least for some of the dates.

All senior citizens over the age of 55 are invited to the Emmaus Senior Citizens meetings at St. Matthew's E.C. Church, Ridge and Fifth streets. The December programs for the group are Dec. 7: Cookie Day (bring some cookies to share) and musician David Matchetti will entertain; Dec. 12 is the group's holiday party noon at Macungie Fire Co. #2 and Dec. 14 is Game Day. There are no meetings Dec. 21 and 28. Happy Holidays to everyone. For information, call 610-966-4273.

Emmaus Borough Council will meet 7 p.m. Dec. 3 and 17 in council chambers, 28 S. Fourth St. For information, visit borough.emmaus. pa.us or call 610-965-9292.

The compost site will close Dec. 8. The borough offices are closed Dec. 25. Christmas tree collection will be held Dec. 27 through Jan. 11, 2013.

Mark your calendar: The Emmaus Garden Club members invite you to join them on a bus trip to the Philly Flower Show March 4, 2013. For information and cost, contact Diane at 610-554-0653 or 610-395-5788.

Best wishes for Happy Holidays. Please send information about January happenings to Corrine Durdock, 913 Little Lehigh Dr., Emmaus or Durdock@aol.com before Dec 19.