To help get you in the holiday spirit, plan on attending Emmaus’ OldFashioned Christmas celebration Dec. 2 and 3 sponsored by the Emmaus Main Street Partners, a proud partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and Gross McGinley LLP.

The Emmaus business community will hold its annual First Friday in December Christmas Shopping Extravaganza Dec. 2. All participating businesses will have extended store hours and offer unique sales, promotions, drinks and refreshments. The participating businesses will be identified with outdoor luminaries in front of their businesses. For information, call 610-928-0070.

Be sure to visit the Emmaus Historical Society museum, 218 Main St., 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 and enjoy Moravian Church’s carolers and the museum’s Christmas displays including its expanded train putz and trolley. Santa and Mrs. Claus in their attire from the 1940s and 1950s will be on hand.

The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society will hold an open house at the Knauss Homestead, 164 Main St., 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2.

The Friends of Emmaus Library will hold a wine and cheese reception and holiday book sale, 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Margaret Knoll Gardner Room of the library, 11 E. Main St. The evening features seasonal sounds by the Emmaus High School Jazz Ensemble. Come early for the best selection of pre-enjoyed books in gift-worthy condition. Please note: The rest of the library will be closed during this event.

Emmaus will hold its Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 3. Activities take place at some of the historic houses, the library, in and around the downtown shops and in Triangle Park. For information and schedule, visit www.emmausmainstreet.com.

Be sure to view the doors and windows of the shops entered in the holiday decoration contest. The Emmaus Arts Commission members are judges. See if you can pick the winner.

There will be story time at Let’s Play Books 11 a.m. Dec. 3.

The Emmaus Historical Society museum, 218 Main St., will be open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Children are invited to make ornaments to decorate the children’s Christmas tree on the Triangle. Members from the Emmaus Moravian church will demonstrate Moravian candle making.

The society’s monthly meeting is a Christmas covered dish party 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. John’s Lutheran Church Parish Hall. If planning to attend, please call 610-966-6591. The museum will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1, 2017.

Emmaus Moravian Church is partnering with the Emmaus Historical Society to offer a tour to visit the 12 historical sites that tell the story of the earliest days of Emmaus 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 3. The tour is free but registration is requested. Call 610-966-6591 by Dec. 1 to register.

The Knauss Homestead will offer light refreshments and children may make Christmas ornaments noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 3.

The 1803 House, 55 Keystone Ave., will welcome visitors 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 with a fire in the open hearth fireplace, a Christmas tree decorated with Colonial decorations, warm cider and other holiday treats.

The library, 11 E. Main St., will begin the Old Fashioned Christmas celebration 11 a.m. Dec. 3 and will feature the Liberty Lane singers and crafts and stories throughout the day.

Christmas music will greet visitors at the Shelter House, 601 S. Fourth St., Dec. 3 along with homemade cookies and warm cider.

Be sure to go upstairs at Emmaus’ borough hall, 28 S. Fourth St., Dec. 3 to view the Emmaus Arts Commission’s photography exhibit and the winners in the Arts Commission’s photo contest. There is still time to enter the contest since the deadline for submissions for the photo contest is Dec. 1. For information, visit www.emmausarts.org.

On Dec. 3, there will be entertainment 4 to 4:30 p.m. on the Triangle Park stage. Santa arrives between 4:45 and 6 p.m. The tree lighting ceremony takes place 6 p.m.

There are horse and carriage rides offered between 5 and 8 p.m. The Emmaus Main Street Partners will staff a cider bar 4 to 7 p.m.

There will be musical entertainment until 8 p.m.

The Emmaus Farmers’ Market is held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through December in the BB&T parking lot, 235 Main St. Free parking is available on the streets surrounding the market, in the Schantz Funeral Home parking lot, 250 Main St. and in the lower lot. The market is closed Christmas. For information, visit www.EmmausMarket.com.

The Emmaus Senior Citizens group meets 1 p.m. every Friday at St. Matthew’s E.C. Church, Fifth and Ridge streets. All area senior citizens are welcome to attend. The December programs are Dec. 2: David Matchetti, musician, and Dec. 9: Cookie Exchange Day and bingo. Dec. 16 is the group’s Christmas party 12:30 p.m. at Fire Company #2. There are no meetings Dec. 23 and 30. The members wish you a Merry Christmas.

The Moravian Church, 146 Main St., will host the “Elvis Christmas Show” featuring Jeff Krick, 3 p.m. Dec. 4. For ticket information, email secretary@emmausmoravian.org or call 610-965-6067. Proceeds benefit EMC improvements.

The Seven Generations Charter School, 154 E. Minor St., will hold a holiday craft fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10. The fair features live music, children’s activities, handmade crafts, a basket raffle, a photo booth and Santa Claus and his elves.

Emmaus Borough Council meets 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 19 at borough hall, 28 S. Fourth St. The borough offices will be closed Dec. 26 for the holiday.

The regularly scheduled story times and book clubs continue through December at the Emmaus Public Library, 11 E. Main St. See www.emmauspl.org or call 610-965-9284 for information and to register for pre-registration required programs.

A highlight for December is a creative play program, “Kid Land,” 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 27 including board games, coloring and fun galore. The family film will be shown 2 p.m. Dec. 10; the movie matinee will be shown 1 p.m. Dec. 29. There will be a Dr. Who Marathon 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 28 for ages 10 and over.

Special program offerings for adults include adult basic computer classes. There is a new knitting group forming 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 12. There is a new adult day time book group meeting 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 6. The evening adult book discussion group meets 7 p.m. Dec. 13. Pre-registration is required for both book groups.

Atty. Jim Ritter of Gross McGinley will present a program “Health Care Directives & You” 11 a.m. Dec. 7. He will discuss what a durable power of attorney for health care is and whether you need a living will.

Local filmmaker Stephanie Gardner will continue the adult film discussion series 6 p.m. Dec. 21. She will present the film, “Moonrise Kingdom” and lead a discussion following the film.

The mobile office of Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, will visit the library 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 19. For information, visit www.senatorboscola.com.

The library will be closed Dec. 24 and 26 for the Christmas holiday and Jan 2, 2017 for New Year’s Day. The library will be open Dec. 31.

The deadline for including items in the January, 2017 column is Dec. 20. Please send notices to 913 Little Lehigh Dr.; email durdock@aol.com or phone 610-967-2661.

My best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.