Fun things abound in York, Lancaster and Chester counties

Special events

▪ A Celtic Holiday Celebration, 3 p.m. Tuesday at St. Johns United Methodist Church sanctuary, South Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill. The program of traditional music from Scotland and Ireland will feature “With Strings Attached” with Mary Ann Helton on piano, and Elda Franklin on viola and Celtic musicians “Stone’s Throw,” of Hickory, N.C. with Diana Stone, violin; Margaret Walters, flute; Martha Hill, harp and Phil Barringer, bass. Free and open to the public. Donations of non-perishable food for Rock Hill food banks will be accepted.

▪ Oakdale Baptist Church, Rock Hill, will host a live outdoor Manger Scene, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday in front of Academy Sports off Dave Lyle Boulevard. Scene repeats every 35 minutes. See the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth with narration and carolers. Free hot chocolate.

▪ “Winter Wonderland,” winter and holiday themed craft activities offered at Main Street Children’s Museum will be 10 a.m.-noon Friday-Dec. 30 at the museum, 133 E. Main St., Rock Hill. Recommended for ages 1-6. Play clothes suggested. Free with museum admission. General Admission: $6, children and adults and members and infants, free.

▪ Chester County Arts Council will host painting parties for youth and adults Thursday at 123 Main St. Youth class is 3:45-5 p.m. with Leesa Iannone and they will paint a reindeer sign. Cost is $25 with all materials supplied. Scholarships available. The adult class will be 5:30-8 p.m. with Iannone. Participants will paint a wooden stocking or ornaments. Cost is $35, members; $38, non members. All supplies provided. Register at 803-581-2030 or artschester@truvista.net. Deadline is Tuesday.

▪ The Arts Council of York County will host the York County High Schools Art Show through Dec. 29 at the Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St., Rock Hill. A reception was Nov. 30 where the winners of the York County High Schools Art Show were announced. This year, 16 art teachers from 6 York County high schools, representing 3 districts, selected works by 86 students for exhibition. The students’ work will be on display in the Edmund Lewandowski Classroom Gallery. Jack Bolin and Sandy Brindle-Carter of the Yorkville Artists’ Guild, and Dr. Bradley Sabelli of the Catawba River Art Guild served as jurors. The York County High School Art Exhibit is coordinated by the Arts Council of York County and the Catawba River Art Guild, and is sponsored by the Yorkville Artists’ Guild.

▪ Community Bingo, 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sharon United Methodist Church, 3001 Shannon St. Free and open to the community. Refreshments provided. RSVP: Kay Lee at 803-5172021.

▪ Early-bird registration is open for the annual Joy of Gardening Symposium, Feb. 24, at the Gateway Conference Center in Richburg. Dr. Allan Armitage, professor of horticulture emeritus from the University of Georgia and noted author/speaker, will give the keynote address, “Naked Ladies and Forget-Me-Nots: Tales from the Garden.” Early registration, which includes lunch, is $55. After Dec. 31, the cost will be $65. Details: symposium.yorkmg.org/registration. To pay by mail, make checks payable to, Master Gardeners of York County, and send to: 11079 Caroline Acres Road, Fort Mill, SC 29707.

▪ York Wesleyan Church community gift wrapping, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the church 1830 York Highway, York. Limit three packages per family.

Christmas parades

▪ Lake Wylie Boat Parade: The 29th annual “Lights on the Lake” Holiday Boat Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday by the docks of T-Bones on the Lake. Organized by the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce. Line-up begins at 6 p.m. Entry fees are $20 before Thursday and $25 same-day. Details: 803-831-2827.

▪ Lowrys Parade: 1 p.m. Saturday at the Community Center, goes into Lowrys and ends at the Community Center. Line-up begins at 11 a.m. Entrants must have a farm theme, horse-drawn vehicle or tractor. No registration or entry fee. Details: lowryschristmasparade.com.

Fundraisers

Entertainment

▪ York County Ballet presents “The Nutcracker,” 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 17 at Winthrop University’s Johnson Hall Theater. This year, Anne Blackwell and Leslie Cooper have been collaborating to develop a fresh, new Nutcracker Ballet while preserving the old favorite. They have creatively put together an exciting re-creation of Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. Tickets are $15 and available at yorkcountyballet.com. Online purchases will be held at the box office at Johnson Hall. Office opens one hour prior to showtime. Tickets also available at Woody’s Music, Cherry Road and Nationwide Wiley Insurance, Celanese Road through Friday.

▪ Rock Hill Community Theatre will reprise “Scrooge’s Christmas,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Dec. 10 and 18, 546 S. Cherry Road, suite N (behind ROC Emporium). In Ken Jones’ adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, “A Christmas Carol,” the actors portray all the characters in this Christmas tradition. Tickets: $15, adult, $12, students and seniors, and $2 discount for matinees. Tickets: rockhilltheatre.org or 803-326-7428. The theater also is a collection point for Toys for Happiness.

Meetings

▪ Keystone board of directors, 6 p.m. Monday at the Keystone Youth Center, 1668 Herlong Court Rock Hill. Open to the public. Details: 803-324-4118.

▪ National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Jacksons Cafeteria, Rock Hill. Business meeting at noon.

▪ Due to the Christmas holiday, the Rock Hill branch of the NAACP general meeting will be 9 a.m. Saturday at Bannon Hall, across from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 902 Crawford Road.

▪ Western York County branch of the NAACP, 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at Wesley United Methodist Church. Details: 803-684-6200.

Clubs

▪ Rock Hill Music Club, 4 p.m. Thursday at Oakland Baptist Church, 1067 Oakland Ave. Program by Rock Hill High School Chorus. Open to the public.

Clinics

▪ York Comprehensive High School basketball cheer clinic, 8:45 a.m.-noon Jan. 13 for ages K4-sixth-grade. Cost: $25 through Dec. 22 and $30 after that date. Register at any school in the York district. Make checks payable to YCHS Cheer. Detail: 803-684-2336 or awilkerson@york.k12.sc.us

▪ US Soccer Referee entry level training and certification, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Hilton Garden in Rock Hill. Online preregistration is required at screferees.gameofficials.net. Referee candidates over 14 enroll in Course 22663, the Grade 8 class. Referee candidates between ages 11 and 13 enroll in Course 22664, the Grade 9 class. The cost is $80. Details: Bob Delaney, delaneys@comporium.net or 803-230-0582.

Reunions

▪ Rock Hill High class of 1959 will meet for lunch and fellowship, 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Golden Corral, Anderson Road. All classmates, spouses and friends are welcome.

▪ Rock Hill High class of 1954, 1 p.m. Thursday Dec. 14 at Golden Corral, Anderson Road. All members, relatives and friends invited.

York Child Find

▪ The York School District is looking for children with disabilities who need services and who are not currently enrolled in a York public school program. The district provides programs for children ages 3-21 with the following disabilities: preschool children with disabilities, mental disabilities, specific learning disability, emotional disability, speech or language impairment, hearing impairment, autism, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, vision impairment, traumatic brain injury, and children with multiple disabilities. Screening clinics will be conducted throughout the year at the Education Service Center, 18 Spruce St. Schedule appointments at 803-684-1905, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 8:29 AM with the headline "Fun things abound in York, Lancaster and Chester counties."