Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see. 

Bob Cratchit 

"A Christmas Carol"

With so many holiday activities in the Chicago area, how do people choose with only a few free weekends before Christmas Day? The producers of Sing We Joyous! have a solution — their performance appeals to all ages, from the smallest tot to the tallest teen to the fun-loving grandparent and everyone in between.

The holidays focus on family, and one local holiday dance tradition is like a family: Ballet Légere's Nutcracker. Scores of children have grown up with the production and audition each year. Some even come back as adults, including one who danced in her youth and is now a choreographer. Parents take part in the ballet's party scene and put in many volunteer hours. 

As our nation remembers the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that brought an end to World War I, Heritage Chorale of Oak Park, under the direction of their new Artistic Director, Guillermo Muñoz Küster, is using this event as a departure point to inspire their fall concert this weekend.