Visit Santa, Christmas Royal Tea, Elf Trot 5K, 'Sanders Family Christmas'

A Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre, through Dec. 22

During the first three weekends of December, The Strand will produce its biggest and most elaborate show yet, A Christmas Tradition. 

Songs spotlighted include Christmas and holiday classics like White Christmas, Santa Baby and All I Want for Christmas Is You, as well as funky favorites like Leroy the Redneck Reindeer, Feliz Navidad and Run, Rudolph Run. 

A Christmas Tradition will feature a pre-show holiday sing along with Ron Carter on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. The organ pre-show will begin half an hour before showtime.

Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m.

Visit with Santa on Marietta Square, Dec. 14, 15 and 19-24

Santa will be on Marietta Square Dec. 14 and 15, and 19-24. 

• Saturday, December 14: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  
• Sunday, December 15: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  
• Thursday, December 19: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  
• Friday, December 20: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  
• Saturday, December 21: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  
• Sunday, December 22: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  
• Monday, December 23: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 24: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Christmas Royal Tea and Grand Yuletide Ball, Saturday afternoons in December

Children (and their guests, too!) are encouraged to dress up for the special occasion. Ticket includes a gift bag of goodies for young guests that includes an autograph book to commemorate the afternoon with Christmas Royalty and new friends. Tickets are $15 for children and adults. 

Prince Goodtidings and Princess Joy will begin receiving guests at 12:30 p.m. for the 1 p.m. tea. Festivities will end at 2:30 p.m. This event will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.

Sanders Family Christmas, Dec. 13-22

The Sanctified Sanders Family Singers return to Marietta Square to celebrate the holidays with faith, family and old-fashioned fun. Sanders Family Christmas, starring the original Theatre in the Square cast, plays Dec. 13-22, at First United Methodist Church of Marietta’s Family Life Hall (56 Whitlock Ave., Marietta). Visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com for reservations and information.

Elf Trot 5K, Dec. 14

The final Kennesaw Grand Prix 5K race in the series on a USATF-certified course begins and ends in downtown Kennesaw on Saturday, December 14, 2013, at 7:30 a.m. Benefiting the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children. Visit www.elftrot.com for more information, you can register at www.actice.com.

Miracle on 34th Street at the Strand Theatre, Dec. 15

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 Christmas classic starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. It is the heartwarming story of what takes place in New York City following Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as people are left wondering whether or not a department store Santa might be the real thing. Miracle on 34th Street embodies the true Christmas spirit of love and compassion. Get here half an hour early for a holiday preshow and sing along on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. Tickets are general admission, $8 for adults and $7 for seniors, students, and military.

Charlie Brown Christmas Show: Featuring Jeffrey Bützer and T. T. Mahony, Wednesday Dec. 18, Strand Theatre

Jeffrey Bützer and T.T. Mahony present a jazzy musical tribute to Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. Bützer and Mahony will be playing the whimsical Christmas songs that Charlie Brown and the gang have made favorites for the holiday season. 

Opening the show will be Bützer’s “regular gig,” Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters, followed by Chad Shivers and the Silent Knights and their Beach Boys Christmas Tribute.