Try This: Sing a song of holiday cheer

Christmastime arrives at Fort Vancouver National Site with traditional holiday sights, smells and sounds. At Pearson Air Museum, visitors are encouraged to send letters through the North Pole mailbox, take photos with Santa Claus in the cockpit of a vintage 1941 airplane, and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies. At Fort Vancouver, enjoy 1840s holiday traditions with caroling, games, crafts, demonstrations and hot cider inside the reconstructed fort.

When: Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pearson Air Museum and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fort Vancouver

Where: Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E. Fifth St., Vancouver; Fort Vancouver, 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver.

Admission: Fort Vancouver: $3, $5 for families, free for youths younger than 15. Pearson Air Museum: $5 for family of up to six, $2 for each additional person.

Telehphone: 360-816-6230.

On the Web: http://fortvan.org.

Christmas at Fort Vancouver is one of several entertainment options this weekend. Others include a theater production and a holiday concert.

2. Two events for book-lovers

Two local bookshops will host a multitude of authors Saturday. Visit Cover to Cover Books for the Holiday Book Fair, which features 10 area writers and poets, including best-selling young adult author Lili Saintcrow. Writers will autograph books and talk about their writing. Join Vintage Books for a multiple-author book signing, including authors Mike Chinakos, Brad Wheeler, Adam Copeland, Cynthia Robbins, Pam Bainbridge-Cowan and Andy Bunch of the Northwest Independent Writers Association.

When: Saturday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cover to Cover Books; 1-3 p.m. at Vintage Books.

Where: Cover to Cover Books, 6300 N.E. St. James Road, Vancouver; Vintage Books, 6613 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver.

Admission: Free.

Telephone: 360-993-7777 and 360-694-9519.

On the Web: http://covertocoverbooks.net and http://vintage-books.net.

3. A variety of acts

Enjoy a bit of theater fun with “I Can’t … I Have Rehearsal” presented by the Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy. The performance features the one-act play “Charlotte’s Web” and song and dance numbers from the musicals “Mary Poppins” and “White Christmas.”

When: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Alki Middle School, 1800 N.W. 139th St., Vancouver.

Admission: $5.

Telephone: 360-975-1585.

On the Web: http://metropaa.org.

4. Concert for the season

The Vancouver USA Singers’ “The Majesty of Christmas” concert will feature holiday songs such as Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria,” Daniel Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata” with the a brass choir, and Henry Mollicone’s joyous “Christmas Celebration” featuring Ron Frasier as the narrator, accompanied by a brass choir.

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Where: First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver.

Admission: $15, $10 for students and seniors, free for those younger than 10.

Telephone: 360-513-8315

On the Web: http://vancouversingers.org.

5. Stars shine in ‘New Year’s Eve’

Featuring a huge cast of Hollywood stars, “New Year’s Eve” follows multiple characters through New York City as they explore intertwining tales of love, second chances and fresh starts during the most exciting night of the year. “New Year’s Eve” is rated PG-13.

Where: Battle Ground Cinema, 1700 S.W. Ninth Ave., Battle Ground; Cinetopia, 11700 S.E. Seventh St., vancouver; various Regal Cinemas locations.

Admission: Varies by theater.

Telephone: Battle Ground Cinema, 360-666-7200; Cinetopia, 360-213-2800; Regal Cinemas, 800-326-3264.

On the Web: http://www.battlegroundcinema.com, http://cinetopia.com or http://www.fandango.com.