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Save the Date: Christmas events highlight cheer, inclusion, altruism, laughs

By Wyatt Stayner, Columbian staff writer
Published: December 9, 2017, 6:00am
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The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights features holiday light displays, outdoor caroling, indoor choral concerts and more through Dec. 30 at The Grotto in Portland.
The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights features holiday light displays, outdoor caroling, indoor choral concerts and more through Dec. 30 at The Grotto in Portland. (Contributed photo) Photo Gallery

Santa is not the type of person to exclude.

For example, Santa is making another early visit to Clark County, but this time he’ll appear from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at “Sensitive Santa for Families with Disabilities” at The Arc of Southwest Washington, 6511 N.E. 18th St. in Vancouver. Put on by Vancouver Autism Mom’s Support Group and Cub Scout Pack 2 Autism Scouts, families can meet Santa and have pictures taken by a professional photographer in a low-sensory environment. Crafts and refreshments provided; free admission. 360-901-0492.

Once you’ve tackled the legendary Zoo Lights at Oregon Zoo, check out another popular Portland holiday attraction. Open daily from 5 to 9:30 p.m. through Dec. 30, The Grotto — 8840 N.E. Skidmore St. in Portland — brightens up for its Christmas Festival of Lights, and transforms into one of the largest Christmas choral festivals, with nightly holiday concerts featuring local school, church and civic choirs. Five concerts are held each evening in the chapel, with outdoor caroling, holiday light displays, puppet shows and a petting zoo in the plaza. The Grotto is closed on Christmas Day. Tickets cost $11; $10 for military and seniors; $6 for children ages 3 through 12, and free for children 2 and younger. 503-261-2400 or thegrotto.org/christmas-festival-of-lights.

Who said toddlers have to miss out on Christmas Eve? While toddlers and pre-schoolers might not be old enough to stay up for a midnight celebration, they can still experience the joy of a New Year’s Eve party from 11:30 a.m. to noon at Noon Year’s Eve, where they’ll dance and count down to noon at the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave. in Camas; free. Crafts and snacks will be there. 360-834-4692 or www.ci.camas.wa.us/index.php/librarykidsteens/kidsevents.

Gather the courage to speak in front of an audience or just sit and listen to great poetry at Ghost Town Poetry’s Open Mic at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Angst Gallery, 1015 Main St. in Vancouver; free admission. If you’re into more of the latter, enjoy poetry from Oregon resident Jamie Houghton, who’s a poet, musician and teaching artist. Her poetry chapbook, “Burn Site in Bloom,” was released by Musehick Publications this year. The open mic signup begins at 6:30 p.m. and closes at 7. 360-553-1014 or printedmattervancouver.com.

Turn off the TV and go see John Mulaney live at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway in Portland. The Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian, who writes for Netflix’s “Big Mouth,” and formerly wrote for “Saturday Night Live,” brings his critically-acclaimed “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous” to Portland for three shows: 7 and 10 p.m. Dec. 14 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15. Mulaney’s acting and comedic talents stretch from his recent run in the Broadway hit “Oh, Hello on Broadway” to his 2015 stand-up comedy special: “The Comeback Kid,” which was Mulaney’s third hour-long stand-up special. Tickets cost $25 to $35. 503-248-4335 or www.portland5.com/arlene-schnitzer-concert-hall/events/john-mulaney-kid-gorgeous.

Combine partying with a good cause at the Holiday Party and Toy Drive from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15 at Latte Da Coffee House and Wine Bar, 205 E. 39th St. in Vancouver. Stay warm snacking on s’mores and sipping hot cider or hot chocolate before belting out carols to celebrate Christmas. Santa Claus will make an appearance, and local firefighters will roll up in a fire truck to collect toy donations. Latte Da will be accepting donations of new and unwrapped toys until Dec. 15 — leave presents under the lobby Christmas tree. Wearing an “ugly sweater” is encouraged. Full food and drink menu will be available. 360-448-7651 or lattedacoffeehouse.com/event/holiday-party-toy-drive.

This show is so nice you can see it twice — on the same day. The 12th annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Old Liberty Theater, 115 N. Main Ave. in Ridgefield, imports Irish tradition, lively Irish dancers and Christmas songs played with a Celtic slant. The band Molly’s Revenge headlines, and features bagpipes, fiddles, guitars and much more to ensure the celebration is authentic. Admission is $20. 360-887-7260 or ridgefieldwa.us/event/winterdance-celtic-celebration/2017-12-17.

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Columbian staff writer