By Cynthia Whitty

Enjoy the holiday season right here in Ashland! There will be plenty of activities and entertainment, thanks to local businesses, organizations, and the town. Here are some activities and dates to remember.

Downtown Holiday Stroll, Saturday, Dec. 4, 11 am to 5 pm 

The town of Ashland invites you to its first annual Holiday Stroll to shop favorite downtown businesses and check out pop-up shops along Main and Front streets. On Cherry Street, The Corner Spot will have pop-ups and activities for all ages. Play games, warm up at the fire pit, enjoy a s’mores, or make a holiday craft. At 3:30 pm, gather at the big tree on Main Street in front of Needham Bank for hot cocoa, cider, and cookies while listening to caroling. At 4:30 pm experience the joy of the season with the downtown tree lighting and a special drive-by wave from Santa before he heads into the community for neighborhood visits. For Santa’s local travel plans, visit the town website, ashlandmass.com.

The Arreaux String Quartet with cellist Rebecca Shaw will be one of the many performers for Illuminate Downtown Ashland, Dec.11. (Photo/supplied)

Ashland Community Theater actors rehearse “Dashing Through the Snow” (l to r): Ashland residents Bill Novakowski, Jim Porter, and Jerry Halfhide with Jim Parr (standing) (Photo/supplied)

Founded five years ago by Chrissy Reynolds, owner of Annemarie’s Dance Centre, Illuminate Downtown Ashland shines a light on the important role art plays within a community. In collaboration with the town and Arts! Ashland Alliance, the event brings residents to the downtown area while showcasing the variety of artists that live and work within our community.

At the time of this writing, the following performers are set to appear: NATyA Dance Collective; The Drum Nomads; Ashland High School Chorus; Musician and Ashland resident Joe Stillitano; Arreaux String Quartet; and The Movement Project Performance Company. Needham Bank will provide a participatory craft painting kindness rocks. Artwork will be displayed by Visi Tilak; Suzie Meeker; and Cliff Wilson. Reynolds plans to add more performers and artists to the lineup.

Locations for music, dance, and art include Annemarie’s Dance Centre, the Ashland Historical Society, Town Hall, The Corner Spot, Blush Bouquets, Needham Bank, and Ashland Reiki & Wellness. 

Events are free and open to the public. For locations and the lineup of performers and artists, visit www.annemariesdance.org/illuminate-ashland. 

It’s four days before Christmas in the tiny town of Tinsel, Texas, where a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a 30-year feud with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. You’ll swear this Jones/Hope/Wooten Christmas comedy is more fun than a joyride in a one-horse open sleigh! 

Limited seating is on sale on ACT’s website, www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashland-community-theater-llc/dashing-through-the-snow-93170.