Weekly Roundup

Get in the holiday spirit with gingerbread house decorating with the Keene Young Professionals Network on Thursday, Dec. 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.51 and must be purchased in advance to reserve your gingerbread house. Bring extra decorations and BYOB if desired. The get-together will take place in the HIVE at the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship, 25 Roxbury St., Keene. For the late-in-the-season shoppers, swing by the Last-Minute Larry Holiday Arts Market on Sunday, Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nova Arts, 48 Emerald St., Keene. Shop local, handmade items while enjoying treats from the café. Step into the enchanting story of "The Nutcracker" presented by MoCo Arts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19 through 21, at the Redfern Arts Center, 90 Wyman Way, Keene. It's the classic tale everyone knows and loves performed by local area youth. Showings are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at www.moco.org/the-nutcracker/. On Saturday, Dec. 20, share the sounds of traditional holiday carols on a non-traditional instrument: the kazoo. The annual kazoo caroling will take place at noon on Main Street in Jaffrey outside of the Park Theatre. Come dressed in your warmest winter weather and yuletide cheer. Every participant will receive a free kazoo. In celebration of the Winter Solstice, Next Stage Arts, at 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, Vt., hosts a celebration and community sing on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. From 2 to 3 p.m. participants will join in decorating the luminaria and a holiday cookie swap drop-off (return at 4 to 4:30 to pick up your assorted selection of cookies). A joyful community sing-along led by Rich Grumbine will start at 3 p.m. This event is free and open to all.