Begin your holiday preparations at the Heritage Center the weekend of December 3 and 4. It’s a great chance to start (or finish) your shopping as unique gifts are available. Purchase a piece of artwork for yourself or as a special gift at the Perkiomen Valley Art Center’s “Favorites” Exhibition and Fine Art Sale in the Putera Meeting Room on the first floor of the Heritage Center. Our gift shop will be stocked with all sorts of treasures, and Pam Smith returns with her one-of-a-kind jewelry.

We have two new features this year. The Stauffer Education Room will be open for our first Seasonal Saturday. From 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, anyone may Make & Take Christmas crafts. Younger children may need a parent or guardian to assist them. The activity is free of charge, and no registration is necessary.

The other new feature is a Basket Raffle. Two tickets for $1, 12 tickets for $5.00, or an arm length for $10.00 will give you the chance to take home a unique basket full of themed goodies. We will pull the winning ticket on Monday, December 6 and invite you back to pick up your prize. Proceeds of the Basket Raffle to support the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center.

And what would the holidays be without music? Dr. Mark Thomas, Director of the Orchestra & Choir at the Upper Perkiomen High School and his Select Strings Group will be here on Saturday from 11:00 to 11:30.

If all of this isn’t enough, our friends at neighboring organizations have some holiday magic for you too:

• The Goschenhoppen Historians return with A Self-Guided Tour of Pa. Dutch Christmas Traditions and Folk Art, including the famous home baked goodies sale, on Saturday and Sunday.

• The Mennonite Heritage Center’s traditional craft show will be Friday and Saturday this year.

• Candlelight tours will be held at both the Peter Wentz Farmstead and the Henry Muhlenberg House on Saturday evenings. The Center for Pennsylvania German Studies at the Dewees Tavern in Trappe will be open both days with a new exhibit.