Christmas Concerts and a Charity Brunch

-- The Gift of Christmas Concert at Mt. Paran North Church of God is Friday at 6 p.m. 1700 Allgood Road, 770-578-9081.

-- Johnson Ferry Baptist Church will celebrate its Christmas Festival on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Music, visuals and a special Christmas message will be featured. Admission is free. 955 Johnson Ferry Road. 770-973-6561.

-- The Empty Bowl Brunch at The Art Place in East Cobb will take place on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will benefit area charities. The cost is $10 for soup or chili and guests will be able to keep a bowl created by a local artist. 3300 Sandy Plains Road. 770-509-2700.

-- East Cobb Church of Christ presents Dramatic Moments, its holiday musical, at 6:30 p.m Sunday with a reception to follow. 5250 Roswell Road. 770-587-5999.

-- North River Church of Christ will celebrate the season with its "This Christmas" concert at 6 p.m. Sunday. The festive tunes from the Worship Ministry singers and band will include traditional songs, pop tunes and maybe some different takes on the classics, including music from artists like Bing Crosby, Amy Grant, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and more. There will be something for the kids and the kids-at-heart, alike. 320 Austin Ave., Marietta. 770-792-8133.

--  at  will run through Jan. 1. The perennial favorite holiday show has the sunny-voiced Sanders Family back just before the beginning of World War II. They're quirky, saintly and delightfully melodic as they interpret everybody's favorite bluegrass gospel music. Back for the 13th holiday season. Recommended for the entire family ages 10 and up.

-- The Artist Attic Holiday Show and Sale takes place at  through Dec. 17. The event includes all hand made items by TAP students, instructors and staff.

-- The Georgia Ballet will present a special Celebrity Benefit Performance on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

Appearing on stage for this one performance only:

• David Connell, President & CEO of Cobb Chamber of Commerce
• Earl Reece, Executive Director of Earl Smith Strand Theatre
• Holly Comer, Executive Director of YWCA of Northwest Georgia
• Kim Gresh, Chief Executive Office of S.A. White Oil Company

-- The 11th annual Sleighbells on the Square 5K takes place Dec. 10 This is a Peachtree qualifying race. All proceeds will benefit the Children's Emergency Fund. The fee is $20 before Dec. 5 and $25 after Dec. 5. The race course will begin on the square and proceed along Cherokee Street to Freyer Drive to Pine Street to Allgood Road to Chicopee Drive to Margaret Avenue to Church Street to Lemon Street to Cherokee Street and ending on East Park Square.

The 5K starts at 8:30 a.m., the 1K starts at 9:15 a.m., the Tot Trot starts at 9:30 a.m. and awards will be presented at 9:35 a.m.

-- St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church will be having an event Dec. 9 through Dec. 11 at .

-- Centerstage North's Holiday Show Got a Hankerin' for Holiday Hijinks? will take place Dec. 9 through Dec. 11 and Dec. 15 through 17. The Jones Hope Woeten Comedy will show at the Art Place Mountain View. Call 770-516-3330 for more information.

-- The  takes place on Saturday, Dec. 10 from noon to 8 p.m. at the . The holiday event features a local arts and crafts market, food, festivities and a gingerbread house competition with gingerbread houses on display throughout the entire event. The family friendly event benefits the Dare To Hope Foundation, an Atlanta-based non-profit working to better the lives of children with critical, rare, chronic and complex medical conditions.

Admission is a $5 donation for ages 13 and up; 12 and under are free.

-- At Santa's Art Studio on Dec. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., students create seasonal artwork while getting exposure to creative art teachers, different ideas, processes and art mediums. The even takes place at the Art Place Mountain View.

-- The Cobb Christmas Distribution at  takes place Dec. 16 through Dec. 18.

-- The 1940's Radio Hour will run from Dec. 17 through Jan. 1. This beloved show was a hot hit in 's very first season and went on for a 25-year-run. Now, after a five-year hiatus the old gang at WOV, Johnny, Ginger, Ann Pops, B.J., Wally and more, are back with the dance routines and swing music that are as rousing as they are heartwarming. All performances of The 1940's Radio Hour will take place at , Joe Mack Wilson Student Center.

-- Jeffrey Butzer and T.T. Mahoney present a jazzy musical tribute to Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. Special guests Sorry No Ferrari, perform The Ventures Christmas Album, the season’s favorites with a taste of ‘60s surf. The show will run at the  Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Admission is $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event.

-- In the classic 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey has always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother’s, kept the family-run savings and loan business afloat, protected the town from the greed of the banker, Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As this compassionate but despairingly frustrated small-town man contemplates suicide one fateful Christmas Eve, his guardian angel intercedes and shows him what life would have been like for the residents of Bedford Falls is he had never lived.

The movie will play at the  on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children, students and seniors.

-- Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey in the role of a green-faced curmudgeon who plots to steal the Yuletide from the innocent citizens of Whoville, will play at the. There will be a live organ pops variety show of Christmas music and sing-alongs at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 21. The movie will start at 3 p.m.

The Center for Family Resources needs the community’s help to stock their pantries for January, which is the lowest stocked month of the year. Admission to How the Grinch Stole Christmas is free if you bring five canned goods. Acceptable food listing is at www.earlsmithstrand.org.