(Hazleton, PA – November 15, 2010) – For the 18th consecutive year, the CAN DO Community Christmas will kick off the holiday season in downtown Hazleton.

The public is invited to the musical festivities, which will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the J.J. Ferrara Performing Arts Center, 212 W. Broad St., Hazleton. Admission to Community Christmas is free and the CAN DO Student Action Committee, which coordinates the event, will serve light refreshments.

Various instrumental and choral groups from the Hazleton Area School District will perform. This is the fifth year the event will be held at the Ferrara Center; it was previously held in CAN DO’s Renaissance Center just down the street.

Community Christmas features the theme of “Come Celebrate the Arts.” Musical selections will be performed by the Hazleton Area High School Jazz Ensemble, Hazleton Area High School Chamber Singers, the Heights-Terrace Elementary/Middle School Third-Grade Chorus and the band “RAIL,” made up of students from Hazleton Area High School.

Each student who performs will receive a T-shirt designed by CAN DO’s Student Action Committee. The Student Action Committee is made up of local high school students who serve on the CAN DO Board of Directors. Co-chairs for this year’s Community Christmas are Susan Funk, Weatherly Area High School; and Yanira Paulino, Immanuel Christian School. Charles Burkhardt and Nancy Stasko are the advisers to the Student Action Committee.

At Community Christmas, children will also be able to meet with Santa Claus and some elves will even help the children write letters to send to Santa at his North Pole home address. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras, as Santa will be available for photos with the children.

For more information on CAN DO Community Christmas, call Nancy Stasko at (570) 455-1508.

View photos from the 2009 event:

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