Around Town Nov. 4

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on November 4, 2021

A Longwood Christmas starts Nov. 19.

• It’s that time of year again. Longwood Gardens’ A Longwood Christmas starts Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 9. This year’s focus is the contrast of fire and ice. Inside, set your spirits ablaze with towering trees adorned in amber to fiery red tones, flickering flame lanterns, and an inviting mountain retreat, complemented by icy-hued plantings, a “frozen” succulent fountain, and a refreshing alpine waterway that is the ultimate winter wonderland. Outdoors, cozy up to inviting fire pits, cool off with a stroll through half-a-million lights that dazzle and delight, and relish in the splendor of the season. For more information and timed ticket purchases, go here.

Robin Hood comes to West Chester University Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 and 13.

• West Chester University’s Opera Theater presents Robin Hood with music by Ben Moore and libretto by Kelly Rourke on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Performances are staged in the 1200-seat Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. General admission tickets are $7 at www.wcupatix.com.

• The 2021 Unionville Art Gala will be a virtual online auction from 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12 through 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14. A preview is available on Thursday, Nov. 11, beginning at noon. For more information and links to the preview and live auction site, please visit the Unionville Art Gala website at unionvilleartgala.com or the Art Gala Facebook or Instagram pages @unionvilleartgala.

Learn how weird Christmas can be on Dec. 1.

• The Chester County History Center is gearing up for the weird with a virtual event, Weird Christmas: A Journey into the Dark Heart of the Holiday Season. Merry and bright? Goodwill toward men? Not so much. At least that's what research has revealed to author Matt Lake. Marvel at the gruesome tales of the saints we celebrate during December. Gawk at the monsters that haunt the hills and forests of Europe and beyond. Avoid the spirits that haunt our doors as the days grow darker. And ponder how all these elements got twisted into how we celebrate the season nowadays. Matt Lake's illustrated lecture mixes up a steaming bowl of Victorian sentiment, bright lights, and good old-fashioned fear. This pay-as-you-wish event runs from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

• The Chester County Health Department is gearing up to deliver Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 5-11 now that the Centers for Disease Control has issued final recommendations. The vaccine dose for younger children is one-third of that given to anyone age 12 and over, and the vaccine is administered in a series of two shots, 21 days apart. Children ages 5-11 can receive the vaccine at several locations, including their healthcare provider, pharmacy, or Chester County Health Department clinics.