The City’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which provides residents with an environmentally friendly alternative for the disposal of live trees, has kicked off today and will run through Saturday, Jan. 13. Residents of West and Southwest Philadelphia who wish to drop off their trees to be recycled may take them to the Sanitation Convenience Centers listed below open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

• 3033 S. 63rd Street

• 5100 Grays Avenue

Residents may also drop their trees off at 13 designated locations on Saturdays, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The two locations in West Philly are:

• 54th St. and Woodbine Ave.

• 43rd St. and Powelton Ave.

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The annual community art project, Fun-A-Day, is celebrating its 20th anniversary next month and inviting community members to participate in the 2024 project and art show.

Community members are encouraged to pick a creative project or activity to do every day during the month of January, then display their work in a big group art show at Studio 34 Yoga in February!

“You can do anything! Draw a picture, take a photo, sing a song, bake a cake, write a novel – come up with a daily creative practice and HAVE FUN!” reads the project description.

The Fun-A-Day project and art show is free, non-juried, non-commercial, and all-ages. All skill levels and mediums are welcome.

The project starts on January 1, 2024. The Fun-A-Day Community Art Show will take place on Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 at Studio 34 Yoga (4522 Baltimore Ave).

Fun-A-Day was started by a group of artists known as the Artclash Collective in West Philadelphia and has spread to other cities throughout the world!

For more details and to sign up, visit artclash.com.

Here’s a free and fun program for teens who want to explore their creative side. Curio Theatre Company is currently recruiting new students to their award winning program, CuriosiTeens.

This program is the perfect opportunity to discover your passion for the arts. Teens ages 13 to 18 are invited to come hang out with Curio Theatre folks on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and make unforgettable memories. The first session is this Saturday, Dec. 16.

If you are interested to join the program please call at 215-921-8243 to learn more.

Curio Theatre is located at 4740 Baltimore Avenue at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community.

For more information about Curio Theatre Company and it events and programs, visit: http://www.curiotheatre.org.

(Photo courtesy of Curio Theatre)

Team Panbo, known for their recent Halloween Data Project that collected information on West Philly kids’ most popular candy, has some exciting news. This past Friday the group, comprised of senior Penn students Melissa Nong, Ethan Markwalter, Turner Halle, and Julianna Cimillo, installed a solar-powered lights display at the triangle intersection on 45th and Baltimore (see map). The funds for the display (over $300!) were raised from selling the West Philly Variety packs containing local kids’ favorite candies at Clark Park Farmers Market.

The lights charge during the day and automatically turn on once it gets dark.

“We’re hoping it adds some warmth and brightness to an area that gets quite a lot of foot traffic but is pretty poorly lit at night,” Melissa Nong wrote to West Philly Local.

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Here’s a great local holiday event where you can buy unique handmade gifts made by West Philly artists and makers. The annual West Holiday Craft Fest is returning this weekend to The Rotunda (40th and Walnut).

The Fest kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 9 and will continue on Sunday, Dec. 10 (open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days). Both days will have completely different vendor lineups: Here’s the list for Saturday’s vendors, and here’s the list for Sunday. So come both days if you can!

And here’s what types of gifts you can buy at the Fest, according to the event website: “artisan jewelry, ceramics, ornaments, art prints and originals, home wares, clothing, cozy hand knits, natural bodycare, candles, stationery, toys, and all sorts of unique holiday gifts.”

For more details and updates, go to: https://westcraftfest.wixsite.com/home. Also check out the event’s Instagram page (see below).

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UCity Square Holiday Fest is a new annual West Philadelphia tradition first launched last year. This year, the two-day event is returning to The Lawn at uCity Square (3701 Filbert St) on Friday, Dec. 8 and will feature a lot of fun activities for all ages.

On Friday, from 6 to 7 p.m., community members are invited for a West Philadelphia public tree lighting ceremony. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier will have the honor of flipping the switch to light the tree! The event will also include a performance by the Ginger Trio. Other events and activities on Friday include Holiday Karaoke (from 4 to 8 p.m.), an inflatable Craft Cottage, live performers and DJ sets, a beer garden, a Holiday Vendor Marketplace, complimentary hot beverages, food trucks and more.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, the fest will continue with an opportunity for some skating at a pop-up skating rink (from 2 to 6 p.m.). Free skate rentals will be provided. Kids are invited to take photos with Santa (from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) and ride on a Trackless Train (from 2 to 6 p.m.). Saturday’s schedule also includes Craft Cottages, live performers and DJs, Holiday Vendor Marketplace, beer garden and food trucks.

UCity Square Holiday Fest is a free event open to the public. More information and free registration links are available here.

(Photo courtesy of uCity Square)