Garden Court Community Association hosts its Winter Stroll & Holiday House Tour on Saturday, Dec. 29, from 5-8 p.m. and invites you to come out and spread holiday cheer in the neighborhood.

The stroll begins at 4603 Cedar Avenue and continues to other festive homes in the community. There will be music, theater and fun and light refreshments will be served. The event will take place in rain or snow.

Cost is $10 with advanced registration; $15 at the door. Children under 12 are free. RSVP to Mary-Knight Young at maryknightyoung@gmail.com or 215-779-3692.

As words of sympathy and support continue to pour in for Elena’s Soul Lounge, which was seriously damaged by fire on Monday, we are passing along information on the first fundraiser for this popular Baltimore Avenue spot. The fundraiser Jam Session/Concert to raise money for Elena’s Soul Lounge will be held this Friday, Dec. 28 at Major Events Banquet Hall, 5075 Lancaster Ave, 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. The fundraiser is hosted by IM3Media that helped organize Hidden Soul Wednesdays at Elena’s. More information is available here (Facebook page).

Here’s a list of Christmas services at assorted local churches. If you know of other Christmas services please email us at: editor@westphillylocal.com or post them in the comments.

Calvary Methodist Church, 48th & Baltimore

Christmas Eve: Candlelight Service of lessons and carols – 7 p.m.

Church of the Holy Apostles & Mediator, 51st & Spruce

Christmas Eve: Christmas Sacred music prelude – 6:30 p.m.; Festival of Christmas Eucharist – 7 p.m.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 3916 Locust Walk

Christmas Eve: The Feast of the Nativity – 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Day: 6:20 p.m.

Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 38th St. between Chestnut and Market

Christmas Eve: Festival Eucharist – 5 p.m.
Christmas Day: Holy Eucharist – 10 a.m.

A special holiday edition of popular Go West! Craft Fest is coming to the Rotunda (40th & Walnut) this Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for unique holiday gift shopping, with over 40 local artists and artisans taking part in the event. See the full vendor list here. Thanks to VIX Emporium for organizing this annual event once again!

This upcoming weekend Milk & Honey Market is throwing two holiday celebrations: a Holiday Pop-Up Shop on Sunday at their West Philly store at 45th and Baltimore and Winterfest on Saturday at their Center City location at Sister Cities Park (18th St. and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway). Annie Baum-Stein, the owner, invites her West Philly neighbors to both events.

Winterfest will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a lot of fun holiday activities for the whole family – a Treasure Hunt, Karaoke sing-a-long with Frosty the Snowman, and holiday arts and crafts. The event will kick off with a choir performing songs of the season. Throughout the day children will enjoy Story Art, Snowflake Science, Cold Weather Creatures, and cookie decorating. This page has a full schedule.

For Sunday’s Pop-Up Shop held at 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in West Philly, Milk & Honey partnered with local artist/craft team Fennec Designs (many will recognize their wares from VIX Emporium or Go West Craft Fests) who have invited their neighborhood artisan friends to participate. In addition to the pop-up gift shop, Build-Your-Own gift baskets and Cookie decorating kits will be on tap at the event.  You can purchase anything in the store for a gift basket and receive the gift packaging and a custom gift card free.

And here are some examples of locally grown or made gift items:

Urban Apiaries Honey, unusual bitters, shrubs and syrups for cocktailers, Beer Kits for Home Brewers, local artisan made kitchen accessories, art works and beeswax candles, a great assortment of cookbooks and of course lots of delicious edible gifts!

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, began last night and we want to pass along information that Kol Tzedek, a Reconstructionist synagogue in West Philly, is inviting neighbors to its Annual Hanukkah Party/Fundraiser today from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th & Baltimore).

Here’s more information from the Kol Tzedek website:

“Candlelighting is approximately at 4:30 pm… This is also vegetarian potluck dinner — bring along a dish to share and your own plates/cutlery if you are able. Come celebrate the Second Night of Hanukkah with the Kol Tzedek community! Light candles, nash on some latkes, play games, sing songs, listen to some classic klezmer brought to you by our Simcha Band, and enjoy the warmth of this holiday of Lights!

This event is also a fundraiser for the community. Suggested sliding scale donation: $8-18 for individuals, $18-36 for families. No one will be turned away! This year, we are aiming to have a bit of a marketplace, featuring local vendors, so bring along some extra cash for that last minute holiday shopping! We need lots of latkes! To volunteer for latke making or volunteer in other ways, contact religiouslife@kol-tzedek.org.

We invite you to bring any or all of these: a vegetarian dish to share, your own plate/napkin/cup/ silverware, your own menorah and candles so we can add to the beautiful lights, a donation of winter gear, coats, mittens, scarves, etc for a local charity.”