Calendar Submissions

The free community calendar is published Wednesdays on a space-available basis, and includes free and nonprofit local events and groups. Submit items at least a week in advance of publication dates to calendar@reporternewspapers.com.

Garden d’Lights: 5-10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 3. Annual holiday display uses more than 500,000 lights throughout the gardens. Cost: Free; donations encouraged. Parking: $5. Bellevue Botanical Gardens, 12001 Main St., Bellevue. 425-451-3755 or www.bellevuebotanical.org.

Aegis and Seniors Baby Clothing and Food Drive: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 11. Bring donations of baby clothes, shoes, coats, mittens and other baby items for Eastside Baby Corner. Cash donations also welcome to help purchase diapers and formula. Aegis of Kirkland, 13000 Totem Lake Blvd., Kirkland.

2008 NW Holiday Arts Gift Show: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 13. Features works by 50 Northwest artists, including paintings, pottery, clothing, jewelry, food and more. Portion of sales benefits Liberty Road Foundation. Admission: Free. The Redmond Athletic Club, 8709 161st Ave. N.E., Redmond. www.nwholidayarts.com.

Sleep Country Toy Drive: Through Dec. 14. Donors can bring unwrapped new toys, books, movies and games for foster children to any Sleep Country USA store. Call or see Web site for locations. 888-887-5337 or www.sleepcountry.com.

Be a Santa to a Senior: Through Dec. 15. Shoppers can pick an ornament off the tree with a senior’s first name and gift wishes, and return the ornament to the tree along with unwrapped gifts. Home Instead Senior Care will wrap and deliver gifts to needy and isolated seniors. Bridle Trails Red Apple Market, 6625 132nd Ave. N.E., Kirkland. www.beasantatoasenior.com.

Town hall meeting with Eastside legislators: 7 p.m. Dec. 17. Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Bellevue), Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) and Rep. Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) invite Eastside residents to discuss the upcoming 2009 legislative session. Questions, comments and ideas welcome. Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave., Kirkland. 425-453-3064 or pedersen.marilyn@leg.wa.gov.

Kirkland Polar Plunge “Freeze For A Reason”: 1 p.m. Jan. 1. Ring in the New Year by plunging into Lake Washington. There will be a bonfire to warm spirits and people; Wilde Rover will give free bowl of soup to swimmers who come in wet. Cost: Bring donations for the food bank. Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza, Kirkland. 425-587-3300.

Holiday

12K’s of Christmas Holiday Run: 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14. Includes 12K and 5K run/walks, free kids’ dash, costume contest, music, dancing and food. Cost: $25-$45. Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza, Kirkland. www.12ksofchristmas.com.

Argosy Christmas Ships Festival: Dec. 18-23. Festive lighted ships will launch from and visit Kirkland for holiday concerts on the water. All are welcome to view from shore. See Web site for times, details. www.argosycruises.com.

St. John Vianney Holiday Tree Sale: Through Dec. 21. Help support local high school students earn their way to Tijuana to build homes. Hours: 5-9 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. St. John Vianney Church, 12600 84th Ave. N.E., Kirkland. 425-823-6840 or goodwin123@verizon.net.

Kiwanis Christmas Tree Sale: Through Dec. 24 or till sold out. Proceeds go toward various service projects sponsored by Kirkland Kiwanis. 1010 Lake St. S. www.kirkland.kiwanis.org.

Music

The Edlos Holiday Show: 8 p.m. Dec. 12. A cappella group to perform. Cost: $10-$29. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland. 425-893-9900 or www.kpcenter.org.

Breath of Aire: 7 p.m. Dec. 12. Northwest regional choir to perform holiday and seasonal favorites. Cost: Free. Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore. www.breathofaire.org.

Columbia Choirs Holiday Concert: 7 p.m. Dec. 12. Cost: $7-$10. Redmond High School Auditorium, 17272 N.E. 104th St., Redmond.

Music Works Executive Series Concert: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Free student performance. Cost: Free. 14360 S.E. Eastgate Way, Suite 102, Bellevue. 425-644-0988 or www.musicworksnw.org.

“Navidad—Christmas in the New World”: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Presented by Seattle Pro Musica. Cost: $25. Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore. 206-781-2766 or www.seattlepromusica.org.

Michael W. Smith—“It’s a Wonderful Christmas”: 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13. See Web site for cost. Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Road N.E., Redmond. 425-895-5933 or www.occ.ticketforce.com.

“Winter Dreams” Concert: 2 p.m. Dec. 13. New Age musicians Gary Stroutsos and David Lanz to perform. Wine and hors d’oeuvres reception at 1:15 p.m. Portion of proceeds benefits Bridge Disability Ministries. Cost: $25. The Kirkland Lodge, 6505 Lakeview Drive N.E., Kirkland. 425-890-9348.

Eastside Symphony Holiday Concert: 3 p.m. Dec. 14. Cost: Free. Redmond Senior Center, 8703 160th Ave. N.E., Redmond. 425-822-0333 or www.eastsidesymphony.org.

KPC Old Fashioned Holiday Extravaganza: 3 p.m. Dec. 14; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-17. Variety show features familiar Christmas tunes, dancing, and festive fun with host David Koch. Cost: $10-$25. Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave. 425-893-9900 or www.kpcenter.org.

Magical Strings Yuletide Concert: 7 p.m. Dec. 15. Features holiday music, stories, processional and audience sing-along. Cost: $12-$16. Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. Sixth St., Bellevue. 206-260-3178 or www.brownpapertickets.com.

Vivace Flute Choir Holiday Concert: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Thirty-minute performance, followed by reception. Cost: Free. Music Works Northwest, 14360 S.E. Eastgate Way, Suite 102, Bellevue. 425-644-0988 or www.musicworksnw.org.

Pacific Sound Chorus—“Bundled Warm for the Holidays”: 7 p.m. Dec. 16. Doors open at 6 p.m. for refreshments and a gathering to benefit Treehouse for Kids. Cost: $10-$12. Eastshore Unitarian Church, 12700 S.E. 132nd St., Bellevue. www.pacificsound.org.

Music Works Jazz Orchestra: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Free