Holiday dinner to help the homeless, needy
On Thursday, Dec. 8 and Friday, Dec. 9, the Red Rooster Cafe on Ribaut Road will be having a holiday dinner for the needy and homeless around the area. The restaurant is donating 100 dinners, and accepting donations for the other 100 dinners.  The price for one dinner is only $3.50. Local churches and other organizations are helping distribute tickets to the people who need them most. For more information, contact Courtney Keith, 843-321-1108.

Gullah Kinfolk Christmas Wish show
WHAT: A Total Gullah Experience O’ Christmas
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m.
WHERE: USCB Performing Arts Center, 801 Carteret St.
TICKETS: $30 advance, $35 at the door, $10 ages 7-17. For details, call 843-986-1102 or visit www.bcbcc.org.

The Festival of Trees events continue
The Festival of Trees, benefitting Friends of Caroline Hospice, will be held until Saturday December 10 at the Charles Lind Brown Neighborhood Activity Center (formerly the Greene Street Gym) located at 1001 Hamar St. As Beaufort’s premier holiday event, the festival includes a showcase of beautifully decorated trees, a grand opening reception with silent auction, a gourmet and gift shop and daily lunches. The gym is transformed into a holiday wonderland, where simply stepping through the doors puts you in the holiday spirit.
In the past 24 years, Festival of Trees has raised almost $800,000 for Friends of Caroline Hospice. The festival is Friends of Caroline Hospice’s largest fundraiser, helping them provide free care and volunteer services offering hope, encouragement and comfort to our friends and neighbors who live with life-threatening illness. For more information, please contact Vicki Verity at 263-4108 or visit the website, www.festivaloftreesbeaufort.com .  Information is also available on the Festival of Trees Beaufort Facebook page.
Saturday at the Festival: December 10
This day will feature several new events: The morning will host a class of Yoga Among the Trees courtesy of Dancing Dogs Yoga.  Also on Saturday there will be a brunch available and gift wrapping services.  Saturday evening from 5-7 p.m. will feature the Snowball Family Dance.  This will include fun activities for the kids such a cookie decorating, dancing, games, photos with Santa and much, much more.

Photo With Santa Fundraiser at studio
Captured Moments Photography at 1402 King Street in Beaufort is hosting a three day ‘Photo With Santa Fundraiser’ to benefit HELP of Beaufort. Bring your little ones to the studio on December 12, 13, or 14 from 3 to 7 p.m. and have their photo taken with Santa Claus himself.  Who needs a drive to the shopping mall this year? Cost per sheet is $20, and portions of the proceeds benefit HELP of Beaufort. Please call Captured Moments Photography at 843-379-0223 for more.

Beaufort County holds tree lighting ceremony
Beaufort County Council has scheduled its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony Monday, December 12 on the lawn in front of the County Courthouse, 100 Ribaut Road. The ceremony is expected to begin about 5:30 p.m. during a recess of the regular county council meeting. It is open to the public and will feature a message from Council Chairman Weston Newton, carols led by the B.J. Scott Choir of the Huspah Baptist Church, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus.  Those who are unable to attend may view the event on The County Channel.

Port Royal Holiday Community Supper
Tuesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m., the Historic Port Royal Foundation will celebrate the holiday season with a Community Supper in the Union Church, 1004 11th Street, Port Royal.  There will be a festive Italian dinner with all the trimmings!  Come meet your neighbors and friends in Port Royal. Seating is limited so please call for reservations:  John or Anna Ellerbe, 522-9923. The supper is FREE, so make your reservations early!

Celebration to spotlight three major holidays
Members of the Jewish, Christian and African-American communities will participate in a unique joint celebration of the three major December holidays Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa on Thursday, Dec. 15. The “Holidays Celebration” is believed to be the first event of its kind ever organized in Beaufort County. It’ll be held at the Beaufort Public Library, 311 Scott St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The celebration, which will feature 15-minute presentations on each holiday that includes story-telling, music, decorations, and traditional holiday dishes, is free and open to the public. It’s being sponsored by the Northern Beaufort County Democratic Club. Due to limited space in the library, reservations are being requested. Please call 843-597-2482 if you plan to attend.

Singers, kids present A Gullah Christmas
An old-fashioned Gullah celebration of the yuletide season will be even more heartwarming this year with the sounds of children’s voices joining Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers.  Members from school choirs north of the Broad have been invited to join the Hallelujah Singers on stage in two free performances on Sunday, December 18, at the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Beaufort, located at 1100 Boundary Street.  There is a matinee performance at 3 p.m. and an evening performance at 7 p.m. The Kids North of the Broad (KNOB) is an educational outreach production, through “Fa Da Chillun” of the Hallelujah Singers.  KNOB links children to the arts, one note at a time. It provides an integrated humanities program for children ages 13-18. The performances of A Gullah Christmas will help introduce children to the Gullah culture through music, storytelling and recollections of history.