Help Optimists collect toys

Prior Lake High School’s Junior Optimist Club is partnering with area schools to collect toys and fill a truck.

Drop-off boxes will be at several schools Dec. 11 through 15. Donations will also be accepted Saturday, Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the student parking lot at Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St., Savage.

Donations should be of new, unwrapped toys. For more information, contact Marie Straquadine at purplestar@mchsi.com.

Enjoy some Christmas tea

Have “A Cup of Christmas Tea” from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13 at The Chart House, 11287 Klamath Trail, Lakeville.

A representative from Pahl’s Market in Apple Valley will show guests how she decorates a tree. Enjoy great food, door prizes and guest Lois Kuehnast, who will share her story of “Changing Your Focus.”

The cost is $13; free child care is available by reservation.

For reservations, call (952) 403-0773) or (952) 891-3523.

‘Sister’ to perform Christmas show

Sister, a group of musicians from Savage, presents “Christmas at Jackson Town Hall” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14 and 15.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Jackson Town Hall is at 1091 130th St. near Shakopee.

The group will play new and favorite songs and tell stories. Ticket holders will get a surprise treat and be among the first to take home the group’s CD, “Little Gems for Christmas.”

For tickets, call Kjersten at (952) 447-1126 or e-mail kjersten@sisterproductions.com.

Students to perform at St. Michael’s

Third- and fourth-grade students at St. Michael’s School in Prior Lake, 16280 Duluth Ave., will perform a joint Christmas pageant at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium on Thursday, Dec. 14.

The school’s fourth- to eighth-grade band students and seventh- and eighth-grade choir students will perform a concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 in the gymnasium.

St. Paul’s plans Christmas concert

St. Paul’s Lutheran School and Preschool will have its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 5634 Luther Road, Prior Lake.

The public is invited to attend the free event.

An information open house will take place at 6:30 p.m. the same night in the cafeteria. For more information, call (952) 447-2117.

See ‘Two from Galilee’

Crossroads Church will perform a production of “Two from Galilee,” the story of Mary and Joseph, at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16, and at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. The church is located at 6880 Boudin St., Prior Lake.

The production includes more than 60 cast members. Tickets to the event are free. For more information, call (952) 447-2789.

See ‘The Family Christmas Tree’

Friendship Church presents “The Family Christmas Tree,” a drama with music, on Dec. 15 and 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; shows start at 7 p.m.

The show is at the church’s Shakopee campus, 12800 Marystown Road.

Refreshments will follow the show. Free tickets are available at www.friendship-church.org/christmas or at the Prior Lake campus, 17741 Fairlawn Ave.

In the spirit of the season, the church asks everyone to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food shelf.

Visit with the Claus family Dec. 16

Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit children at the Shakopee Dakota Convenience Store’s annual holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 15035 Mystic Lake Drive, Prior Lake.

Children 10 and under will receive a free photo to commemorate their talk with Santa and a free gift bag from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free cookies and apple cider will be served to all guests.

Children 17 years and younger can register to win one of several prizes: a giant, 8-foot Christmas stocking filled with toys and games, a basketball hoop with a basketball, a 20-inch TV with a built-in DVD player or one of two scooters.

Adults can spin the prize wheel and register to win a variety of prizes including Vikings tickets and a $25 store gift card.

Choir, musicians to perform ‘Gloria’

On Sunday, Dec. 17, Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church’s Festival Chorale and Orchestra will present its annual cantata, “Let Heaven and Nature Sing Gloria!” during worship services at 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m.

The presentation is under the direction of Bryon Dockter, director of liturgical arts. Ted Sammis serves as instrumental music coordinator, and Vicki Bickle is principal keyboardist.

The church is located at 13760 McKenna Road, Prior Lake.

Take tea at Arboretum

Join the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for afternoon tea, with two sittings every Wednesday from now through Jan. 3.

Sittings are at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Warm up, enjoy a bottomless cup of hot tea and some freshly baked goods in front of a fire.

There is a limit of 40 people per sitting. The cost is $22 for members and $25 for non-members, per person, plus tax. Pre-payment and reservations are required.

For more information, call (612) 624-7173.