Looking to add something new to your Christmas entertainment lineup? The Lakewood Center for the Arts has come to the rescue with a host of Covid-friendly offerings to ensure that even though this holiday season may be different for all of us, it can still be merry.   

SANTA’S CHRISTMAS CARDS. This virtual production brings us into Santa’s home while he is enjoying a well-deserved break from all his Christmas preparations. Like us, he’s had a lot of time to shelter in place so he finds himself ahead of schedule with time to sit back and reflect on how much his trusty elf, Tillie (Lisa Knox) has helped him this year. Then his thoughts turn to some of the Christmas cards he has received and the wonderful families who have sent them. We’ll get to meet the Corwin’s and Schultz’s and get a big dose of their holiday spirit through song and dance. Tickets are $20 per household. Upon your purchase, you’ll receive an email receipt with a link to view the performance. Viewing is available until December 31.

THE PEPPERMINT BEAR ANTHOLOGY. The Lakewood Center’s Holiday Magic Breakfast Theatre has been a favorite family tradition for years. The Center has found a way to keep the magic alive by making three past performances of The Peppermint Bear Show available for viewing during the holiday season. Tickets are $10 per household for each show and can be ordered online. You can buy one or all three!

Peppermint Bear: The Taming of the Shoe (from 2015). Christmas is just around the corner and the head elf, Mert, is attempting to rehearse the big parade with Gert and Mort when our young friend, Charlie, arrives at the North Pole. It seems there is some electronic problem with toy making machinery and Santa needs Peppermint Bear’s help!

Peppermint Bear and the Giant Elf (from 2017). Santa’s workshop is in a tizzy when his chair and magic jingle bells go missing. A giant slips in with plans to become the new, much bigger Santa Claus, and uses the magic jingle bells to take control of the elves! Sally, a young girl whose father assists at the north pole, and Peppermint Bear learn to use teamwork to make everything right before Christmas is ruined.

Peppermint Bear: Who Needs Sneeds? (from 2018). Peppermint Bear is helping Santa’s elves rehearse for their annual Christmas show when the evil Sneed brothers show up plotting to take Santa’s Christmas gifts before his sleigh ride on Christmas Eve. It’s up to Peppermint Bear to save Christmas again!

SANTA WISH LISTS. Since children can’t visit with Santa in person at this year’s Holiday Magic Breakfast, he has made special arrangements to connect with kids via video. General messages are $5 (delivered 1-2 business days after receipt) and personalized ones are $10 (you may be too late for this one as it can take up to 5 days for delivery). After purchasing either message, a receipt will be emailed to you with a link to a video from Santa requesting a wish list so he and his elves can get to work on the gifts as soon as possible. Send the wish list by email to: santa@lakewood-center.org.

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas!