On December 13th, a collection of Peterborough’s biggest talent will be reproducing the experience of Christmas pageants of days gone at the Historic Red Dog Tavern in Peterborough.

The Red Dog Olde Christmas Pageant is being held as a fundraiser for Homegrown Homes, which provides affordable housing to Peterborough residents.

“I can’t really take credit for the original idea of the show,” says Sam Tweedle, the show’s producer. “The idea came from a show I went to about seven years ago that was put together by Charlie Glasspool. Charlie got a group of his musician friends together to do a festive night of stripped-down acoustic acts with a holiday twist. It was a simple show, but one of the nicest holiday shows I have ever attended, and became the inspiration for this show.”

I’m driving on a dark country road just north of Peterborough in the middle of a soft murky autumn drizzle. On my stereo, I’m listening to an advance copy of Caitlin Currie’s album Waking Up, which I had received two days before. As I drive through the night, Caitlin’s unique vocals are my only companion.

A new holiday tradition continues to blossom this year in the grand old auditorium at the former Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School (201 McDonnel St., Peterborough).

The third annual Dan Fewings & Friends Community Christmas Concert is a family-friendly variety show, featuring great music and hints of comedy and theatre.

The event is in support of the Teachers for Kids Foundation, a registered charity made up of teachers and community members who raise funds for students from low-income families so they can take part in extracurricular activities.

This year’s show takes place Saturday, December 6th at 8 p.m., just after the Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade wraps up (look for Teachers for Kids in the parade as well).

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and free for children 10 and under.

Seeing with new eyes

There is a level of mastery that requires you to rediscover what you already know in order to begin creating anew. This is the realization that I came to as I listened to John Climenhage describe all that has shaped his life as an artist, and how he has approached his latest body of work.

Director Christopher Nolan continues to hold dominion over the alternative pop science fiction kingdom. His latest effort Interstellar sees a muscular revival of an idea that was nearly buried in the 1980s: the serious family film, the kind that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas used to make.