Community Calendar

Take a look back on the global journeys we’ve had the past year while celebrating New Year’s traditions from around the world.

College of the Ozarks will host its Fall Jazz Ensemble Concert December 12 at Jones Auditorium.

Program:

• “Good King Wenceslas” - John Mason Neale/arr. Ted Wilson 
• “A Charlie Brown Christmas” - Vince Guarldi/arr. Paul Murtha
• “O Holy Night” - Adolphe Adam/arr. Tom Kubis
• “The Song is You” - Jerome Kern/arr. Mark Taylor
• “Senor Mouse” - Chick Corea/arr. Mike Tomaro  
• “Keystone Cups” - Paul Baker, Robert Skiles  
• “O Come, All Ye Faithful” - John Francis Wade/arr. Paul Clark

Bring a book, take a book. Pass along gently used reads
and grab some new-to-you finds while enjoying snacks.

George Washington Carver National Monument will host a holiday open house with seasonal music, arts and crafts, and refreshments.

Saturday, December 13th, 2025
Doors: 9:00PM
Show: 9:30PM
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With over 7 million followers across his social media, Josh Johnson was recently called “the funniest guy on the internet” by WIRED and is a star on the rise. He is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. Johnson is currently a rotating host and correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy & Peabody Award-winning program The Daily Show where he was previously a writer for seven years. Johnson is also a former writer and performer on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he made his late-night debut
in 2017.
As a stand-up, Johnson headlines theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals around the world and you can currently find him on his FLOWERS TOUR. He is also a prolific writer and performer who puts out weekly stand up sets on his YouTube channel. In 2024, Johnson released 28 hours of stand up and he is on track to exceed that amount this year. The content on his YouTube channel has been viewed over 340 million times by people all over the world.

The Queen City Chorale will present Handel's Messiah December 14 at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

A beloved masterwork returns with bold, communal spirit as singers from across the Ozarks present a large-scale performance of Handel’s Messiah.

This collaborative event will feature a large ensemble of musicians, including a professional orchestra and soloists, bringing this sacred score to life in full force.

Send a cheerful greeting to a loved one the old fashioned way.

Build a personal gingerbread house and decorate a giant gingerbread playhouse.

Missouri is home to some strange wildlife. And winter weather shows just how strange-but-true some native critters can be. Did you know that some frogs freeze nearly solidly in winter – and then thaw in the spring?! Some owls start nesting in January and their eggs can survive temperatures of 10 degrees or below freezing! Ground squirrels sleep for six months – without waking up!

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites everyone to learn more about these and other strange-but-true animal facts by joining its Wild Webcast on Wildlife Weathering Winter on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from noon to 1 p.m. MDC Naturalist Sarah Easton will share fun facts about Missouri wildlife in winter – including information from the MDC book, Strange but True.

Register at mdc.webex.com/weblink/register/reaeb5ed495fb39f98dd574dd5120fca0 and then join the webcast live at noon on Dec. 17. Participants will receive an email confirmation that includes information on how to join the webinar. Check junk mail or spam folders for registration confirmation.

Strange but True was adapted from the pages of MDC’s Xplor magazine and features 350 weird and wild facts and illustrations about creatures that inhabit Missouri. Buy it for $8.95 at MDC nature centers, through the MDC online Nature Shop at mdcnatureshop.com or by calling 877-521-8632. Applicable tax, shipping, and handling costs will apply.

Pre-Registration Required

Beginners 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Experienced 7:30 - 9:00 PM