Ho, Ho, Hess’s: Just in time for the holiday season, a multi-media program and lecture featuring historical images of “Hess’s At The Holidays” will be presented at 1 p.m. Dec. 19, Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum 432 W. Walnut St., Allentown. “No place in the Lehigh Valley could rival the magic of a visit to Hess’s Department Store, especially at the holidays,” said Joseph Garrera, LVHM Executive Director. Drawing on more than 1,000 vintage photographs, museum curators will re-create the spirit of awe and excitement that created a magical holiday fairyland. It’s an excitement that continues to invoke awe decades after the store’s closing. Christmas was a special time at Hess’s center city department store at Ninth and Hamilton streets, Allentown. The store was transformed, indoors and outdoors, with festive decorations. Santa Claus often met visitors at the door. And Santa kept up with the times, too, arriving at Hess’s each year by ever-more modern and sometimes fanciful means of transportation. He came by helicopter and by parachute. One year, he even arrived by flying saucer. Once at Hess’s, he settled into “Santa’s Workshop,” where he heard the holiday dreams of generations of Lehigh Valley children. Information: lehighvalleyheritagemuseum.org, 610-435-1074

Dickens Of A Time: Catch some Christmas cheer with “A Christmas Carol,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, 18, 19; 2 p.m. Dec. 19, Nineteenth Street Theatre, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown. Civic Theatre Of Allentown’s “A Christmas Carol” is adapted by William Sanders, Civic Artistic Director and director-choreographer of the show, and Sharon Lee Glassman, Civic Board Of Directors President. The production has the earmarks of the Charles Dickens’ classic 1843 novella, plus songs particular to the original story’s era sung by the large cast. Mark Domyan, above, foreground, plays Ebenezer Scrooge. Denise Long, above, left, is The Ghost Of Christmas Past. Andrea Cartagena, above, center, is The Ghost Of Christmas Present. Chelsi Fread, above, right, is The Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come. Sanders has directed “A Christmas Carol” at Civic since 1989, when Allentown’s West End Theatre District venue first staged it, for all but four of the 26 years. Tickets: civictheatre.com, 610-432-8943