2015 Holiday Happenings: The Aquarium of Niagara, Holiday Market at the Foundry and M&T Music Under the Dome

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The Aquarium of Niagara, located at 701 Whirlpool St. in Niagara Falls, is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 13 and Saturday, December 19. In addition to a visit from Santa, there will be prizes, crafts, a special sea lion show and other surprises. Admission is $7 for adult members – children of members are free of charge – or $14 for adult non-members and $11 for children. Get more information at www.aquariumofniagara.org.

On Saturdays, December 12 and 19, knock a few gifts off your list at the Holiday Market at The Foundry, 298 Northampton St. in Buffalo. Expect 20-30 local artisans to join current permanent residents, with products like repurposed furniture, metal work, jewelry, wood work and more.

M&T Bank’s Holiday Music Under the Dome kicked off this week, featuring high school groups from the Buffalo area beginning at noon on weekdays. On the upcoming schedule:

• Friday, December 11 – St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Swing Choir
• Monday, December 14 – Canisius High School Ensembles
• Tuesday, December 15 – Mount Mercy Academy “Pure Magic” Show Choir
• Wednesday, December 16 – Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School Men’s Chorus
• Thursday, December 17 – Iroquois High School Choirs
• Friday, December 18 – St. Francis High School Senior Schola Cantorum

In addition, on Saturday, December 12, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at 1 p.m. All concerts are free and open to the public at M&T’s One Fountain Plaza branch in downtown Buffalo.

Five Things to do in November 2015

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November already?! The holiday season is fully upon us now – you can tell by the number of light and tree festivals on the schedule for November! Here are a few things to check out around Buffalo-Niagara.

Fairgrounds Festival of Lights – nearly two miles of light displays take over the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg on weekends beginning November 27-29 and ending December 26-27 (also December 4-6 and December 11-13, plus extended hours December 18-23). New in 2015: The Great Lakes International Ice Carving Competition, taking place November 27-29, with pieces on display throughout the festival. Admission is $25 per carload, $50 per busload.

Light Up Lancaster Parade – a popular event to kick off the holidays, the annual fire truck parade begins at Lancaster High School at 6 p.m. and proceeds down Central Ave., ending at Braodway; stick around for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

Paint the Town at the Buffalo History Museum – get a head start on holiday shopping at this annual fundraiser on Thursday, November 5 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Ct. in Buffalo. The event features artists with strong Buffalo ties, as well as live and silent auctions; tickets are $50 for Museum members, $70 for non-members.

Shea’s Shopping Soiree – get more holiday shopping done on Thursday, November 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. in downtown Buffalo. The sixth annual event features a variety of local vendors for pre-Black Friday shopping.

Festival of Trees –this annual fundraiser benefitting the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital takes place November 21 through December 3 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo. Among the events that are part of the festival: the Black Tie Gala on November 21, the Designer Showcase Reception and Award on November 24 and the Haute Holiday Fashion Show on December 2; general admission to view the trees is free.