GOVERNMENT OFFICES: Closed SUPERMARKETS: Closed BANKS: Closed LIBRARY: Closed POST OFFICE: Closed LIQUOR STORES: Closed GAS STATIONS: Open RESTAURANTS: Some open MOVIE THEATER: Open BARS: Some open CONVENIENCE STORES: Some open

Thanks to a special partnership with Patch.com, Santa Claus agreed to sit down and answer questions from young Patch readers. And these were no fluffy snowballs -- the children grilled the world's best known toymaker on the issues weighing most heavily on their young minds. When you have finished watching Santa's video, click here to follow Kris Kringle on his journey around the world tonight through the power of noradsanta.org.

Tewksbury Congregational Church 10 East St. Friday, Dec. 24 4 p.m. Lessons, carols and candle light A service of worship for younger children and their parents, including a simple pageant. 7:30 p.m. Lessons, carols and candle lightA service of worship featuring our youth ensembles and our English handbell Carillon Ringers. 10:30 p.m. Lessons, carols and candle light A service of worship featuring our adult choir and members of our Carillon Ringers. First Baptist Church 1500 Andover St. Friday, Dec, 24, 11 p.m. Candlelight Service St. William Parish 1351 Main St. Friday, Dec. 24 4:00 p.m. …

What do you get when you mix Santa Claus with The Grinch, a couple of elves and a spunky little Who? You get a festive holiday event for children and their families. Santa's Social at Krochmal Farms featured photos ops, hot cocoa, music, hayrides and fun. Enjoys the images provided by photographer Maggie McGill Judd.

With Christmas just a few days away, Tewksbury Patch spent some time with senior citizens who were visiting the Tewksbury Senior Center to play bingo. To gain some insight into Christmases past, we asked them what their favorite gifts were that they received as children. 

Hundreds of visitors were transported back in time over the weekend when they visted the Living Nativity at the Lowell Assembly of God Church on Andover Street. Dozens of members of the church portrayed Biblical characters, from prophets and shepherds to angels and members of the Holy Family, all telling a piece of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. If you missed the event, enjoy these images provided by photographer Maggie McGill Judd.

The Interfaith Choir Christmas Concert has become as much a part of the holiday season in the Merrimack Valley as egg nog, tinsel and lines at the retail stores. Men and women from eight area churches gather each year to celebrate the season in song. Selections ranged from hymns like "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" to Christmas sing-along classics like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" to fun tunes like "Santa Baby." this year's event was hosted by the Church of St. William. Other participating churches included Aldersgate Methodist Church in Chelmsford, Balardvale United Methodist Church in …

Tis the season for decadence and frivolity, but not everything we give this year has to be in the form of a toy or gift card.  For those willing to give a little bit of their time, there are opportunities around the area that give Tewksbury residents a chance to help others.  With the help of Marina Villeneuve and Freyja Sanger of the Tewksbury Public Library, we've compiled a list of volunteering opportunities in Tewksbury and beyond. Tewksbury Public Library If you love books, or just love being around them, you can come to the Tewksbury Public library to volunteer.  They're always looking …

More than 3,200 people gathered in downtown Boston earlier this month in an attempted to break the world record for the largest group continuously singing Christmas Carols for at least 15 minutes. Among the group was Tewksbury resident Melissa Gleaton, who submitted photos from the occasion. The event was orchestrated by Keith Lockhart, director/conductor for the Boston Pops. Unfortunately, despite excellent weather, the effort fell well short of the World Record, which, according to Guiness, stands at 7,514.

Is your home the pride of your neighborhood during the holiday season? Do you love adorning your home and lawn with decorations and thousands of lights? We'd like to see that. Enter the Tewksbury Patch Holiday Home Decoration Contest. All you have to do is send in a photo or video of your home decorated for the holidays. We will be publishing the photos on Tewksbury Patch in the days leading up to Christmas. We will be drawing names at random from all of the entries received and picking three (3) entrants to receive $25 gift cards to Kyoto Steak House in Tewksbury. The deadline to email your …

It's one of the great "what-ifs" in Christendom. What if you had been in Bethlehem roughly 2,000 years ago, on a night when the small city was packed with pilgrims waiting for Roman census; a night when shepherds abandoned their flocks to come into the city telling tales of angelic visions; a night when a newlywed couple from Nazareth welcomed a child into the world amid the livestock. Officials of the Lowell Assembly of God Church are hoping to provide people with a taste of what that night might have been like when then they host a drive-through/walk-through Living Nativity Friday and …

As the holiday shopping season arrives at its final stretch and people all over the United States are clogging the shopping malls and big-box stores, it's important to remember that Tewksbury is home to a number of small "mom and pop" shops with quality goods.  These locally owned stores offer friendly service and caring staff mainly because the owners have a stake in the success of the business and because they are passionate about what they do.  Here is list of ten shops located around Tewksbury that offer quality goods and excellent service: Sew Together Quilt Shop, 2297 Main St. Sew …

Good food, good fun and the Christmas Spirit were abundant at the Heath Brook Holiday Breakfast on Saturday. The event was sponsored by the Heath Brook Parent Advisory Council. Holiday merrymakers not only got a chance to enjoy a terrific breakfast, they also enjoyed festive holiday music and were able to show off their creative side at the craft table. In addition, there were raffles and, of course, the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus.

It's almost that time of year when Santa Claus packs up the toys made in his workshop and heads around the world to give out presents to all good boys and girls. Patch is partnering with old St. Nicholas himself in answering questions posed by children. In the days leading up to Christmas, Santa will conduct videos answering questions posed by children that will run on this site. The deadline to submit questions is Wednesday, Dec. 15. Youngsters who are interested in asking a question may e-mail at williamg@patch.com or comment on this article. Please include first name, age and town or …

What would the holiday season be without a wide variety of tasty treats designed to inspire New Year's resolutions of weight loss and gym memberships. On Saturday, the Tewksbury Public Library played host to a Holiday Desert Tasting and Recipe Swap. Be careful, it's possible that just looking at these photos may add calories. 

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Happy Holidays: Holiday Cooking with Betsy Williams Join Betsy Williams - nationally renowned expert on herbs and flowers - as she discusses and demonstrates herbs suitable for holiday cooking. Boxwood, juniper, rosemary, ivy, pine and bay are ancient herbal Christmas greens. St. Nicholas day, St. Lucy's day, Christmas and Twelfth Night all have special herbs associated with them. Hear the stories and uses of the herbs of the Christmas season. Learn how to use them in your own holiday celebrations. Creative and delightful ways of decorating with herbal …

When Deb Farrell found out that many of her clients were being walloped with sky-high water and sewer bills, the Touch of Elegance owner knew the result would be lean holidays for many families. So she decided to something to make the season a little brighter. She announced that through Dec. 31 she will provide free haircuts to Tewksbury children. "As a business owner, I frequently call clients to see why they have not been in the salon," she said. "I was shocked when 2 thirds of the clients told me about the water-sewer bill that recently hit their homes, and there are things they just have …

For 15 years, New England Civic Ballet (NECB) has been performing its popular production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to sold-out crowds at the Rogers Center for the Performing Arts at Merrimack College. In celebration of this milestone, NECB is mounting its 15th anniversary production with new costumes, new choreography, and many new cast members who are set to take the stage and delight the audience once again. Over eighty dancers, hailing from various dance studios throughout the area, have rehearsed their roles and choreography under Mrs. Phyllis George and Mrs. Roshni Pecora, the …

The Christmas season hit full stride over the weekend. Following on the heels of the Lighting of the Common and the kickoff to the Festival of Trees, the Church of St. William and the Tewksbury Congregational Church each hosted fairs on Saturday. For Tewksbury Congregational, it was a busy 24 hours, which began with a Pie Social Friday night. Sit back, sip a cup of egg nog and enjoy the sights of two wonderful Christmas Fairs.

Several hundred residents packed the common Saturday night for the 22nd Annual Lighting of the Common. The event featured the arrival of Santa Claus on a Fire Engine, Christmas Carols and a Christmas story from Library Director Diane Giarusso. But the highlight, as it is every year, was the lighting of more than 7,000 lights on common's trees. New LED lights were used this year, which are sturdier and more energy efficient. In addition, the Fire Department collect many toys for its Toys for Local Children campaign. Enjoy the photos and video of a true slice of Americana.