by Andrew Alonzo | calendar@claremont-courier.com

Friday, November 17

• Pomona College’s Benton Museum of Art hosts free and open to the public gallery talks at 2 p.m. on select Fridays at 120 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont. The focused discussions led by museum staff are usually followed by a question-and-answer session.

• Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Dr., holds a free tree lighting ceremony with community events from 4 to 8 p.m. including holiday performances from local groups and schools, giveaways, a snow area for children, and photo opportunities. RSVP for free at eventbrite.com, search “Plaza West Covina.”

• The City of Glendora invites the public to its annual holiday stroll and tree lighting ceremony from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Glendora Village, near 148 N. Glendora Ave. Call (626) 914-2357 for more information.

• Prince tribute band Purple Xperience play at 8 p.m. at Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Dr., Rancho Cucamonga. Tickets, $42 to $45, are at cityofrc.us.

Saturday, November 18

• The Montclair Chamber of Commerce hosts a free drive-through e-waste event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Sunday, November 19, at 8880 Benson Ave. Accepted electronics include computers, monitors, printers, power supplies, VCR and DVD players, and phones. Fluorescent light bulbs and household batteries are not accepted and there is a service charge for major appliances. Call (909) 985-5104 for more info.

• Shop unique offerings from a variety of local artists at the Claremont High School Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Taylor Hall, 1775 N. Indian Hill Blvd., and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sherwood Florist, 404 W. Foothill Blvd.

• The Cruisin’ La Verne Holiday Car Show, in Old Town La Verne near 2232 D St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature an array of vehicles and a community toy drive. Go to cityoflaverne.org for more information.

• Artist and instructor Aleta Jacobson leads a watercolor botanicals art class from 10 a.m. to noon at California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. Admission is $45 for CalBG members and $50 for non-members in addition to a $10 cash fee at the event. Visit calbg.org for more info.

• The Sasse Museum of Art, 300 S. Thomas St., Pomona, hosts a free and open to the public2 to 4 p.m. artist meeting with Eric Tippeconnic, including the exploration of his exhibit “Sustained Resilience,” featuring bird dancers and singers. More information is at sasseartmuseum.org.

• The 27th annual Southern California A Cappella Music Festival, also known as SCAMFest, runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Bridges Auditorium, 450 N. College Way., Claremont, with a cappella performances from groups from the Claremont Colleges, University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; and University of California, Davis. Admission is $10 at pomona.edu or at the door.

Sunday, November 19

• Shop locally made crafts, organic food, clothing, and jewelry from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Claremont Farmers and Artisans Market in the Village. Information is at claremontforum.org/farmers-artisans-market.

• St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2050 N. Indian Hill, Claremont, hosts its seventh annual pet blessing service at 10 a.m. The event will take place rain or shine, but will be held indoors if it rains. Questions? Call (909) 624-8898 or go to st-luke.info.

• Polyhedra plays a free 2 to 5 p.m. show at College Center, 665 E. Foothill Blvd., Claremont. More info is at jazzatcollegecenter.com.

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1700 N. Towne Ave., Claremont, resumes its free and open to the public adventures in music concert series at 6 p.m. with “Painters in Sound — Beethoven and Mussorgsky.” Visit egoodshepherd.org or call (909) 626-2714 for more information.

• Harvey Mudd College presents a free and open to the public 7 p.m. concert, “The HMC American Gamelan and Guests,” at Drinkward Recital Hall, 320 E. Foothill Blvd., Claremont. More info is at arts.hmc.edu, by calling (909) 621-8022, or via email to hsa@hmc.edu.

Monday, November 20

• Claremont Unified School District schools are on Thanksgiving break from November 20-24. The district office at 170 W. San Jose Ave. will remain open to the public until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday before also closing for the holiday. Call (909) 398-0609 for more information.

• Mahjong Mondays at the Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont, take place from 9 a.m. to noon. Call (909) 399-5488 for info.

• The Joslyn Center, 660 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont, hosts free gentle yoga for seniors at 10:30 a.m. Call (909) 399-5488 for info.

• The Pomona Pride Center hosts reading rainbow, a free book club by and for the LGBTQ+ community, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pomona Public Library, 625 S. Garey Ave.⁠ Go to pomonapridecenter.org for more info.

Tuesday, November 21 

• Pitzer College’s free and open to the public Munroe Center for Social Inquiry speaker series features Mary Miller, the director of the Getty Research Institute and leader of the Pre-Hispanic Art Provenance Initiative, with her talk, “In and out of the museum: pre-Hispanic works from market to international collection,” from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. at Benson Auditorium, 1050 N. Mills Ave., Claremont.

• The Claremont Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the council chambers, 225 W. Second St. Agendas are posted online and at city hall the Thursday before the meeting. Visit ci.claremont.ca.us for info.

Wednesday, November 22

• Claremont city offices will close at noon today ahead of Thanksgiving. Visit ci.claremont.ca.us for more information.

• A free and open to the public story time for children session is held at the Pomona Public Library, 625 S. Garey Ave., begins at 3 p.m. each Wednesday.

Thursday, November 23

• Happy Thanksgiving from the Courier!

• The 16th annual Claremont Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with the 1K Kid’s Fun Run (race fees are $30 presale, $35 after Sunday, November 19) before the 5K run/walk ($50 presale, $55 after Sunday, November 19) begins at 8. Races begin at the First Street and College Avenue intersection. Visit runsignup.com for virtual participation options and more details.

Friday, November 24

• Before or after your Black Friday shopping, stop by California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, for its Green Friday event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. that includes free admission for registered guests. Reserve tickets at calbg.org.

• “Beatriz at Dinner” (2017) is this week’s free 12:30 p.m. movie matinee at the Blaisdell Community Center, 440 S. College Ave., Claremont. Free popcorn is available. Call (909) 399-5367 for more information.

Saturday, November 25

• Rustic and Modern Collective,200 N. Second Ave., Upland, offers a 1 to 4 p.m. holiday clay workshop. Admission is $45. Reservations can be made at eventbrite.com, search “Rustic and Modern Collective.”

• The Friends of the Claremont Library’s free fourth Saturdays poetry event this month with be an open mic reading at the Claremont Helen Renwick Library, 208 N. Harvard Ave., starting at 2 p.m. Signups begin 10 minutes prior. Writers are invited to bring up to two poems or pages to read.