by Andrew Alonzo | calendar@claremont-courier.com

Friday, December 17

• Reveal Your Inner Elf takes place this Friday between 5 and 9 p.m. All are encouraged to help Sister Terry Dodge and Jackie wrap Christmas gifts for the Crossroads Inc. women. The wrapping will take place at 250 W. First Street, Suite 254. To RSVP, call (909) 626-7847.
• The last day to donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks and other essentials to Our Lady of the Assumption School’s toiletry drive for the Tijuana Mission is Friday, December 17. Donations can be delivered to the school office, 611 W. Bonita Ave., or the parish office. The school hopes to produce up to 200 toiletry kits with the donated items.
• Morning art groups take place at the Claremont Joslyn Center every Friday between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Artists are invited to bring their current works, draft new ones or mingle with other artists. Regardless of vaccine status, all attendees must wear masks.
• The first annual member holiday mixer for the Service Center for Independent Life will be held on Friday between noon and 3 p.m. The event will include food and activities for all and will be accessible to the disabled and elderly communities as well as their families. For more details or to register, visit their Eventbrite.
• Age-appropriate patrons (21+) can stop by vomFass Claremont on Friday, December 17 for a holiday cocktail demo and tasting beginning at 7 p.m. vomFass Claremont is located at 101 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Suite C2-100. For more information or to register, visit

Saturday, December 18

• On Saturday, the CHS girls varsity soccer team will paricipate in the annual Claremont tournament. The team will open up play on Saturday at 11 a.m. versus Diamond Bar High School, followed by another game at 3:30 p.m. against Walnut High School. The tournament will continue on Monday, December 20, as the Wolfpack faces Rancho Cucamonga High School beginning at 11 a.m. All games will be held at Claremont High School, 1601 N. Indian Hill Blvd.
• Granite Creek Community Church, located at 1580 N. Claremont Blvd., invites the public to its 20th Annual Living Nativity, an outdoor walk-through tour of “four different live-action stages, sharing the story of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.” The final days to view the Living Nativity will be Saturday and Sunday, December 18 and 19. Each day the scenes, as well as the petting zoo, will open at 5 p.m. For tickets and details, visit
• The Young Ladies Institute is holding its Annual Christmas Boutique on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Auditorium of St. Joseph Church in Pomona, 1150 W Holt Ave. Tickets cost $25 per person and lunch will be provided at noon. For reservations, contact Louis Recupero at (909) 629-8791.

 Sunday, December 19

• Enjoy the final performance of the Inland Pacific Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker on Sunday, December 19 at 2 p.m. The performance will be held at the Fox Performing Arts Theater in Riverside. For tickets or further information, visit ipballet.org.
• Sunday, December 19 is the final day residents can witness Ophelia’s Jump’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life, a “fun interactive adaption” of the 1946 classic made for 2021. The production is held under the big tent at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, 830 W. Bonita Ave, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online opheliasjump.org. Proceeds will fund the nonprofit and St. Ambrose’s Shower Ministry.
• Every Sunday (rain or shine), the Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market is held at the intersection of Indian Hill Avenue and Second Street in the Village. Between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., numerous vendors partake to sell their organic produce, crafts and plant life. For more details, visit claremontchamber.org.
• Sunday, December 19 is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Life As One Church invites the public to its candlelight service. Following the service, at 12:40 p.m., attendees are urged to remain for the church’s Christmas Potluck which will be catered by Eddies Italian Food. The church is located at 1291 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Suite B. For more information, contact the church at (909) 929-0041 or admin@lifeasone.org.

 Monday, December 20

• Monday, December 20 will be the final meeting of the year for the Joslyn Readers book club. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. The group usually convenes on the third Monday of each month. For more details or to join the circle, call the Joslyn Center at (909) 399-5488.
• Joseph Pomona Homeschooling invites the community to join them in a special holiday liturgy, La Posada, on Monday, December 20 beginning at 7:15 p.m. A holiday mass will begin processions, followed by La Posada. Light snacks, fun and caroling will conclude the event. The church is located in Pomona at 1150 W. Holt Ave. Those with questions or who wish to donate to the homeschooling group can contact sjhc@gmx.com.
• Students will be happy that Claremont Unified School District’s winter break begins Monday, December 20. The CUSD office, located at 170 W. San Jose Ave., will remain open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but will close for the holidays beginning Thursday, December 23. Parents, this is your reminder to double check report cards and inform Santa about how much coal to deliver.

Tuesday, December 21

• Seniors, it is time to get that last bit of exercise in before the Christmas calories so why not take it easy with a half mile loop or two around the Claremont Colleges on Tuesday, December 21 with friends and neighbors. Every Tuesday at Shelton Park, Get Walking Claremont invites seniors to enjoy a brief walk at their own pace starting at 8 a.m.
• Help catch Biscuit, the elusive cookie man who ran away from his home near The Shoppes at Chino Hills, during The Gingerbread Man’s Spectacular Holiday Light Adventure on Tuesday, December 21, beginning at 3 p.m. The Gingerbread Man and holiday event are running at the Chino Hills mall, located at 13920 City Center Dr., and will conclude on Sunday, January 2. Tickets begin at $15 per person. To purchase tickets or to learn more, visit feverup.com.
• Join the Pilgrim Congregational Church Pomona, located at 600 N. Garey Ave., on Tuesday, December 21 for its soup and salad dinner followed by a Christmas play. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the church’s youth group, Sparking Legacies, will perform during the Christmas play at 7:30 p.m. A hot chocolate dessert reception will follow, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make a special appearance. To RSVP, call (909) 622-1373.

Wednesday, December 22

• On Wednesday, December 22, Southern California residents are invited to the opening night of Disney on Ice: Dream Big at the Toyota Arena in Ontario at 7 p.m. Tickets for the holiday event, which will continue at the Ontario arena until December 27, vary depending on the seats chosen. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets-center.com.

 Thursday, December 23 

• Thursday, December 23 is the last day to donate toys for the Children’s Foundation of America Holiday Heroes Gift Drive. New and unwrapped toys can be donated to the organization directly at 201 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Ste. 200, or to the box set up at 205 Yale Ave. For information, visit childrensfoundationofamerica.org.
• The Inland Valley Hope Partners food pantry, located at 660 N. Mountain Ave., is open every Tuesday and Thursday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for those in need of food. Hope Partners always accepts donations of non-perishable food as well as hygiene items during their hours of operation at both their Claremont site and the Claremont Joslyn Center Annex.