Sunrise Civic Center Hosts Holiday Events
This weekend, the Sunrise Civic Center (10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard) will be the site of two family-friendly programs that celebrate the warmth and diversity of the holiday season:

Holiday Concert, Featuring the Girl Choir of South Florida. Friday, December 19, at 7:30 p.m. This talented chorus, featuring singers age 7 to 17, presents holiday favorites from around the globe. Tickets are $14 for children and $22 for adults. Call (954)747-4646 to reserve your seat.

Holidays Around the World. Saturday, December 20, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This fun-filled event has an international flare. Join us for train rides, face painting, refreshments and a visit from Santa - as well as hands-on crafts representing holidays worldwide. Open to children age 3 to 13. Admission is $5 for Sunrise residents, and $10 for non-residents. Pre-registration by December 17 is required: call (954) 747-4600.

On Monday, December 22, the City of Sunrise will host its annual Children's Holiday Party for families in need. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the party has enjoyed the generous support of Sunrise businesses, residents and employees - who donate gifts, money, services and time to make the event a success.

Families are invited based on the City's own social services client list, as well as input from school social workers. Each child will receive individually wrapped and tagged gifts selected with their age in mind. They will also have their picture taken with Santa, and enjoy visits from Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and Mrs. Claus.

This year, Wannado City - a unique role-playing theme park for children age 3 to14, located at Sawgrass Mills - joins the party's team of sponsors, contributing $500 in admission tickets. Wannado City is also offering a special holiday coupon to Sunrise residents: print and redeem it to receive a reduced daily admission price of just $10 now through the end of December 2008.

The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, located at 3003 North University Drive, is a continuing sponsor of this special celebration. The hotel will again host the event and treat all attendees to a full dinner.

Additional supporters include Sam's Club (13550 West Sunrise Boulevard), Wal-Mart (12555 West Sunrise Boulevard ) and Curves (10121 West Oakland Park Boulevard), as well as individual donors and City of Sunrise employees and volunteers.

To find out how you or your organization can help, please call (954) 746-3670.

Ansel Adams is one of the most celebrated photographers of the twentieth century - recognized for his dramatic black and white photographs of the American wilderness. This traveling exhibition of Adams' western landscapes is hosted by the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery (10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard) and organized by the Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, North Carolina.

The exhibit will be on display in the Gallery through January 31, 2009. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Wednesday and Thursday, 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, call (954) 747-4641.