Farm Show Time ... opens Saturday

Every year it comes just in time to rescue us from the post-holiday blues. It's Pennsylvania Farm Show time! Opening Saturday and continuing through Saturday, Jan. 14, the Commonwealth's celebration of its agricultural heritage is actually the largest indoor ag expo in the country. Thousands of animals, hundreds of commercial exhibits and nearly 10,000 competitive exhibits offer visitors more options than one generally has time for. But every year, hundreds of thousands are up for the challenge of trying to see it all. Over the next nine days, here's just a smidgen of what's offered throughout the 24-acre complex. You can see demonstrations of square dancing, dog handling, cooking, and honey extraction. You can be one of the relatively few Pennsylvanians to see a one-of-a-kind butter sculpture created each year on site. Witness competitions in pony pulling, draft horses, antique tractor pulling and sheep to shawl making. And of course just as in our county fairs, there is the fair food -- milk shakes, fries, pizza, funnel cakes --but oh, there is SO much more. How about deep-fried breaded mushrooms, grilled portabella sandwiches, potato donuts, baked sweets, maple sundaes and cotton candy, lamb stew, organic hot dogs, broccoli soup or blooming onions? The food court is a culinary delight or hog heaven, depending on who you are and how you look at things. The 96th Pennsylvania Farm Show is open Saturday through Friday, Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On its last day (the 14th) the fair closes at 5 p.m. Admission to the event is free, but be advised that parking is $10. For more information, visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us/

The last of the holidays ... Sunday

Not quite ready to kiss Christmas goodbye? Well maybe you don't have to. Two holiday events are happening at the tail end of the season to help you stretch out this festive time of year. Laurel Dance Co. will perform the holiday classic ballet "The Nutcracker" on Sunday, and, also on Sunday, the Heritage Chorale will present its final performance of "A Light in Darkness" holiday concert. This year's "Nutcracker," being staged at 4 p.m. at Ephrata Performing Arts Center's Sharadin Bigler Theatre, is being directed by Kristina Bulger Grant, artistic director of Harrisburg Ballet Theatre. The holiday classic features 14-year-old Katelyn Coryell of Ephrata, far right, as Clara and York Technical Institute student Shane Bulger, right, as the Nutcracker. More than 25 students and community members from Lancaster and surrounding counties complete the ensemble. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 10 years old and will be available at the door. The Heritage Chorale of Lancaster has already performed its 2011 Christmas concert twice in the county. Third time's the charm, they say, so you might want to make the 4 p.m. Sunday performance at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 3131 Columbia Ave. The concert is a celebration of the light that guides through winter's darkness and includes contemporary and classic works. There is no admission to the performance, but an offering will be received. For details, visit www.theheritagechorale.org.