Thursday (11th) – Port Norfolk Civic Association meeting regarding plans to site a public park at the former Shaffer Paper property starts at 7 p.m. at the Port Norfolk Yacht Club, 179 Walnut St.

Saturday (13th) – Leahy/Holloran Community Center’s annual Holiday Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Craft and Vendor fee is $50 (including a table), which must be sent in with the registration form. The center is located at 1 Worrell St.

Sunday (14th) – Boston Baroque performs highlights from Handel’s “Messiah” in a free community concert, 2 p.m. at the Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Rd., Dorchester. For your free, general-admission tickets, visit bostonbaroque.org, call 617-987-8600, Ext 413, or go to the Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library at 500 Columbia Rd, Dorchester.

• Dorchester Historical Society’s Holiday Open House will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., at the William Clapp House, 195 Boston St. Pianist Bill Mooney-McCoy will play holiday music.  Enjoy food, good company, and shopping.

Monday (15th) – Get ready for the holiday season and enjoy a sweet treat at Adams Street Library. They’ll be decorating cut-out sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies. 4 p.m. Bring your creativity and your appetite. This program is suitable for children of all ages. 690 Adams St., Dorchester.

Thursday (18th) – MassDOT hosts public meeting about plans to improve the intersection of Morton Street and Gallivan Blvd. with a $1.2 million project. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Charles H. Taylor Elementary School, 1060 Morton St.
• Hancock St. Civic Association meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pilgrim Church, 540 Columbia Rd., across from the Strand Theatre. Info: hancockcivic@gmail.com

Friday (19th) – Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker opens a five-show run at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester this evening. Call 617-354-7467 for tickets or go to ballettheatre.org

Saturday, December 13 at 1 p.m.
Lower Mills Branch Library
Tis the season for Interactive
Readings: Stories Alive!

Join Citi Performing Arts Center’s Education Team for a free, interactive reading of a holiday classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at 1 p.m. at the Lower Mills Library, 27 Richmond St. The program will include props, singing, and audience participation! Each 60 minute session consists of a reading of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and an original holiday song workshop. All ages welcome, especially those 3 to 10 years old.