The Candlewood Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Pootatuck Watershed Association will co-host a Christmas tree collection on Saturday, January 5, from 9 am to 1 pm. Trees that are dropped off will be used on the Deep Brook and Pootatuck River to stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, and create refuge habitat for juvenile trout and other aquatic life.

Newtown Historical Society will host a special Sunday afternoon program next month, when Wes Haynes presentsd “The Merritt Parkway: History and Future of A National Treasure.” The free presentation in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library will be in place of a Monday evening program.

Longtime Newtown resident, notable garden writer, and poet Sydney Eddison will be at Queen Street Gifts for an author event on Friday, December 21, from 1 to 3 pm.

Through Sunday, Edmond Town Hall is offering a special return engagement of Elf, a 2003 comedy-fantasy-romance starring Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell.

UPDATE (Sunday, December 16): SCS Organizer Jen Rogers has announced all three screenings are free of charge, courtesy of Ingersoll Auto of Danbury. || Audiences will not only enjoy the screening of a classic holiday themed film at Edmond Town Hall this weekend, they will also be treated to pre-screening live entertainment on Sunday, December 16.

Newtown Congregational Church will host a screening of "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and holiday sing-along this weekend.

Local Channel CTV-192 is inviting the public to visit the TV Production Studio at 11 Commerce Road for its annual open house — a day of tours and tasty snacks — culminating in an Improvisational Comedy Workshop.

On December 12, The Joy of Yoga Nidra with Joy Hoffman invites the Newtown community to a special candlelit music and Yoga Nidra memorial marking six years since 12/14.

More than 200 performers representing Danbury and many of the surrounding towns are part of the 51st Annual Danbury Music Centre presentation of "Nutcracker Ballet," with live music performed by Danbury Symphony Orchestra. Four performances are for December 7-9, with Newtown and Sandy Hook performers again featured in lead roles.

The Dance Etc School For Performing Arts is scheduled to hold a fundraising performance called “The Magic of Christmas” to benefit The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, Saturday, December 8, at 4 pm, at Newtown High School.