Out and About in Lebanon

The holidays are over and we are rushing headlong into the middle of bleak January, but all is not lost; entertainment is still out there. Intimate cafes offer folksy tunes, bluegrass is making a comeback and choices abound for lovers of rock as well as heavy metal aficionados. All you have to do is choose what to do and where to go.

7 p.m. Thursday: The Penn State Extension will present "Flower Power: Houseplants," at the Lebanon Valley Ag Center, 2120 Cornwall Road, Lebanon. This informative evening all about plants will last until 8:30 p.m. A fee is charged and registration is required. Call 717-270-4391 to register or for more information. Snow date is Jan.14.

7 p.m. Thursday: World War II bomber pilot Bob Wilcox will be the speaker for the Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable at Grace UMC, 433 East Main St., Hummelstown. Come on out and listen to a real hero. This is a free event, open to anyone interested in World War II. For information, call Terry at 717-939-3629 or Charlie at 717-503-2862.

10 a.m. Friday: At ZooAmerica, the North American Wildlife Park in Hershey, every Friday through March 18 will be "$5.50 Friday." The 11-acre walk-through zoo is adjacent to Hersheypark at 201 Park Ave. and has more than 200 animals from five regions of North America. Bears, wolves, otters, elk, white-tailed deer, and many other native animals are walking about in the wintry weather. ZooAmerica is open every day in January. General admission (other than Fridays) is $11 for ages 9-54; $9 for seniors age 55 and above; and $9 for ages 3 to 8. Ages two and under are free. For more information, call 717-534-3900.

3 p.m. Friday: The Myerstown Indoor Flea Market at 115-119 East Main Ave. in Myerstown has become the latest venue for bluegrass music. The music lasts until 7 p.m. every Friday, so shoppers can enjoy the sounds of bouncy bluegrass while they peruse the treasures on hand. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 717-269-7891.

4 p.m. Friday: A little further from home, the Pine Grove Lions Club will present a bluegrass, old country and Gospel music jam at the club at 1 Veterans Memorial Dr. in Pine Grove. The music will be going until 10 p.m. Food is available. For more information, call Len at 570-345-8249 or 570-624-6236.

5 p.m., Friday: This will be the new year's "first" First Friday Artwalk in Downtown Lebanon. This evening will feature Andrew O'Donnell and photography by Sarah Cornelius. Sponsored by the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts, come on out and enjoy the revitalization of the city, one event at a time.

5 p.m., Friday: Enjoy performers each Friday in the "Cafe At 10,000 Villages" along Route 272 in Ephrata. This evening's entertainment will be singer/songwriter Leah Weigel, a student at the Berklee College of Music, who is proficient in piano and guitar. For more information, call 717-721-8418.

7 p.m. Friday: Come out to Legends Cafe, 9 South Ninth St., Lebanon, to get out of the cold and into the warm pop/rock sound of the JJ Gunn Band. The band will be playing until 9 p.m. Legends is a cool alternative to the usual run-of-the-mill eatery and offers a welcoming atmosphere as well as good, fresh food and lovely hot coffee. For more information, go to: www.legendscafe.org.

10 a.m. Saturday: The "Trains, Trees and Gingerbread Exhibit" continues weekends until Jan. 17 in the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, 500 South Third St., Hamburg. The exhibit includes 20 operating trains, trees representing Reading Railroad stations, and a gingerbread replica of Reading's Outer Station. Admission is charged. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. For more information, go to: www.readingrailroad.org.

11 a.m. Saturday: Chocolate World in Hershey will be offering "Family Winter Wellness" activities every Saturday and Sunday in January, starting today, and lasting each weekend until 4 p.m. Start the new year with family fun like a zumba class, hula hoop and jump rope activities and more. Plenty of chocolate to eat after the exercising. On Jan.17 and 23, members of the Harrisburg City Islanders Soccer Club will be on hand to share soccer techniques and meet visitors. For more information, got to: www.HersheyChocolateWorld.com.

7 p.m. Saturday: Spend the evening listening to the soul-soothing sounds of Chaz Depaolo's blues guitar. The artist and his band will be at Legends Cafe, 9 South Ninth St., in Lebanon, from 7 to 9 p.m. This is your chance to hear one of the premier guitarists around. For more information, phone 717-273-7700.

2 p.m. Sunday: Singer/guitarist Danny Beiler will be appearing at Johnny and Hons' Smokehaus, 934 West Penn Ave., Robesonia. Beiler will be performing all the great rock and roll classics you want to hear. Have a beer or a cup of coffee, sit back and listen to one of the best local entertainers around. For more information, phone 610-589-6397 or go to: TheSmokehaus924@gmail.com.

7 p.m. Monday, Jan.11: The band "Trivium," a heavy metal band from Orlando, Fla., will appear at the Chameleon Club, 223 North Water St., Lancaster. Its latest album, "Silence in the Snow," was released this past October. For tickets, call 800-840-9227.

3 p.m. Saturday, Jan.16: Concert master Nati Draiblate will present the concert "Monumental" in the Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster. The show will also be presented at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 717-397-7425.

3 p.m. Saturday, Jan.16: The "Elvis Birthday Bash" will take place at the American Music Theatre at 2425 Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster, featuring two of the best Elvis impersonators ever - Scot Bruce and Mike Albert. The second show for the day begins at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $36. This show has all the memorable Elvis hits you crave.

On Sunday, Jan.17, at 3 p.m., "all things Elvis" continues when the theatre presents Gospel favorites of Elvis with "Mike Albert's Gospel Show with the Stamps Quartet, Gospel music legends in their own right. Tickets are $35. For tickets, go to: www.AmericanMusicTheatre.com or call 717-397-7700.

5 p.m., Sat., Jan.16: Every third Saturday of the month, music lovers are invited to listen to or participate in the performance of Celtic music on the third floor of the Lebanon Farmers' Market, 33 S. Eighth St., in the Foundry Craft Grillery. Singers and musicians at all levels of accomplishment who enjoy playing in the Celtic style are welcome. Free admission for a night of lovely sound.

7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16: The rock band "Drysdale" will be performing at Johnny and Hons' Smokehaus in Robesonia and they'll be on stage until 10 p.m. For more information, call 610-589-6397.

5 p.m. Sunday, Jan.17: The kids are sure to enjoy "pajamas night" at the AACA Museum on Museum Drive, Hershey, when the 1968 classic movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is shown on the big screen in the museum. Kids are encouraged to wear pajamas, bring pillows and blankets and stuffed animals, for a cozy experience. It will also be the last chance to see the national touring CCBB car. Admission for this event also covers kid-friendly foods, like popcorn, hot dogs, pizza, hot chocolate and cookies. The movie begins at 6 p.m.

7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.20: The Australian rock duo "Holy, Holy," will be performing at The Chameleon Club, 223 N. Water St., Lancaster, and will be singing ballads from their debut album "When the Storms Would Come." For tickets, call 800-840-9227.

8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20: Disco fever will be hitting central Pennsylvania when the American Music Theatre presents "Saturday Night Fever," the story about the kid from Brooklyn who wanted to be the "disco king." The show is packed with hits from the legendary BeeGees, including "Stayin Alive" and "Jive Talking." Tickets start at $58. For tickets, call 717-397-7700 or go to: www. American Music Theatre.com.

8 p.m. Thursday, Jan.21: All-purpose performer and Vegas regular Donny Osmond will be performing at the American Music Theatre at 2425 Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster. A singer, dancer, actor and talk show host, Osmond currently headlines one of the biggest shows in Las Vegas. This is your chance to see and hear the legend. Ticket prices range from $50 to $86. Call early to get tickets, at 800-648-4102 or 717-397-7700.

8 p.m. Friday, Jan.22: The Whitaker Center at 222 Market St. in Harrisburg will host the rock group "Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes" for one night only. For tickets, call 1-800-515-2171.

6 p.m., Sat., Jan.23: Celebrate the life of Scotland's national poet with Lebanon's own "Burns Night," featuring an evening of Scottish food and drink, music and poetry. Tickets are $45 per person and include a full meal, plus Scotch whiskey and authentic beers. Guests are invited to dress in plaid or formal kilt or gown. The haggis will be brought in for serving to the music of the bagpipes, and "Auld Lang Syne" will end the evening. For more information, call the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts at 273-0033.

6 p.m. Sunday, Jan.24: Get ready now. Remember that awesome 80s metal band, "Queensryche?" Formed way back in 1982, the progressive metal and heavy metal band that released 14 studio albums and sold more than 20 million albums worldwide will be appearing at Lancaster's Chameleon Club. This is an "age 18 and up" evening. For tickets, call 800-840-9227.

7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan.30: Call for tickets to a fabulous classical concert to be presented in the Santander Performing Arts Center, 147 North Fifth St., Reading. The featured music will include the Helios Overture by Nielsen, Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky, and the Firebird Suite 1919 by Stravinsky. Special guest performer will be world-class violinist Vadim Gluzman. For tickets, call 610-373-7557.

8 p.m. Saturday, Jan.30: Lancaster County musician, Jordan Bleyer, also known as "Michael Wavves," will be headlining a lung cancer benefit concert at the Chameleon Club, 223 N. Water St. in downtown Lancaster. Tickets are $10 and the show is open to all ages. The show will kick off Wavves' 2016 "Bad Tour" that includes stops in Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. He'll be performing his trending hit singles "No Pressure" and "Bad." Also appearing will be recording artist Sammy Adams as well as "Delfino" and "Young Black." All proceeds will be donated to the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation. For tickets or information, go to: michaelwavves.com.