Area briefs: Holyoke tree lighting; Santa at mall; UMass documentary discussion with Indigenous filmmaker

HOLYOKE — The city’s annual holiday party will be Saturday, Dec. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m.

The celebration begins with free unlimited rides on the Heritage Park merry-go-round off Appleton Street. Holiday characters in costume will be on hand for visits and photos. Children also are invited to create holiday crafts at the Holyoke Children’s Museum on Dwight Street.

City Hall will be at the center of events starting at 5. With Christmas music playing, hot chocolate, cookies and popcorn will be served, and holiday characters will circulate through he crowd.

At 5:15, the First Lutheran Church’s Ambassador’s Choir will perform. They will be followed at 5:30 by Holyoke High School’s Madrigal Choir.

At 6, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia will preside over the lighting of the Christmas tree, assisted by a crew from PeoplesBank, sponsor of this year’s tree.

Santa Claus will arrive by firetruck and the evening will conclude with a Parranda led by Bomba de Aquí, a dance and music company that performs and teaches Afro-Puerto Rican traditions.

UMass discussion of documentary with Indigenous filmmaker

AMHERST — The University of Massachusetts will host a discussion with filmmaker Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. The discussion will be followed by a showing of her award-winning documentary “Powerlands,” which highlights the displacement of Indigenous people and the devastation of their native lands by energy corporations.

Manybeads Tso is a queer Navajo filmmaker who, at the age of 19, sought to investigate the exploitation of the lands where she was born. The film became a personal and political journey in which she learns from Indigenous activists across three continents.

A diverse coalition of colleges and departments on campus have teamed up to host the event, presented in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. In addition to the discussion with the film’s director, there will also be a question-and-answer session with UMass faculty and deans.

The in-person event will take place in the College of Education’s Carney Family Auditorium in Furcolo Hall at 813 N. Pleasant St.

Registration for the event is available via EventBrite.

Santa visiting Hadley mall for kids, pets

HADLEY — In coordination with Cherry Hill Programs, Santa Claus is planning to greet his young fans in Cafe Square in the Hampshire Mall starting Friday, Dec. 2.

Santa will be at the mall for visits and photos on select dates and times until Christmas Eve. Photo packages will be available for purchase, and visits are always free. Santa’s full schedule can be viewed at the Hampshire Mall website. Reservations are available.

Santa will host two pet days on Sunday, Dec. 4, and Sunday, Dec. 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. Feathers, fins and scales are not allowed. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.