Tis the season for holiday events. Here at home I look forward to taking my grandmother see one of her great-grandchildren's dance recitals, a blessing on multiple levels. I'm also very glad to gather once again with my family for Christmas (and grateful to the vaccines and medical professionals who've made it possible!) But the silver lining of pandemic quarantines is that virtual shows and gatherings are now more possible than ever, and are continuing to connect us in new ways.

One such event I've registered for is "Fireside Fellowship, A Theatrical Christmas Celebration," produced for free by the Fellowship for the Performing Arts. This organization made the virtual switch early in the pandemic and while they've gone back to live theatre they also now have a rich assortment of online and film projects too. I was very fortunate to see their A Man for All Seasons in New York back in 2019; I've also attended their tours of Martin Luther on Trial and The Great Divorce, both of which were top notch shows that mixed laughter with pathos, entertainment with thought-provoking questions. This new combination of original plays with a Christmas carol music review sounds like a cross church cantata and Broadway blackbox theatre, which I'm eager to watch and explore.

Another, potentially more interactive online event will be hosted by Jane Austen's House, the charitable organization that manages the Hampshire cottage where Janed Austen lived and wrote. Again, this site created a more robust digital presence during the height of the pandemic, and appears to have chosen to continue a mix of online programming along with onsite visits now back open to the public. They're holding a virtual birthday party in honor of the the 247th anniversary of her birth on Friday December 16, starting at 8:00 pm. The headline speaker is Professor John Mullan of University College London. Tickets are £10 for this Zoom outing, which is much cheaper than airfare and hotels.

I have my own Jane Austen news to share next week in honor of her birthday, but mum's the word for now. Instead, I'd love to know what events, whether local or online, you plan to attend this year.