Grange history talk coupled with potluck, contra dance

MONTAGUE CENTER — A celebration will be held at the Montague Common Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 5 p.m. to conclude the yearlong “Food, Farms and Factories” programming.

The program includes a “History of the Grange” talk by Will Quale at 5 p.m., a potluck at 6 p.m. and a contra dance at 7 p.m., featuring music from All Over the Map and calling by Steve Howland.

The event is a collaboration between RiverCulture, the Montague Public Libraries, the Montague Common Hall, the Great Falls Discovery Center and the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. The year of “Food, Farms and Factories” programming has been made possible by Mass Humanities.

Elks Lodge seeks toy donations

TURNERS FALLS — The Montague Elks Lodge is seeking donations of new, unwrapped toys to support Toys for Tots.

There are two donation boxes set up at the Elks Lodge, located at 1 Elks Ave. The lounge is open at noon and the deadline for donating a toy is Sunday, Dec. 8.

Puzzle swap set for Sunday

ERVING — The Erving Public Library will host a puzzle swap on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees don’t need to bring a puzzle in order to take a puzzle.

Montague Villages holding library meet and greet

MILLERS FALLS — Montague Villages, a volunteer organization offering a multitude of services to Montague residents ages 60 and older, will host a meet and greet at the Millers Falls Library at 23 Bridge St. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 4 p.m.

Brick House hosting community potluck

TURNERS FALLS — The Brick House Community Resource Center at 24 Third St. will host a potluck on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Attendees are advised to bring a favorite winter holiday dish if possible. To register or with questions, contact Stacey Langknecht at slangknecht@brickhousecommunity.org or call 413-800-2496.

Dec. 11: ‘The Art of Makam’

MONTAGUE CENTER — Weathervane Community Arts and Labyrinth New England will present “The Art of Makam” on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Montague Common Hall.

This is a concert of music both from and inspired by the classical Turkish tradition. Boston-based musician Tev Stevig will be joined by a local ensemble of his students who have been studying makam together throughout the fall. Local klezmer band Myrtle Street Klezmer will also play.

Makam is a modal, improvisational system of Turkish music that not only forms the basis of Turkish classical and folk music, but is also foundational in Balkan, Middle Eastern, Greek and other Mediterranean music.

Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the door, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information, visit weathervane-arts.org/sokolov or email weathervane.community.arts@gmail.com.

Dec. 15: Bal folk jam session

TURNERS FALLS — An informal group of musicians will gather at the Great Falls Discovery Center on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a jam session to play traditional dance music from France and Brittany, known as bal folk.

‘A Christmas Carol’ coming to Senior & Community Center

ERVING — The Delvena Theatre Co. will present a dramatic reading of the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” at the Erving Senior & Community Center, located at 1 Care Drive, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m.

“A Christmas Carol” will be performed, complete with period costumes, by Lynne Moulton, Joseph Zamparelli and Fran Baron.

The Delvena Theatre Co. was founded in 1992 and has performed at various venues, most often at the Boston Center for the Arts.

The event is supported in part by a grant from the Erving Cultural Council. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact the Erving Senior & Community Center at 413-423-3649.