There's a lot happening in Dartmouth on any given weekend. Visit DartmouthVillageSoup.com for your itinerary.

Friday, December 8

Celebrate Christmas in the village.

The annual Padanaram Christmas Festival will be held in the village from 5 to 8 p.m. Shops and businesses around Padanaram will offer holiday-themed activities, events, and food. Twenty-two businesses are signed up to provide activities. Among the activities available includes a meet-and-greet with the Grinch, 6-7 p.m. at Anne Whiting Real Estate, and a trip to Santa's South Wharf workshop. Parking is available at the New Bedford Yacht Club, and free shuttle service will be provided from St. Mary’s Church to the festival. Visit Facebook.com/PadanaramVillage for more information and for a listing of all activities.

Saturday, December 9

Donate toys.

The Dartmouth Police Department and Safe Zones will be collecting toys for the annual "Fill-a-Bus" toy drive. Police officers will be on hand to collect toys at the Dartmouth Target from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Target is located at 479 State Road.

Sunday, December 10

Step into a Nativity scene.

Smith Neck Friends Meeting and Alderbrook Farm are teaming up to host a living Nativity scene at the farm, 3-4:30 p.m. The nativity scene will be held inside the barn at the 1213 Russells Mills Road barn. It and will be staffed by students from the meeting’s First Day School, who will reenact the Nativity scene and will lead in singing of carols. Admission is free, the event is open to the public, and hot chocolate and other holiday treats will be served.

Listen to music and authors.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will host an afternoon literature and music series at the main campus library, 2 p.m. opera singer Yohji Cantar Daquio, a freshman Boston Conservatory student, will perform, and four authors will discuss their latest works. Authors include Jonathan Brickman, James E. Marlow, Laurie Robertson-Lorant and Brian Glyn Williams. A questions-and-answers session and book signing will follow the talk. Light refreshments will be served. The event is sponsored by the Claire T. Carney Library Associates. For more information, contact Maria Sanguinetti at msanguinetti@umassd.edu or by calling (508) 991-5096.

Gawk at a big tree.

Dartmouth Parks and Recreation's annual holiday celebration will be held at Dartmouth Middle School and the Town Hall parking lot, 3:30-5 p.m. The event will include a special visit from Santa, a live DJ, balloon artists, snacks, games, prizes, and more. The event will conclude with the lighting of the tree. Wear something with a snowman or a snow scene for a special surprise. A tree lighting will be held during the event.

Get spiritual.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Divine Sword Gospel Choir will host a gospel performance at the main campus auditorium, 5:30 p.m. The concert is free to attend and open to the public. Parking is available in lots 4 or 5.

Have an event we should include next week? Email details to Douglas McCulloch at douglas@dartmouthweek.net.