Still have holiday shopping to do? While holiday entertainment opportunities are scarce (unless you’re willing to drive to Atlanta), several local organizations are eager to help us with our Christmas lists, often with locally produced items.

The Middle Georgia Art Association’s Holiday Artists Market, for example, stocked with items created by our local talents, is open through Saturday. Many children were still in school until Thursday, so it is good news for them that Santa’s Secret Shop at the Museum of Arts and Sciences is open through Sunday, as is the entire museum store.

Downtown at the Macon Arts Alliance Gallery, in addition to the usual array of merchandise, a final Trunk Show is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Friday. Just a few blocks away at the 567 Center for Renewal, works by students of all three of Macon State College’s art faculty are on display through the end of the month.

Celebrate the solstice

Thanks to the Crossroads Writers Conference and the Historic Macon Foundation, two of Georgia’s most celebrated poets will be reading at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sidney Lanier Cottage.

“Winter Solstice Poetry Reading” will feature Anya Silver of Mercer University and Kevin Cantwell of Macon State College. Either one of these award-winning poets provides a powerful evening. The two together should positively overwhelm.

Last call for theater

While our local stages are dark this weekend, some of the professional companies to our north are still going strong. Fans of David Sedaris will be pleased to hear that Atlanta’s Horizon Theatre is presenting “The Santaland Diaries” through the end of the month. As you can guess, this is not a show for kids.

For something more traditional, consider “The Gifts of the Magi” at the Theatrical Outfit. This musical is based on the classic short story by O. Henry.

And, as mentioned last week, Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is at the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern as well as at the Alliance Theatre.

Morning music notes

Many of the crowd at the Morning Music Club’s “Christmas Carole” last week wondered who the un-named flautist was in the performance of “Away in a Manger.” The answer is former MMC president Kristin Oren.

One of the music selections was also not in the program: “Night of Silence” is a 1984 work by American composer Daniel Kantor.

Contact Larry Fennelly at LarryFennelly@AvantGuild.com.