5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Dec. 20-22

And just like that, the last weekend before Christmas is upon us.

There may or may not be a flurry of snowflakes, but a flurry of fun awaits.

Music, train displays and movies will help calm any seasonal stress, and keep the kiddos from bouncing off the walls — maybe.

No place quite like home

As the song tells us, “for the holidays, you can’t beat home sweet home.”

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra apparently agrees, scheduling its annual “Home for the Holidays” concert for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg.

The program will feature seasonal choral and instrumental holiday pop favorites this year, along with a world premiere of “For Behold from Henceforth,” by Pittsburgh-based composer Nancy Galbraith.

Tickets range from $16-$61.

Details: 724-837-1850 or westmorelandsymphony.org

All aboard!

Break out the train sets and everyone becomes a kid again. Imaginations fire as the trains chug by, lights flashing and whistles blowing.

The Youngwood Historical & Railroad Museum, 1 Depot St., will present its sixth annual Christmas Train & Village Display from1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 21 and 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 22.

Admission is $3 for children age 7 and up, $4 for senior citizens, $5 for adults.

The Christmas Train and Village Display features two O-gauge trains, two HO-gauge trains and an O-gauge trolley car.

Details: 724-925-7355 or facebook.com

Cabin fever art break

After teachers peel the students off the ceilings, and they are home counting the minutes until Christmas Eve, time can weigh a little heavy on parents’ hands.

Bundle the young ones up and head out to The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg, for “Winter Break Wonders.”

Scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 21-22, both events offer a drop-in, hands-on interactive program, free of charge.

There are projects to help visitors of all ages explore, create, play and experiment and have fun while enjoying days off from school or work and or while visiting family and friends.

On Dec. 21, the program will be constructing holiday diorama with the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse.

On Dec. 22, participants will make mosaic holiday ornaments with the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

Registration is not required, but is encouraged for planning purposes.

Details: 888-718-4253 or showclix.com/event/winter-break-wonders

'Biggie' tale of elf wannabe

Members of Latrobe’s Cabaret Theatre will present the tale of “Biggie, the Elf Who Didn’t Fit In,” an all-ages holiday story presented free at the 40-seat Olde Main Theater, 350 Main St.

This “Readers Theatre” version of the play written by theater artistic director John Carosella will be told at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20-21.

“Biggie” isn’t an elf, but yearns to be one.

“I won’t spoil the story, but suffice it to say that it centers around how elves got to be elves in the fist place and why Biggie wants to be one so badly,” Carosella says in a release.

“Just as children are fascinated when someone reads them a story and they can imagine it, that’s the same thing that will happen to an audience when our talented actors tell this story. The audience can just sit back, close their eyes and go on a journey with us,” Carosella says.

Reservations are advised.

Details: 724-527-7775 or thecabarettheatre.com

Hapless family holiday lives on

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” turns 30 this year.

And if you haven’t seen the Griswold family, headed up by Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, try to make the holidays merry, or it’s been a few decades since your last good guffaw, you’re in luck.

The Lamp Theatre, 222 Main St., Irwin, will show the movie that’s become a Christmas classic, and makes most of us look downright functional, at 6 p.m., 8:10 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. Dec. 20.

Griswold struggles enough with his attempts at jolliness. Then horrifying humor descends on his home in the form of his hick cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family.

Tickets are $5.

Details: 724-367-4000 or lamptheatre.org