Happenings around the lakes area, Dec. 28-Jan. 8

The Detroit Lakes Tribune accepts community calendar items for publication online and, space permitting, in our Wednesday and Sunday print editions. Submissions must be made at least a week in advance of the event date, in writing, to either dltribune@dlnewspapers.com or vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com . Each submission must include the date, time and location of event, and where to go for more information (phone, email and/or website). Also include whether the event is free or paid admission, and how much it costs when applicable.

Community Blood Drive: Detroit Lakes' First Lutheran Church will host a community blood drive from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church fellowship hall at 912 Lake Ave. To schedule an appointment, please contact Denise at 218-847-5656. You can also sign up online at donors.vitalant.org ; use the blood drive code DETROITLAKES.

Open Acoustic Jam: Bring your acoustic instruments to the Detroit Lakes Public Library for an unplugged jam session, starting at 5 p.m. All experience levels are welcome to this supportive and family-friendly event. Free and open to the public.

Traveling Art Pub: Bucks Mill Brewing in Detroit Lakes will host a visit from the Traveling Art Pub at 6 p.m. Come and create your very own, 16x20-inch acrylic painting on canvas to take home, while enjoying some of Bucks Mills' unique brews, crafted on site, along with food and socializing. Cost is $43.50 per person, including service fee. Open to those age 16 and up. Seating is limited to 40, with a 12-person minimum.

New Year's Eve Party: Community Alliance Church in Detroit Lakes will host a family-friendly New Year's Eve party, with kid-friendly movies, video games, card games, corn hole, board games and more, from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Bring your favorite games along, as well as an appetizer, snack or dessert to share. There will be a balloon drop for the kids at 8 p.m., and a midnight celebration for the older folks to ring in the new year. The church is located at 408 Elm St. West in Detroit Lakes

New Year's Eve Fireworks Celebration: Detroit Mountain Recreation Area will host an end-of-the-year bash from 5 to 9 p.m., with a fireworks display from the top of the mountain at 8 p.m. Lifts will be open until 9 p.m., tubing hill until 6 p.m., and there will be food and drink specials, music and family-friendly fun. Detroit Mountain is located at 29409 170th St., Detroit Lakes.

Spanky's New Year's Eve: Spanky's Stone Hearth in rural Vergas will host a New Year's Eve celebration, complete with fireworks at midnight.

Knights of Columbus Breakfast: The local Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a pancake/French toast and sausage breakfast from 8 am. to 12:30 p.m. in the Holy Rosary Parish Center, 1043 Lake Ave., Detroit Lakes. All are welcome.

New Year's Day Bash: Detroit Lakes VFW Post 1676 will host a New Year's Day bash from 12 to 3 p.m., with Tom and Jerry's and live music from Rachel Ianiro. Open to the public.

Lights Out at the Library: Encourage your child's reading skills by bringing them to the Detroit Lakes Public LIbrary at 5 p.m. Kids between ages 6-13 can choose a book to read, by flashlight, in our special "Lights Out" area. They can also choose whether to read independently or with a loved one. Each child will get a glowstick and a personalized book recommendation. Flashlights provided by the library. No cost to attend.

Community Blood Drives: Two blood drives for Vitalant are planned in Detroit Lakes, at BTD Manufacturing (1111 13th Ave.) from 7:30 to 11 a.m., and at SJE Rhombus (22650 Co. Hwy. 6) from 1 to 2:45 p.m. To sign up, visit donors.vitalant.org and search for blood drives in the 56501 area code, or contact Vitalant account manager Alyssa Hagedorn at 701-306-7984 or AHagedorn@vitalant.org .

After Hours Book Club: Bucks Mill Brewing in Detroit Lakes will host an After-Hours Book Club from 7 to 8 p.m. The subject of this month's discussion is “One by One" by Ruth Ware, a thriller about a company getting snowed in at a ski chalet, where the workers starting to disappear, one by one. All are welcome, even if you haven't read the book. If you have any questions, send an email to detroit@larl.org or call 218-847-2168. Bucks Mill Brewing is located at 824 Washington Ave.

Vergas Community Blood Drive: The community of Vergas is planning a blood drive for Vitalant from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Vergas Event Center (140 W. Linden St.). To sign up, visit donors.vitalant.org and enter the blood drive code VERGAS, or contact Alyssa Hagedorn at 701-306-7984 or AHagedorn@vitalant.org .

Knights of Columbus Youth Free Throw Championship: All boys and girls ages 9-14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2022 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. The local event will be held at 1 p.m. in the Holy Rosary School Gymnasium. All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation in the event; winners advance to regional competition. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For entry forms or additional information, contact Jim Wolf at 847-2855 or 841-0547.

Tamarac Sunday Movie: A free screening of the family-friendly, nature-themed movie, "Santa’s Wild Home," will be held at 2 p.m. in the Visitor Center at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Lapland is famous for being the magical home of Santa Claus. But this northern most region of Europe is a real place where animals such as reindeer, great gray owls, wolverines, wolves and bears live out their lives in the tundra and forest. Take an intimate look, long after the Christmas lights are taken down, to discover how there creatures survive. Run time is approximately 55 minutes. All are welcome. For more information on this event, contact 218-847-2641, visit fws.gov/refuge/tamarac or check the Refuge's Facebook page .

Live Music: Sam Kuusisto, Dec. 24, Mustang Lounge at Mahnomen's Shooting Star Casino, 8 p.m.; Lucas Hoge, Dec. 30-31, Mustang Lounge at Mahnomen's Shooting Star Casino, 8 p.m. both nights; Adios Pantalones, Dec. 31, Zorbaz Detroit Lakes, 9 p.m.; The Fat Cats, Shorewood Pub, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.; Rachel Ianiro, Jan. 1, Detroit Lakes VFW Post 1676, 12-3 p.m.; Mike Morse, Jan. 6, The Sandbar in Detroit Lakes, 6:30 p.m.;

Snowshoe Sundays: Every Sunday in January and February, the Tamarac Visitor Center will be open from 12 to 4 p.m. for free snowshoe rentals; all sizes available, including for the littlest of feet, so bring the kids. Dress warm and wear snow boots for a refreshing hike through the snowy woods. The visitor center exhibits and gift shop will also be open. For more information on this event, contact 218-847-2641, visit fws.gov/refuge/tamarac or check the Refuge's Facebook page .

GED/Adult Diploma Instruction: If finishing high school is still on your “to do” list, it is never too late!! Lakes Area Adult Education is open and ready to help you meet your goals. Orientation sessions for GED or Adult Diploma classes take place twice a month, so get in touch and get started now! Call 218-844-5760 or email slandsem@detlakes.k12.mn.us .

Driver's License Exam Preparation: Classes for driver's license exam preparation are now being offered virtually through Lakes Area Adult Education. These classes are designed to help unlicensed adult drivers become familiar with vocabulary, signs and rules of the road so they can successfully pass the written portion of the Minnesota Driver’s License Exam.  Classes will be held Feb. 6-March 10 on Mondays and Fridays, 5 to 6:30 p.m., with an accelerated option offered on Mondays and Fridays from March 13-March 31 (same class times). Call 218-844-5760 or email slandsem@detlakes.k12.mn.us for more information.

Free ESL Instruction: Free English as a Second Language instruction is offered for adults in the Detroit Lakes Area, every Monday through Thursday (holidays excepted) at Lakes Area Adult Education. The schedule is flexible and individualized. Call 218-844-5760 or email slandsem@detlakes.k12.mn.us for more information.

DL Cloggers: The DL Cloggers meet to dance and socialize every Tuesday (excluding holidays) at 1 p.m. in the basement of Detroit Lakes VFW Post 1676. No prior dance experience necessary. For more information, call Ruby at 218-847-7741.

HR Connect: The Detroit Lakes Chamber is hosting an opportunity for human resources professionals, business owners and managers to connect, every first Thursday of the month at 8:15 a.m. at the Chamber office at 700 Summit Ave. Discuss human resource topics, share best practices and review data to help attract, retain and grow the workforce for the lakes region. Event is free for Chamber members, $10 for non-members.

Library Storytime: The Detroit Lakes Public Library offers weekly storytime sessions every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to join library staff for stories, flannel boards, finger plays, songs and more. This early literacy experience explores a different theme each week and is a way to encourage young children to enjoy reading; sometimes held outdoors during the summer months, weather permitting. Call 218-847-2168 for more information.

Baby Bounce: Songs, stories, and action poems for infants, toddlers and their caregivers are offered every Monday at the Detroit Lakes Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Program runs about a half hour including playtime and chatting with other caregivers. For ages 0-18 months. Call 218-847-2168 for more information.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Detroit Lakes' Alano Club meets at 827 Summit Ave. on the following days and times: Sundays at 1 p.m., 12x12 open meeting; Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Big Book open meeting; Wednesdays at noon, Grapevine open meeting; Wednesdays at 6 p.m., women's open meeting; Thursdays at 7 p.m., Intro to AA open meeting; Saturdays at 7 a.m., men's open meeting; Saturdays at 9 a.m., Women's Big Book closed meeting; Saturdays at 8 p.m., open topic meeting. There are no dues or fees for meetings. For more information, call 218-844-9970 or the District 3 AA Helpline at 877-833-2327.

Holy Rosary Al-Anon Meeting: There will be an Al-Anon meeting every Thursday, starting at noon, inside Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1043 Lake Ave., Detroit Lakes.

Overeaters Anonymous: A 12-step program for those who struggle in their relationship with food, Overeaters Anonymous continues to meet at noon every Tuesday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes. There is no charge to attend. Contact Debbie C. at 218-234-3071. Another group also meets on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. via Zoom. This is a change of venue as of Oct. 9. Please call Sharon R. at 1-701-388-7585 or Hailee S. at 1-701-212-7904 for information if you plan to join the Zoom meeting. There is no charge to participate.

Lake Country Woodcarvers: At the Holmes Art Cellar every Tuesday from 1-4 p.m. Bring woodcarvings to show and/or take part in a free woodworking session. Pattern books and other resources available for checkout. No cost to participate. Call Dale Wavra at 701-371-5204 for more information.