FIRST FRIDAY OPEN MIC—6 p.m. Stop in for the first Friday open mic featuring local artists sharing original poems, song, dance, short story, and much more. Children present first, followed by adults. Admission is by donation. Enjoy this vibrant evening and stop at the other art, shops, and more this first Friday. The Telegraph School, 83 Alden Street, Cherry Valley. Visit thetelegraphschool.org
HOLIDAY WEEKEND—10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the shops of Cherry Valley throughout the day with a tree lighting from 5-8 attended by Santa, The Happy Haggs, a fire juggler, as well as live music and entertainment at various locations throughout the village. Cherry Valley. Visit cherryvalley.com/events/cherry-valley-holiday-weekend
HOLIDAY MARKET—5-8 p.m. The holiday season has arrived and the gallery at 25 Main is celebrating the opening of the Holiday Marketplace (open through 12/24). Open house includes refreshments, tree and business light-up, and a kick-off for the Cherry Valley Holiday Weekend. 25 Main Collective, 25 Main Street, Cherry Valley. (607) 264-5340 or visit facebook.com/25maincollective
HOLIDAY OPEN MIC—6 p.m. Stop in for the first Friday open mic featuring local artists sharing original poems, song, dance, short story and much more. Children present first, followed by adults. The theme this month “Family Traditions.” Admission is by donation. Enjoy this vibrant evening and stop at the other art, shops, and more this first Friday. The Telegraph School, 83 Alden Street, Cherry Valley. Visit thetelegraphschool.org
BLOOD DRIVE—1:30-6:30 p.m. Save up to three lives with the American Red Cross. Unadilla Community, 77 Clifton Street, Unadilla. Register at redcrossblood.org
BE AN ANGEL – The community is invited to adopt a family and then find Christmas gifts for each of the children listed. Gifts are due unwrapped and without tags to either the office of The Freeman’s Journal at 21 Railroad Ave. in Cooperstown, or at the Salvation Army Church at 25 River St. in Oneonta. Visit allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ for details
WRITERS SALON – 7:30 p.m. Hear readings and discussion from writers and poets local to the Catskills region. This week will feature writers from the ‘Seeing Things’ poetry workshop run by Bright Hill Press. Free, open to the public. Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. 607-432-2070 or visit canoneonta.org/writers-salon
CONTRADANCE – 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Enjoy a fun social dance with the Otsego Dance Society. Will feature music by the Mandigo Blue band with Robby Poulette calling the dances. Suggested donation, $8/adult. New location at Cornfield Hall, 655 Co. Rd. 26, Fly Creek. Visit otsegodancesociety.weebly.com
BLOOD DRIVE – 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org
WRITERS SALON – 7:30 p.m. Open mic followed by presentation by Poets Vicki Whicker & Lisa Wujnovich. Free, open to public. Presented by Community Arts Network of Oneonta. 607-432-2070 or visit www.canoneonta.org/writers-salon
AUTHOR SERIES – 2 p.m. Former All-Star Outfielder Dave Parker joins the author series to discuss his autobiography ‘Cobra: A Life of Baseball and Brotherhood.’ Free, registration required. Presented by Baseball Hall of Fame. 607-547-7200 or visit baseballhall.org/events/virtual-author-series-john-shea?date=0
DEADLINE – 10 a.m. Last day for writers to submit new plays, poetry, & prose for Fenimore Winter Performing Arts Series. Send in your works for chance to have it staged and critiqued before an audience. Presented by Fenimore Art Museum. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/write for info.
WORD THURSDAY – 7 – 9 p.m. Open mic followed featuring poets recently published in ‘Seeing Things: An Anthology of Poetry’ by presentation by Robert Bensen and Pam Strother. Donations welcome. Zoom conversation presented by Bright Hills Press & Literary Center, Treadwell. 607-829-5055 or visit www.facebook.com/brighthp/
WRITERS SALON – 7:30 p.m. Virtual writers salon by CANO hosted on Zoom. Features author Alice Lichenstein, and an open mic session. Presented by Community Arts Network of Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/CANOneonta for info.
WORD THURSDAY – 7 p.m. Tune in for reading of award winning book ‘The Ruined Walled Castle Garden’ with author Mary Gilliband of Ithaca. Evening will begin with open-mic featuring 5 poets. Presented by Bright Hill Press & Literary Center. Visit www.facebook.com/brighthp/ for info.
WRITERS SALON – 7:30 p.m. Virtual writers salon by CANO hosted on Zoom. Features author Tessa Yang and an open mic session. Presented by Community Arts Network of Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/CANOneonta for info.
FIELD TRIP – 2 p.m. Celebrate Jackie Robinson Day and learn about this Hall of Fame infielder & Civil Rights Pioneer. Learn about Branch Rickey, the bigotry Robinson faced, his successes on & off the field, and his career after baseball in the Civil Rights Movement. Free, registration for Zoom conference required. Hosted by The Baseball Hall of Fame. Visit baseballhall.org/events/virtual-field-trip-Jackie-Robinson-Day?date=0
BOAT PARADE – 3 p.m. Get out for the annual ‘We Love Our Lake’ decorated boat parade. This years theme ‘Lets Celebrate – It’s The 4th Of July.’ All boats welcome from human powered to motor powered and all in between. Participants are reminded to practice social distancing. Parade assembles at 3 Mile Point and proceeds on West Side of the Lake to Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. 518-542-6630 or visit otsegolakeassociation.org for info.
YULE BALL – 8 – 10 p.m. Dress up with your friends for Harry Potter themed ball featuring mocktails, food, games, some vendors. Admission, $5 with proceeds to support charity Reading is Fundamental. Ballroom, Hunt Union, SUNY Oneonta.
EXHIBIT RECEPTION – 5 – 6:30 p.m. Celebrate new Project Space Gallery Exhibit ‘In The Middle Of Nowhere’ by Dustin Bartlett. Fine Arts Building, SUNY Oneonta. Visit suny.oneonta.edu/art-department/art-galleries/exhibitions