Children
Concord Orchestra — Young Artists Competition Auditions; Wed., Jan. 17, and Thur., Jan. 18; winner will be featured soloist on Concord Orchestra’s concerts in March; high school and younger; applications due Jan. 2; 978-371-1491, 978-369-4967; www.concordorchestra.com.
Discovery Museums — 177 Main St., Acton (programs are free with admission unless noted). Vacation Week Fun, Tues., Dec. 26-Sat., Dec. 30; http://discoverymuseums.org/calendar/day/2017-12-26. Bessie’s New Year’s Eve Outdoor Pajama Dance Party, Sun., Dec. 31, 10 a.m.-noon. Especially for Me!, sensory-friendly afternoons (free for pre-registered families), Tues., Jan. 2, 1:30-4:30 p.m.; http://bit.ly/ASDJanuary2018. First Friday Nights Free, Fri., Jan. 5.
Lowell Memorial Auditorium — 50 East Merrimack St. Shopkins Live! Shop It Up!; Thur., March 1, 10 a.m.; 866-722-8881, LowellAuditorium.com.
Stone Zoo — 149 Pond St., Stoneham. Celebrate the Zoo Year at Stone Zoo, Sun., Dec. 31, 4-5 p.m.; www.stonezoo.org, 617-541-LION.
Clubs
Chelmsford Stamp Club — Trinity Lutheran Church, 170 Old Westford Road; meets first and third Mon. (Jan. 15), 7-9 p.m.
Dracut Community Band — Christ United Church, 10 Arlington St. Rehearsals, Thursdays, 6-7:15 p.m.; new members welcomed; 978-454-0055.
Dracut Community Chorus — Dracut High School, 1540 Lakeview Ave. Rehearsals, Wednesdays, 6-8 a.m.
Comedy
Blue Ocean Music Hall — 4 Ocean Front, Salisbury. Lenny Clarke; Thur. Dec. 28, 8 p.m.; $25.
Luna Theater — Mondo Monday Comedy, Mon., Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., Mill No. 5, 250 Jackson St., Lowell.
Fundraisers
Animal Rescue Network of New England — Pelham Congregational Church, 3 Main St. Pet Adoption Day, Sat., Jan. 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mooyah — 199 Boston Road, Billerica. Let’s Meat at Mooyah, Wed., Dec. 27, 4-9 p.m.; Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, proceeds benefit upcoming home-build and home-repair projects in Lowell, Tewksbury and Westford; http://bit.ly/mooyahDec27; htierney@lowellhabitat.org.
Westford Academy Performing Arts Center — 30 Patten Road. Four-Handed Illusions: An Intimate Evening of Laughs & Wonder, Fri., Jan. 19, 7-9:30 a.m. $20 students and senior citizens, $40 others; benefits Westford Academy Trustees Scholarship Fundraising Event; 781-953-3344, www.eventbrite.com/e/westford-academy-trustees-fundraiser-event-tickets-38509504966
Health & Wellness
Nashoba Valley Medical Center — 200 Groton Road, Ayer. Community Blood Drive; Fri., Jan. 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; receive a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card for donating blood; 800-733-2767, www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “6350” to schedule an appointment. Surgical Weight Loss Information Seminar, Tues., Jan. 9, 6 p.m., or Tues., Jan. 23, 11 a.m.; free; 978-862-5673, www.nashobamed.org/events. OPTIFAST Information Session, Wed., Jan. 3, 10 a.m., or Wed., Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m.; free; www.nashobamed.org/events or call 978-784-9313.
Westford Health Department — Parent Support Group; for parents of children with mental-health issues; Jan. 9, 7-8 p.m.; Millennium School, 23 Depot St., dwalsh@perkinschool.org, 508-566-3189.
Nightspots
Hearing Room — 119 Chelmsford St., Lowell. Reading Group, each Mon., 6-9 p.m. Open Mike, each Tues., 7-10 p.m. Open Figure Drawing, each Wed., 7-10 p.m. Mostly Acoustic Jam, each Thur., 7-10 p.m. Bluegrass Jam, third Fri. (Jan. 19), 7-10 p.m. Songwriter’s Club, second and fourth Sat. (Dec. 23), 1-5 p.m. Community Sing & Jam, every other Sunday, 2-5 p.m.
