The Church of Christ-Christian, 1705 S.E. Marshall, Albert Lea,

will present its ninth annual drive-through live nativity on Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14, from 7-9 p.m.

From the car, people will see characters, realistic sets, and animals portraying various scenes from the Christmas story. Traffic will be guided along a lighted path taking people through the story of Jesus’ birth.

A greeter will meet each car at the entrance with instructions. There is no charge for this event, and the public is invited to take a few minutes to drive through any time between 7 and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

In case of inclement weather, the live nativity will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, from 6-8 p.m.

Following is a roundup of other events happening in the area this weekend.

Friday, Dec. 13

– The Albert Lea Art Center’s Festival of Trees continues from noon-4 p.m. There are 20 trees decorated with varying themes. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray art center expenses.

– Arc Freeborn County will present its annual nativity pageant at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Albert Lea. The pageant features Arc members of all ages. Performing before the program will be Arc’s Youth Choir featuring students from the after-school program. The group will be accompanied on the guitar by Dave Vaagen, Arc president and special education teacher from Halverson Elementary. Steph Altfillisch will be the piano accompanist for the pageant. Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall following the program. Arc members are asked to bring Christmas treats to share. Volunteers from Arc and S.P.I.R.E. (Special People in Religious Education) are assisting with the pageant.

Saturday, Dec. 14

– The Albert Lea Art Center’s Festival of Trees continues from 10-2 p.m. There are 20 trees decorated with varying themes. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray art center expenses.

– The Albert Lea Community Band will present a concert of Christmas music at 1 p.m. in Northbridge Mall.

– The Albert Lea Area Youth Choir will present a concert at 2 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1101 Highway 69 S., Albert Lea. There are children from Albert Lea, Hayward, Hollandale, Freeborn and Kiester. The concert will include carols of Alfred Burt, traditional carols and traditional Christmas music. The choir is directed by Eileen Nelson Ness and is accompanied by Gail Thurnau. The choir manager is Barb Malinsky. The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow to greet the children.

– The Albert Lea Art Center will hold an all-you-can-eat fish fry at the American Legion in Albert Lea from 4:45 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the art center and at the door.

– The Senior Choir of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells will present its annual Christmas concert at the 5 p.m. service. This year’s program is titled &uot;Nativity Suites&uot; by Benjamin Harlan.

Sunday, Dec. 15

– The Senior Choir of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells will present its annual Christmas concert at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. services. This year’s program is titled &uot;Nativity Suites&uot; by Benjamin Harlan.

– Nova Cantabile, a southern Minnesota professional vocal group, will perform at the Kee Theater in Kiester at 2 p.m. The group will perform a concert of Christmas, sacred, and popular music.

Members of Nova Cantabile are musicians and music educators from throughout southern Minnesota, including Diane Heaney, ALHS vocal music director from Kiester, Mike Ellingsen and Clark Cary from Blue Earth, Jan Spitzak from Winnebago, DeeAnne Helfritz and Stan Sundberg from Fairmont, and Dick Jokumsen and Karla Beck from St. James.

Many people will remember their holiday performance last year in Albert Lea at First Lutheran Church. Tickets are available for $5 at the Kee Theatre the day of the performance.

– Ascension Lutheran Church will present a service of music at 2 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary. The Jubilate Choir and Friends of Ascension will sing Gilbert Martin’s cantata, &uot;Of the Father’s Love Begotten.&uot; The Epiphany Choir will sing several selections and join the adult choir on several songs. The congregation will join in traditional carols. Soloists include Mary Wayne, Al Schallock and Deb Stolarcek. Eileen Nelson Ness, director and organist at Ascension, will play a number of Advent and Christmas songs on the organ. The service will be approximately one hour in length. Ascension Lutheran Church is located at 1101 Hwy. 69 S., Albert Lea. The service is open to the public and there is no charge. A reception will follow in Carlson Hall.

– The Rick Penning Family and the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will

be performing &uot;Amahl and the Night Visitors&uot; at 2 p.m. in the Knowlton Auditorium at Austin High School.

This opera by Gian Carlo Menotti was first performed in 1951.

Individual tickets can be purchased at Tone Music in Albert Lea as well as at the door.

– The Calvary Connection will present a Christmas concert and sing-a-long at Calvary Baptist Church of Albert Lea at 4 p.m. The concert will consist of a presentation of songs from the Calvary Connection followed by a time of participation by the congregation in the singing of traditional Christmas Carols.

After the concert, refreshments will be available.

The public is invited to this free concert.

– Grace Lutheran Church Sunday School will present its annual Christmas program at 4 p.m. The pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students will present &uot;Meet Me at the Manger,&uot; the story of the wise men.