<b>1. Living Windows: </b>4 to 8 p.m., Dec. 2, Independence Square and the Liberty Lounge, 108 S. Liberty Ave., Independence. From 4 to 8 p.m., a Christmas market will be available at the Liberty Lounge, featuring artists and other vendors. From 6 to 8 p.m., stores on the Square will transform their windows into holiday scenes. Some of the scenes will depict “A Christmas Carol,” Santa and Mrs. Claus, a jazz ensemble, and a snowball fight. Roads will be closed to traffic during the Living Windows performances. For folks with mobility challenges, there will be a golf cart to provide transport. Just meet the cart at 110 S. Liberty, by the stagecoach. <b>2. Christmas at Missouri Town: </b>9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, Missouri Town 1855, 8010 E. Park Road, Lee’s Summit, 816-229-8980 ext. 106 or 816-524-8770. Enjoy the 19th century look and feel of Christmas. Warm yourself by a fire, decorate historic buildings, and carol like it’s 1855. Tickets, which are $8 for adults and $4 for children and seniors, can be purchased at the visitors center. <b>3. Blue Springs Annual Christmas Tree Lighting:</b> 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6, City Hall, 903 W. Main Street. Before the lighting, choirs from James Lewis Elementary, Franklin Smith Elementary, Sunny Pointe Elementary and Lucy Franklin Elementary will provide live music. Once the lights are on, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive. Complementary hot dogs and chips, cookies and hot chocolate, and popcorn will be available. Craft activities for children will be located inside City Hall. For more information about this year’s event, call 816-228-0111 <b>4. Medicare enrollment ends Dec. 7: </b>Medicare can be very confusing, and the time to decide on your plan for 2023 is short. In order to help, the Palmer Center in Independence and the state of Missouri have arranged to provide advice and help for people trying to choose Medicare plans for 2023. For approximately 30 years, the state has contracted with Missouri Claim.org to provide information and assistance, by phone or in person, to Missourians needing to enroll in Medicare. The people working for Missouri Claim are not employed by any insurance company and do not sell anything. If you would like to speak to someone at Missouri Claim to learn about your Medicare options, call 1-800-390-3330 and set up a phone interview. For more information, visit Missouriclaim.org. <b>5. 19th annual Winter Solstice Torch-Lit Hike: </b>5 to 7 p.m., Dec. 7, George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Road, Independence, 816-3257115. Enjoy a torch-lit hike, an ice sculpture, and some hot chocolate around a roaring fire. In addition, cutouts of pine trees that have been decorated by local residents will be set along the trail.
