5 Things for Dec. 26: Chance of Snow, Christmas Tree Collection Info, Winter Break Happenings and More

Editor's note: Five Things You Need To Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. If you know of something happening in town that did not make our list, please add it in the comment section!

1. Expect a Chance of Snow Wednesday in Foxborough

Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for a chance of snow, mainly after 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 35. North wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Wednesday night: A chance of rain and snow before 9 p.m., then snow likely between 9 and 11 p.m., then rain and snow after 11 p.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 32. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

2. Christmas Tree Collection Information for Foxborough

The Tree and Park Division will be picking up Christmas trees weekdays, beginning Wednesday, Dec. 26th through Friday, Jan. 11th.

Place curbside on your regular trash day. Please follow the Holiday Trash Schedule, except for Saturdays. Those trees will be picked up the following Mondays. Residents may drop trees at the Compost Site on E. Belcher Rd. Saturday, Dec. 29th and Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 through Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013.

Trees must be clean with no ornaments, tinsel, garland and lights.

3. Looking for Things to Do Over Holiday Break?

Assuming you can tear the kids away from their new toys for a few hours, here are some ideas for things to do at home and nearby. From penny candy to 1,000-foot vertical slopes, there's something for everyone. 

Do you have something that you plan to do, or would like to do, over vacation? Tell us in the comment section below.

At Home

Here are some good ideas if you want to stay home and/or if you want to play host. Disclaimer: If you have teens, be careful if you try some of these at home (like a tea party). 

• Bring a Book to Life. You can use a book and costumes you have at home or, if you plan ahead, you can borrow books, costumes and puppets from your local library.
• PJ/Game Day. Invite kids to show up in their pajamas and bring a board game too. Sometimes the games actually get played. 
• Snow activities (if we have snow) including snowman and fort building, snowball fights, snow angels, etc.
• Tea Party featuring hot chocolate and holiday-themed cookies (see disclaimer above).
• Video game party. Have the boys over for pizza and soda (and all other holiday leftovers).
• Yankee swap. It's never too late to give/get a holiday gift. Invite a few friends over and swap away (and parents can do the same). 

In Your Town

• Winter Skate. Check out the outdoor skating rink at Patriot Place.
• Boyden Library. Great resource for vacation programs and museum passes (some of which can give you discounts on activities listed below).
• Movies. Consider a new release with discount tickets. Local supermarkets often sell discount movie tickets, which you can also find at www.AAA.com if you are a AAA member. See what’s playing at Showcase Cinema.
• Restaurant. Is there a restaurant in town that you've been meaning to try? Check Foxborough Patch’s directory and take the kids or get take-out.
• Sledding or tubing. If we get any snow, this is always a good bet. If the kids (or the adults) need some persuading, take them to a local store and let them pick out a new sled, saucer or tube; and if you have a tobaggan, you will make friends quickly on the hill -- what's Christmas without a tobaggan? If you are a sledding enthusiast, take your snow-loving group outside the town limits to one of Boston.com's 40 greatest sledding hills. 

Things to Do

• Boston's Public Art. Consider borrowing or purchasing the book, "Boston Bronze and Stone Speak to Us,’’ by Joseph R. Gallo Jr. This book highlights Boston's bronze and stone statues that are found around the city. Turn the day into a treasure hunt, take photos next to each sculpture and create your own book. 
• Camping off-season. Many state parks are open during winter months.
• Hike in Massachusetts. Check out the Department of Conservation and Recreation's brochure for hiking in Southeastern Mass, Central Mass, and Western Mass.  
• Ride the Trails. Find state trails on which to ski, snowmobile, ride horseback, bicycle, run, walk, etc. 
• Ski Massachusetts. Check out one of the many ski areas around the Commonwealth with vertical slopes ranging from 100 foot to 1180 feet. 

Places to Go

• Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston.
• Boxing Day at the Old Manse, Concord. Enjoy and purchase items from England. Dec. 26 only.
• Colt Observatory at Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Call first, 617-353-2630.
• EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Check out their school vacation week program which includes a drop-off Wildlife Mystery: The Case of the Smuggler's Desk.
• Funspot, the World's Largest Arcade, 579 Endicott Street North, Laconia, NH. This is a bit of a drive but could be done in one day if you don't want to stay overnight (which could also be fun). Includes an arcade game museum featuring classics like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc. 
• Mapparium, 200 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. A world-famous, three-story, painted-glass globe is one of the key attractions at the Mary Baker Reddy Library. 
• Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. Discover the MFA with fun and educational activities designed for children ages 4 and up to do with adults in the galleries with their Family Art Cart and Family Activity Totes.
• Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. IMAX theatre (extra charge) includes Santa vs. Snowman about the misadventures of a lonely snowman as he wages an epic-scale polar war on Santa and a hilarious battle ensue.
• New England Aquarium,1 Central Wharf, Boston. Aquarium is under construction so call first for exhibit availability; for example, most of the penguins are off-site though there are a few left for viewing. 
• Penny Candy Store, 10 Merchants Way (Route 1), Sharon. This store is on the Sharon/Walpole line. Closed Sundays. Buy one piece or several pounds. Need we say more? 
• Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory, 800 Boyston Street, Boston. Perhaps the best views of the city. 
• Sports Museum, TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston. All the sports memoriabilia you could want to see (and more).

Things to See  

• Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker, Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston. Through Dec. 30.
• Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic, TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston. Dec. 27-30.
• 17th Annual Family Trees: A Celebration of Children's Literature, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Through Jan. 1.
• Little Red and the Gingerbread Man, Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station Street, Brookline. 
• Rolie Polie Guacamole Family Concert, Jam Time, 86 Powder Mill Road, Maynard. Dec. 28 only.
• Tanglewood Marionettes, An Arabian Adventure, JFK Library, Columbia Point, Dorchester. Dec. 27 only. Reserve tickets.

But whatever you do, have fun then circle back and tell us in the Comment Box how you spent your vacation. 

 4. Patriot Place Events:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Gresh and Zo Ticket Giveaway at CBS Scene: Stop by CBS Scene for lunch every Wednesday during the LIVE Gresh & Zo broadcasts and enter to win a pair of tickets to a Patriots home game.

3 p.m. - Winter Wonder - Tom Knight Puppet Show: Tom Knight has been writing and performing for kids since 1988. Tom brings his portable stage and hand-made puppets to schools, libraries, theaters and festivals all throughout the Northeast.

5. Support Foxborough Fire & Rescue

Support Foxborough Fire & Rescue and local fire departments by purchasing “First Line of Defense” apparel. For more information, click here.