Unexpected medical expenses could put your health and your financial future at risk. Experts from the Salvation Army will be on hand to help you figure out your options with the NY State of Health Marketplace.

Listen to the story of “The Polar Express,” and then help set up The Polar Express American Flyer model train set. Put the track together, set the train cars on the track and use the remote control to blow the whistle and start the train. Open to children ages 6 to 12.

The Syracuse Peace Council will host its 47th annual Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival on Dec. 2 and 3 at Nottingham High School, 3100 E. Genesee St. Admission to the fundraiser is a $2-5 sliding scale (more if you can, less if you can't), free for under 16 and over 65. The complete list of vendors is now available online. In addition to the 120 craftspeople and community groups, Plowshares is also a festival, complete with ongoing live entertainment and food for sale from The Mission restaurant. For further information, contact Carol Baum at (315) 472-5478, carol@peacecouncil.net or visit peacecouncil.net/plowshares.

Ring in the holiday season at Petit. Belle Aire plays on 4 1⁄2 octaves of English handbells, performing music ranging from Bach to the Beatles. Bring the whole family for this special musical event.

The Syracuse Peace Council will host its 47th annual Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival on Dec. 2 and 3 at Nottingham High School, 3100 E. Genesee St. Admission to the fundraiser is a $2-5 sliding scale (more if you can, less if you can't), free for under 16 and over 65. The complete list of vendors is now available online. In addition to the 120 craftspeople and community groups, Plowshares is also a festival, complete with ongoing live entertainment and food for sale from The Mission restaurant. For further information, contact Carol Baum at (315) 472-5478, carol@peacecouncil.net or visit peacecouncil.net/plowshares.

The Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today Southside Area 3 group will hold a holiday party for its December community meeting. Join the members for food, fun and good conversation during its last meeting of the year.

The meeting will begin with brief Coalition business items and then examine what is happening locally to address the poverty rate in Syracuse. Panelists will include Sharon Owens, CEO of Southwest Community Connections; Ocesa Keaton, administrator of Greater Syracuse HOPE, and community activist Deka Dancil. Small group discussions will follow the panel presentation. Then a large group discussion will be held with final thoughts to be heard from Common Councilors who have been invited to attend.

This beginner-level course to HTML and CSS will introduce you to the basics and guide you while you create a functioning website from a blank page. The course will cover writing valid HTML, adding links and images, applying CSS styles, positioning elements and formatting. The class was made possible through a collaboration with Upstate Interactive and will be taught by Allyson DeSantos. Although it is preferred that you attend every session, walk-ins are welcome. Attendees must have the basic understanding of how to navigate the internet. No registration necessary. Ages 12 and up. This program takes place at Central’s first-floor MakerSpace.

In this session on fraud prevention, learners will identify ways to protect themselves and their personal financial information from scam artists and identity thieves. Learners will recognize the tactics used to steal an individual’s identity, information and money. They will practice resolving identity theft issues and become familiar with the steps it takes to report a scam. Reservations are required and can be made by visiting www.sefcu.com/financialeducation. Recommended for ages 18 and up.

Financial decisions you make today will greatly impact your future. When using credit you are spending your future income. This concept will be the backdrop of this session where learners will explore managing credit responsibly, how to obtain credit and the meaning of credit scores and credit reports. Reservations are required and can be made by visiting www.sefcu.com/financialeducation. Recommended for ages 18 and up.

The sale will feature T-shirts, books, jewelry, art and food. Music will be provided by DJ K-Luv. Cost to enter is $5. For more information, email theblackexpo@gmail.com.

The Syracuse Festival of Nativities is a festive, family-friendly, community Christmas event featuring over 100 nativities from around the world. Live music will play throughout the day, with the highlight of the event being the Interfaith Christmas concert from 4 to 5 p.m. featuring refugee singers from Destiny African Nation Church, Cambodian Evangelical Church, Westvale Seventh-day Adventist Church, carolers from the Ukrainian Church of Saint John the Baptist and Emma Fusco with Addison O’Donnell. The concert will end with a live nativity and caroling. Also, children can make nativity-themed crafts, and all may participate in a community service project benefiting Syracuse Seniors with Interfaith Works of CNY’s Senior Companion’s program. This event is free and is open to the public. People of all faiths are invited.

Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for 30 minutes of merry music followed by the chance to tell Santa your Christmas wishes. Don’t forget to bring your lists.

Using Children’s Literature as inspiration, library staff and attendees will explore foundational concepts of art, such as line, shape, color and texture. Attendees will use various media, including paint, pencil, paper collages and found objects to experiment with. Open to all ages.

Join the Mundy Branch Teen Technology Leaders for The Hour of Code. Celebrate Computer Science Education Week and learn basic computer code with your favorite characters from movies, games and more. Finish an hour and receive your certificate; stay for extra gaming fun. For ages 8 to 18.

Lead exposure is a major crisis in the city of Syracuse. Studies show Syracuse as having one of the highest rates of lead poisoning in the nation. There are many groups here currently working on finding solutions and effective ways to address this problem; and our hope is to solidify and expand the coalition of groups and individuals, so we are all fighting this problem together. All groups and concerned citizens are invited to this meeting to address this problem and discuss what a solution would look like.

Join Ms. Laura for stories, music, rhymes, movement and games to build early literacy skills. The session will share tips and tricks for you and your early readers through a variety of fun activities. For families with children of all ages.

SUN's Southside Coalition along with the Southwest Action Council will hold its monthly meeting and a Holiday Party at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Brady Faith Center, 404 South Ave. Attendees are asked to please bring a dish to pass.

The fundraiser will help We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach, Inc. find a home so the organization can increase its services and have a central location to address clients’ needs. The location will provide hot meals, showers, a free clothing and shoe closet, self-sufficiency classes, career development and computer courses — all for the homeless, those recently released from incarceration and veterans transitioning from military service.

Teens can get to know Hillary Warner, outreach coordinator for Planned Parenthood, who will talk about how the organization helps people with their health needs. Pizza will be served. No registration necessary. This event is for teens ages 12 to 18. This program takes place at Central’s first-floor Community Room.

The Teen Advisory Board is a group that helps plan programs and make the Central Library a great place for teens to hang out. New members always welcome. No registration necessary. Open to teens ages 12 to 18. This program takes place at Central’s first-floor Community Room.

Enjoy a newly released holiday film. Free popcorn will be provided while you watch. For all ages.

A Syracuse Blues tribute to the artists of Chess Records: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and others.

Work together in teams to solve several holiday themed challenges. For ages 5 and up.

Back by popular demand, library staff be resurrecting Junk Creatures, the beasts from the recycling bin, with accessories from the craft cabinet. Let’s see what we can create! No registration required. Open to ages 5 and up. This program meets at Central’s second-floor KidSpace.

Join library staff for a family night of science, technology, engineering art and math concepts that will be explored through the unique kits, toys and games the library has to offer. There will even be an appearance by the famous Big Blue Blocks. For families with children ages 3 and up.

Use a variety of fun craft materials to build and decorate your very own gingerbread house to bring home. For ages 5 and up.