Deer Harbor’s own Howard Barbour will once again give a reading of Dylan Thomas’ classic “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Oddfellow’s Hall. The reading will be followed by holiday cookies.

The event is sponsored by the Orcas Island Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and is open to all, and all ages. This annual tradition has moved to larger quarters due to standing room only last year. Barbour has just the right accent, his eyes the knowing sparkle from a boyhood in the region – and he does all the voices to tell this timeless tale of a small seatown immersed in all the glory of the holiday such as snowballing cats, Mrs. Prothero’s kitchen fire, the uncles with taproom noses and aunts and their parsnip wine, caroling, postmen and presents as told by the boys themselves, those Eskimo-footed arctic marksmen in the muffling silence of the eternal snows of December. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and plan to stay after for holiday cookies – and maybe even a round of Good King Wencelas. For more information, contact Suzanne Olson storysmith8@gmail.com.