A tiny tale of love, courage, tears and terrible happiness … that’s what the upcoming play is all about that the Hardin County Players are putting together for this holiday season. “The Gift of the Magi” is a quintessential story of that spirit of sacrificial gift-giving that makes Christmas the joy it should be.

ADA — The Ohio Northern University Symphony will present “American Essence” on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. Music Director Travis Jürgens will conduct the program, which will feature works by American composers.

ADA – The Department of Theatre Arts of Ohio Northern University will present “The Wild Party” Oct. 18 through Oct. 21 in the Stambaugh Studio Theatre in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. each day, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. The show is for mature audiences.

FOREST — Forest United Methodist Church will be celebrating Homecoming Sunday this Sunday, Oct. 7. Worship service will begin at 10 a.m. with a luncheon following. The afternoon program will begin at 12:30 p.m. Worship will be led by Pastor Doug Pummell, and will include Holy Communion. Soup and salad, along with favorite fall desserts will be the menu for the luncheon.

LIMA — The Lima Symphony Orchestra will present its first concert of the season, “Cirque de la Symphonie” on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center. Designed to combine the magic of Cirque with the brilliance of the symphony orchestra, Cirque is a feast for the senses.

Noteworthy Community Choir is offering a Saturday Sing in both Lima and Ada for singers ages 7-14+. From 1 – 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 in Lima or Nov. 10 in Ada, singers will gather for sessions in choir, movement, drumming and more – all culminating in a community concert at 5 p.m. This session is free to participants and …

BLUFFTON —Rehearsals for Bluffton University’s 123rd performance of Handel’s “Messiah” will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 16-Dec. 4 in the Gilliom Room of Mosiman Hall on campus. Anyone interested in singing, from high school students to adults, is invited to join the chorus, which includes Bluffton students, faculty, staff and community members.

Payne Chapel will present an afternoon of music on Sunday. The program will feature the Voices of Bowling Green State University, God's Children, the St. John's Evangelical Church Choir and the Payne Chapel Singers.

BLUFFTON — Bluffton University will host a concert featuring its Concert Band at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, in Yoder Recital Hall. The performance, part of Homecoming weekend activities at Bluffton, is free and open to the public.

Tower of Power 50th Anniversary Tour 2018 is coming to Marathon Center for the Performing Arts in Findlay on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Donnell Theater.