Around Town (12-27-14)

Winter dance social

A dance social is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Merced Senior Community Center, 755 W. 15th St. A variety of tunes, from swing and fox trot to Latin and polka, will be played by Gloria Coronas and George Rego. Cost is $8 per person, doors open 1:30 and refreshments will be available. For more, call (209) 723-0839.

Party at The Partisan

The Partisan will hold a New Year’s Eve party beginning at 9 p.m.. Merced’s Apt. 21 will perform, and disc jockey Teca will play music. The Partisan is at 432 W. Main St. in downtown Merced.

New Year’s Eve: Star Club

The Star Club will have a New Year’s Eve celebration featuring Flashback from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased in advance. Champagne toast at midnight. You must show ID and be over 21 to attend. For more, call (209) 723-1047.

New Year’s Eve: Club Mercedes

Club Mercedes will have a New Year’s Eve party featuring Donnie and the Wayrads. Tickets are $15 per person. You must be 21 or older to attend. The club is at 569 West Ninth St. in Merced. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the music starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. There will be a full beverage bar, finger foods at 10 p.m. and a champagne toast at midnight. For tickets, call (209) 777-6750 or the club at (209) 383-9906 after 4 p.m.

Start Smart Youth Driving Class

A class offered by the California Highway Patrol for new and prospective young drivers will be Jan. 7. The class is free, but space is limited. Teens from 15 to 19 and their parents or guardians are invited to attend the two-hour class at the CHP office, 1500 Bell Drive, Atwater. Topics include techniques to avoid collisions, dangers of driving under the influence, primary causes of crashes and seat belt usage. The latest “Red Asphalt” video will be shown. To sign up or for more information, call the CHP at (209) 356-2958.

Coat drive

The United Way is sponsoring a coat drive to benefit those in need in the community. Please donate new or slightly used coats to United Way of Merced County at 658 W. Main St., Merced, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Exhibits at the Arts Center

The Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St., is exhibiting work by Martin Castro, Elaine Sachs and Edwin Macaraeg, and presenting “The Really Big Show” in the Arbor Gallery. Entrance is free. The exhibits runs through Jan. 9. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, go to www.artsmerced.org or call (209) 388-1090.

Jack Hanna at the Merced Theatre

Animal exhibiter Jack Hanna and his “Into the Wild Live” tour is coming to the Merced Theatre at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16. Hanna will introduce the audience to some of the world’s animals and share stories and exclusive footage from his worldwide adventures. Tickets range from $20 to $35. The Merced Theatre is at 301 W. Main St.

This story was originally published December 26, 2014 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Around Town (12-27-14)."