Bring your picnic, binoculars, telescopes, bug repellant, chairs and jackets. Park near the historic lighthouse and walk down to the observing area. The main park gate closes at 8 p.m. No lights, lasers, litter, alcohol, grills, or pets. For more call 305-661-1375 or visit www.scas.org.

The park can be reached at 305-361-8779. The causeway toll is $1.50. Tip: The party’s sunset special admission price, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., is $4 per car. Regular park admission before that time is $8 per car. In the event of rain the Star Party will be rescheduled to Dec. 27.

OPERA FOR ALL

Orchestra Miami will present the timeless holiday classic Amahl and the Night Visitors in English and Spanish at various locations around South Florida.

Also called Amahl y los Reyes Magos, by Gian Carlo Menotti, the beautiful opera tells the simple story of a young crippled boy, Amahl, and his mother, who welcome some unexpected visitors into their home — the Three Kings. The performance is perfect for the whole family and lasts about one hour.

The production stars 13-year-old Alexander Segarra as Amahl. Alexander is a seventh grader at the Ada Merrit K-8 Center and has been studying voice and piano at the Miami Conservatory since he was nine. The performances are conducted by Orchestra Miami’s Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi, directed by Michael Yawney, and choreographed by Octavio Campos, with costume design by Angela Esposito.

The first show is at 8 p.m., Dec. 22, at the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, 609 NE 96 St. The next one is at 2 p.m., Jan. 6, 2013, in English with Spanish supertitles, and at 4 p.m., in Spanish with English supertitles, at Teatro Trail, 3715 SW 8th St. in Coral Gables.

“I’m so happy to be able to start what we hope will be Miami’s newest holiday tradition,” said Rinaldi. “This piece is such a jewel, and it is a real pleasure to be able to give an opportunity to many of our incredibly talented local artists.”

Tickets for the Dec. 22 performance are priced from $20 to $30, with half-priced tickets available for children and students under 18. Tickets for this performance are available through Brown Paper Tickets or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

Tickets for the Jan. 6 performance are priced from $25-$40 and are available at www.teatrotrail.com or by calling 305-443-1009. For more about these performances and about Orchestra Miami, call 305-274-2103 or visit www.orchestramiami.org.