10 Things to Know Today: November 17

1. Lansdale Mardi Gras Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Lansdale’s Main Street, from Mitchell Avenue to Line Street.

2. Today is the Lansdale Business Association Pre-Parade Pancake Pandemonium Breakfast Fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Manna on Main Street. Five bucks at the door gets you in, with proceeds benefitting The Peak Center in Lansdale. Meal is pancakes, sausage, fruit and juice. Fruit donated by Edible Arrangements and juice and milk donated by Lehigh Valley Dairy.

3. Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery holds a grand opening for its West Point facility at 1830 West Point Pike, West Point Village, Upper Gwynedd, from noon to 6 p.m. Have some wine, listen to music, eat some food and have some fun.

4. Team X-T.R.E.M.E.’s Operation Warrior will hold a Christmas Packing Party at LaSalle College High School, 8605 Cheltenham Avenue, Wyndmoor, beginning at 9 a.m. About 500 backpacks will be stuffed with donations and given to wounded heroes at Walter Reed National Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, and Balboa Medical Center. Backpacks were donated by 5.11 Tactical. Director of Operations for Team X-T.R.E.M.E. is Lower Salford Police Officer Dan Covolesky.

5. Learn about "The Grail Movement in America" at 12:30 p.m. at Lansdale Library. Learn about and study Abd-ru-shin’s work “In the Light of Truth” — the Grail Message.

6. Hatfield Township holds a branch drop-off today from 8 a.m. to noon at the public works garage at 2590 Unionville Pike, at Richmond Road.

Montgomery Township also holds a yard waste drop-off today in William F. Maule Park at Windlestrae.

7. Plains Mennonite Church, 50 W. Orvilla Road, Hatfield, holds a one-day women’s retreat today at the church, with Pastor Klaudia Smucker.

8. To celebrate National Adoption Month, Bethanna hosts a “Celebrate Adoption” family fun event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Calvary Church, 820 Route 113, Souderton, in Adventure Room 305. The event features magician Sam Sandler, face painting, balloon animals, cupcakes and ice cream.

9. Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad will close Route 113 (Broad Street) between Washington Avenue and Front Street in Souderton Borough today from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for rail crossing replacement.

10. A benefit show for Plymouth Officer Brad Fox takes place at 7 p.m. at Comedy Cabaret, 625 N. Main St., Doylestown. The show features three comedians.