TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening
LOCAL MUSIC
THURSDAY
Three's Company: 7 p.m., the 205 Restaurant and Bar, sixth floor of the Homewood Suites hotel, 2451 Jack Warner Parkway West, Tuscaloosa.
FRIDAY
An Elvis Christmas: Tribute artist Jerome Jackson, 8 p.m., $15, Druid City Music Hall, 1307 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa.
MONDAY
"Home for the Holidays": 7 p.m., Moody Concert Hall, UA campus. Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday concert, joined by the Alabama Choir School, The Prentice Concert Chorale, and the Shelton Singers. General admission seats for "Home for the Holidays" are $30 and $40, depending on location. All student tickets are free.
"Home for the Holidays"' repertoire includes "Christmas Favorites," by Bruce Chase; "Carol of the Bells" arranged by Richard Hayman; Mannheim Steamroller's "Stille Nacht," arranged by Calvin Custer; "Adoration of the Magi," from the Botticelli Triptych by Ottorino Respighi; "A Hanukkah Celebration," arranged by Lucas Richmond; "Fantasia on 'We Three Kings'" by Brian Balmages; "And the Glory of the Lord," from "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel; "Christmas is Coming," arranged by Mack Wilberg; "The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite no. 3," arranged by Robert Russell Bennett; "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Do You Hear What I Hear," arranged by Emily Crocker; a Christmas pops singalong, arranged by John Kuzma; and "This Christmastide," by Donald Fraser. For more, call 205-752-5515, or visit www.tsoonline.org.
LOCAL EVENTS
ONGOING-JAN. 16
Holidays on the Plaza: Portable ice-skating rink and 200-decorated-tree Tinsel Train at 5-acre Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St., through Jan. 16. Private parties and other holiday-related events will be included during some weeks. Admission to walk the Tinsel Trail is free, but skate passes are required to use the rink. Daily passes, including skate rental, are $15. A season pass is $85. Tuesdays will be Family Skate Day, when the pass goes down to $12 each. Retired and active duty military pay $12. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the last day of the event, Jan. 16, passes will be $10. www.holidaysontheplaza.com.
THURSDAY
Ugly Sweater Night on Tinsel Trail: 6-9 p.m., Government Plaza.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
Budweiser Clydesdales: Adams Beverages has brought a Budweiser Clydesdale draft-horse team to Tuscaloosa; there are more days of events. From 4-6 p.m. Thursday, they'll be at Piggly Wiggly, 641 Bear Creek Road. Then 1-3 p.m. Friday, they'll be at the First Responders luncheon at Druid City Social, 301 Greensboro Ave.. From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, the Clydesdales will pull a vintage restored beer wagon through downtown Tuscaloosa, with donation buckets out at various stops to benefit the Salvation Army. Patrons are encouraged to watch them walk out — from customized trailers — and get hitched and harnessed in front of the county courthouse. During the parade itself, people will need to stay back on sidewalks for everyone's safety. Photo opportunities will be available at the end, which will culminate in Government Plaza, near the Tinsel Trail and ice-skating.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY
"The Nutcracker": Traditional Tchaikovsky ballet, performed by Tuscaloosa Community Dancers, Bama Theatre; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Jennifer Lauren Quarles, principal dancer for the Miami City Ballet returns as guest artist, performing the Sugar Plum Fairy. Tickets are $20 and $30 for performances, through www.etix.com/ticket/o/9232/tuscaloosacommunitydancers. Saturday morning at 8:45, there'll be a separate Breakfast with the Nutcracker event at the Battle-Friedman House and Gardens, 1010 Greensboro Ave. Tickets for that are $15, through the same link above. For more, see www.tuscaloosadancers.com.
FRIDAY-DEC. 18
"The Great Christmas Cookie Bake-Off": nEW musical comedy presented by Theatre Tuscaloosa, Bean-Brown Theatre, Shelton State Community College Martin Campus. Tickets $24 general; $20 for seniors (60 and older), Shelton employees, and military; $16 for students and children; $8 for Shelton students. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Dec. 15-16; 2 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Dec. 17-18. www.theatretusc.com. 205-391-2277.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Cirque Dreams Holidaze: BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a 3 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets $35 and up through www.ticketmaster.com. www.bjcc.org.
SATURDAY
The Krampusnacht Holiday Market: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., The Comic Strip, 505 Hargrove Road E., Suite 10, Tuscaloosa.
Grinch photo opportunity: The Grinch will appear at Izzy's Comics, 2-3 p.m., 2801-6 Lurleen Wallace Blvd., Northport. No purchase required.
Birmingham Musicfest benefiting Peanut, founder of Chicks Rockfest: 6 p.m., WorkPlay, 500 23rd St. S., Birmingham. Music benefit for the lead singer and guitarist of Mother May I, drummer of Sudden Impact, who has recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Advance tickets are $40. All ticket sales and auction proceeds will go to Peanut. Performers include Jess Meuse, Simone Durand Trio, Kip Traylor, Chrys Black with All Folked Up, Erica Hansen, U be U, Kat Hunter, Anna Hope, and Cheyloe and her Sleepless Knights. www.workplay.com.
SUNDAY
Weihnachtsmarkt German Christmas Market: 3-7 p.m., Tuscaloosa Academy. Music, kids' holiday crafts, sweet treats, shopping, and dinner, including German bread, bratwurst, pretzels, cookies and punch. Vendors selling woodworking, jewelry, handmade soaps, books, Christmas crafts and more Admission $1; children 5 and under free.
MONDAY
This Could Be You: Comedy show with open-mic, 8-11 p.m., Black Warrior Brewing Co., 2216 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa. Signup at 7:30. Hosted by Stand-Up Tuscaloosa and Compton Smith.
UPCOMING
DEC. 15-16: Tuscaloosa SantaCon 2022. Kickoff event, with toy and other items drop-off for Turning Point Alabama, 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Red Shed. Bring toys for children up to ages 18, and/or home and bath supplies for the moms. For more on the shelter, see www.turningpointservices.org. SantaCon bar crawl will be Dec. 16; locations TBA. Costumes are expected. For more, email dan.dibona@gmail.com.
DEC. 17: Christmas comedy movies at the Bama Theatre, as a fund-raiser led by the Junior League of Tuscaloosa. The 2003 "Elf" shows at 2 p.m., and the 1989 "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at 7. Tickets for the "Elf" matinee are $12, and $15 for the evening "Christmas Vacation." www.jltuscaloosa.org/fundraisers/merry-bright-at-the-bama-theatre.
DEC. 17: Christmas Afloat, 5 p.m., lighted Christmas boat parade on the Black Warrior River. Boats cruise between the Woolsey Finnell Bridge and Lurleen Wallace Boulevard bridges, near the Amphitheater, and back. Visible from both Tuscaloosa and Northport banks.
DEC. 29: Pink Box Burlesque's "About Damn Time" New Year's Celebration, 8-10 p.m., Haven, 2515 Sixth Ave. S. in Birmingham. Tickets are $20 in advance, at www.pinkboxburlesque.com, $25 at the door. VIP tables are available, with cocktail service and premium seating. Doors open at 7, show at 8.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening
