What's Happening: 'A Christmas Story,' 'Some Old Black Man' and more

DEC. 16 THROUGH DEC. 18

“A CHRISTMAS STORY”: The High Springs Playhouse brings Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s to life in their newest holiday production. “A Christmas Story” follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself at Higbee’s Department Store. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All of the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in a net stocking; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios and more. Catch a performance at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18 at  High Springs Playhouse, 130 NE First Ave. in High Springs. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and ages 65 and older. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit highspringsplayhouse.com.

DEC. 16 THROUGH DEC. 18

“SOME OLD BLACK MAN”: In the latest production from Actors’ Warehouse, Calvin moves his 82-year-old doggedly independent, blue-collar, ailing father from Greenwald, Mississippi, into his Harlem penthouse, where an argument over what to eat for breakfast turns into a generational clash over race, opportunity and a decision that Calvin made years ago. See a performance of “Some Old Black Man” at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays plus 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18 at Actors’ Warehouse, 2512 NE First Blvd. Tickets are $25 for general admission, and $20 for students and ages 65 and older. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit actorswarehouse.org.

DEC. 16 THROUGH DEC. 23

“MURDER FOR TWO — HOLIDAY EDITION”: One of Hippodrome Theatre’s most popular productions — “Murder For Two” — is returning with a festive twist. One actor plays the investigator, the other plays all 13 suspects, and both play the piano throughout! This “whodunit” is the perfect blend of music, mayhem, murder and mistletoe! Don’t miss the return of this killer musical comedy — with a holiday twist! “Murder For Two — Holiday Edition” runs at 8 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Thursdays through Dec. 23 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets run $20 to $50. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.

DEC. 16 THROUGH DEC. 23

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: The Gainesville holiday tradition “A Christmas Carol” has returned to the Hippodrome Theatre. Go from “bah, humbug!” to dashing through the snow and sleigh rides while staying true to the weighty themes of the original novel as local actors deliver a gripping story, cheerful holiday music and genuine laughs for the whole family. “A Christmas Carol” can be seen at 1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 17, 7 p.m. Dec. 18, 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets run $20 to $50. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.

DEC. 17

“HOLIDAY HARMONIES IX — IT'S PARTY TIME”: Together again for their ninth holiday concert, Gainesville Harmony Show Chorus (women) and Barbergators Chorus (men) will unite to share four-part and eight-part harmonies. This concert will feature both choruses, quartets and a combined chorus. Get in the holiday spirit with some a cappella fun at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1521 NW 34th St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and children. Online tickets are available through Dec. 16 at noon. After that, tickets will be available at the door. For more information, visit gainesvillechorus.com and barbergators.com.

ONGOING THROUGH DEC. 26

CHRISTMAS EXPRESS: Kirby Family Farm has opened its gates for its annual Christmas Express, which will run 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 2-3 plus Dec. 9-11, Dec. 16-23 and Dec. 26. The Christmas train is a holiday event with lots of activities to see and do. Organizers recommend at least two hours for the entire experience, which features performances, vendors, a petting zoo, rides and a visit with Santa Claus. The highlight of the evening is a featured train ride through thousands of Christmas lights pulled by one of the farm’s old-fashioned locomotives. Tickets are $15.99 for ages 10 and older in advance, $20 for ages 10 and older at the gate, $10.99 for ages 3 to 9 in advance, $15 for ages 3-9 at the gate and free for ages 2 and younger. Tickets can be purchased in advance at kirbyfarm.com/the-christmas-express. Kirby Family Farm is located at 19630 NE 30th St. in Williston.

ONGOING THROUGH DEC. 31

SUWANNEE LIGHTS: It’s the Christmas season again, and the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground is showcasing its drive-through, walk-through Suwannee Lights. This holiday event, set for 6 to 10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31, features more than 10 million colorful lights along with moving displays, amazing sights, a Craft Village, Santa’s workshop and their patriotic display with moving soldiers. Purchase some holiday gifts while in the Country Store or from craft vendors. Patrons also will be able to enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores, Christmas candy, caroling, campfires and making memories that will last a lifetime. Suwannee Lights has become a tradition for families from all over to visit each year. Tickets are based on the date you attend and whether they are purchased online or at the gate: $10 Friday adult tickets when purchased online; $12 Friday adult tickets when purchased at the gate; $12 Saturday adult tickets when purchased online; $15 Saturday adult tickets when purchased at the gate; $8 Sunday through Thursday adult tickets when purchased online; $10 Sunday through Thursday adult tickets when purchased at the gate; $2 for ages 4-12. They can be purchased online at suwanneelights.com/tickets. The SOS Café is open Thursdays through Saturdays and presents live music every Friday and Saturday night from 7 to 10 p.m. During live event performances, a minimum of $5 per person is required, unless otherwise specified, on the front porch. The SOS Café is open Thursdays through Saturdays for breakfast, lunch and supper. For advance reservations, call 386-364-1703. The SOSMP is located off of U.S. 129 at 3076 95th Drive in Live Oak.

ONGOING THROUGH JAN. 23, 2023

“ANIMATIONLAND”: Join Tracey the pencil dog and her crew — Rooth, Drop, Inky, Uno and Kari — on a fantastically immersive journey to create stories using science and imagination. In Cade Museum’s newest exhibit, attendees can dive into the world of storytelling and channel their creativity to develop their own animated production using storyboarding, sketching, stop-motion movie making and more. The quirky cast of characters and hands-on interactives break down the process step-by-step to reveal how animated features are created. “Animationland” empowers visitors of all ages to experiment, learn and tell their own stories through animation. This exhibition was created by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. See it for yourself from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at the museum, located at 811 N. Main St. Tickets are $12.50 for general admission, $10 for seniors and college students, $7.50 for ages 5-17 and free for ages 4 and younger. For more information, visit cademuseum.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: 'Murder for Two Holiday Edition,' ' Christmas Carol'