Holiday events

EAST LANSING
Downtown East Lansing hosts its free outdoor Winterglow event this Saturday from 2-5 p.m. This year’s activities include ice carving, a reindeer petting zoo, photos with Mr. and Mrs. Clause, an outdoor holiday farmers market and more. Winter Glow will also take place in conjunction with the latter half of East Lansing’s “Green Friday/Saturday” shopping event where more than 30 businesses bring their indigenous rendition of the popular post “Black Friday” sales event.

East Lansing also hosts a variety of music events this week, including the iconically Christmas-y Mannheim Steamroller at Wharton Center tonight at 7:30; Decembersongs at Pumphouse Concerts on Monday, featuring a host of Nashville singer/songwriters armed with holiday classics and originals alike; and MSU’s Christmas concert extravaganza “Home for the Holidays” Saturday, at Wharton Center.

OLD TOWN
Victorian England is alive and well right here in Lansing’s Old Town on Saturday from noon-5 p.m. for the 8th annual “Old Town Dickens Village. There will be ornament making, horse-drawn carriage rides, and costumed characters roaming Lansing’s historic district to bring the Dickensian spirit to life.

And speaking of characters from seminal Dickens works, Saturday will also see the 8th Annual Scrooge Scramble at 10 a.m., a 5k run/walk on the Lansing River Trail. The race benefits the Old Town Commercial Association is suitable for all ages.

Old Town’s 500 block (which includes Curvaceous Lingerie, Grace Boutique, Leopold Bloom & Co. and the Lansing Makers Network) is holding the after party on Saturday, so to speak, with their “Holiday Block Party.” Starting at 5 p.m., there will plenty of activities for shoppers and fun seekers alike.

LANSING
Since Christmas is about giving, after all, on Friday, the Avenue Café hosts “Tori Saves Christmas,” a 24-hour marathon that raises money to purchase gifts for kids in foster care. The events starts at 7 p.m. and features live music, live comics and more. The event is family friendly, so be careful not to sing anything from the N.W.A. catalog when it gets to the karaoke portion of the evening.

Bringing together musicians from all over the country to celebrate the holidays is Phil Denny and friends 3rd Annual “Chistmas Collective” concert (pictured left.) On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Lansing’s Pattengill Auditorium hosts an evening of Christmas music featuring internationally and locally recognized musicians playing fresh arrangements on holiday classics. The evening will be emcee’d by WLNS’ Evan Pinsonnault and is suitable for the whole family.

The stage isn’t home to just carolers and choirs this holiday season. Starting Friday, at 7 p.m., The Mid-Michigan Family Theatre presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” an adaptation of the classic young adult novel by Barbara Robinson. In “Pageant,” the Christmas story meets a famed bevy of ill-mannered kids resulting in mayhem and merriment. The show takes place at Alfreda Schmidt Community Center and runs through Dec. 14.

Check this week’s Out on the Town Listings for exact prices and locations.

—JONATHAN GRIFFITH

FRIDAY, DEC. 5-SUNDAY, DEC. 7>>“TWELFTH NIGHT” BY LCC THEATRE PROGRAM

In Shakespeare’s time, all the female roles were played by men, which must have been doubly confusing for attendees of the Bard’s crossdressing comedy, “Twelfth Night” — it would have had a man playing a woman playing a man. This weekend Lansing Community College Theatre Program presents its take on Shakespeare’s gender-bending comedy about a shipwrecked actress who impersonates a page in a Duke’s royal court and unwittingly has a countess fall in love with her. The cast features LCC´s third semester Shakespeare studio students. Director Mary Job has updated the story to the 17th century and dropped it in the Caribbean, giving all the slapstick wooing a pirate’s flair. No word on if Capt. Jack Sparrow makes a cameo. 8 p.m. Friday- Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Suggested donation: $10/$5 students (supports LCC Theatre Scholarship Fund). LCC Black Box Theatre, Room 168 Gannon Building. (517) 483-1488, lcc.edu/showinfo.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6-SUNDAY, DEC. 7>> 51ST ANNUAL MSU HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW

The 51st annual MSU Holiday Arts and Crafts Show will display items from over 170 artists, including photographer Ron St. Germain. The Grand Ledge-based artist/ author will be onhand with copies of his first book, “Why is Everyone Coming to My House?” featuring chipmunks that he patiently coaxed into human-like situations … including behind the lens of a camera. Among the other art at the show will be pottery, jewelry, clothing and home decor. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Sunday. FREE. MSU Union, 49 Abbot Road Room 26, East Lansing. (517) 355-3354, uabevents.com.

TUESDAY, DEC. 9>> WILLIAMSTON THEATRE’S HOLIDAY JAZZ FUNDRAISER CONCERT

In September, the American Theatre Wing recognized Williamston Theatre as one of the 12 most promising theaters in the country. This weekend, the nonprofit professional theater raises the curtain on its 50th production, the holiday-themed comedy “Miracle on South Division Street.” Even though ticket prices help with the costs associated with productions, they won’t cover everything. To help sustain its seasonal slate, the Williamston Theatre will hold a fundraiser on Tuesday featuring members of the LSO Jazz Band. Guest vocalist Elizabeth Kunc will join Ed Fedewa (bass), Jeff Kressler (keyboard) and Joe Luloff (saxophone) for a full set of holiday songs interpreted in a jazz style. The event will be preceded by a light reception of wine and hors d’oeuvres. “We love it when we can find ways to showcase the talents of amazing musical artists on our stage,” said Tony Caselli, the theater’s artistic director. “(It) will really get the audience in the holiday spirit.” 6:30 p.m. reception/7:30 p.m. concert. $50. Williamston Theatre, 122 S. Putnam Road, Williamston. (517) 655-7469, williamstontheatre.org.