What's up in Lansing: Jazz, pop-up markets, comics and more

Good day on this chilly weekend.

Sick of hearing the same old Christmas songs on the radio year after year? MSU’s jazz faculty super-group, the Professors of Jazz, are here to solve your holiday tune woes with Saturday's “A Jazzy Little Christmas.” The group’s lineup comprises Etienne Charles (trumpet), Randy Gelispie (drums), Diego Rivera (saxophone), Xavier Davis (piano), Randy Napoleon (guitar), Michael Dease (trombone) and Rodney Whitaker (bass). Saturday. 8 p.m. $20/$18 seniors/$10 students. Fairchild Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. (517) 353-5340, music.msu.edu.

Tealwater Ranch opens its doors Saturday and Monday to share the cozy warmth of Alpaca fleece, a material that makes for fabrics softer and warmer than typical sheep wool products. Home to around 65 alpacas, the ranch offers an opportunity for visitors to learn about the animals as well as shop for unique gifts that can't be found at the department store.

Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. FREE. Tealwater Ranch, 1312 N. Ionia Road, Vermontville. tealwaterranch.com.

If the unseasonable warmth this year is ruining your holiday spirit, swing by the Lansing City Market Saturday for a dose of wintry fun at its Winter Solstice Celebration. The event includes live music, vendor specials, holiday-themed gifts, ornament decorating, free sleigh rides, and a cooking demonstration. Santa will make an appearance to listen to children’s Christmas wishes. Saturday. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. FREE. Lansing City Market, 325 City Market Drive, Lansing. (517) 483-6460 ext. 234, lansingcitymarket.com.

Lansing’s own jazz/funk instrumental trio, the Atomic Boogaloo Band, brings a one-of-a-kind Christmas concert to the Robin Theatre Saturday. The band comprises Greater Lansing music scene veterans Andy Callis (Farfisa electric accordion), Aaron Holland (guitar) and Bob Bryan (drums). Burlesque dancer Vivacious Miss Audacious joins the band for this show, adding her high-energy dancing and hula-hooping to the mix. Saturday. 7:30 p.m. Pay what you can. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. atomicboogalooband.com.

MSU's Comics and Visual Narrative course teaches students to write and illustrate comic strips and other visual narrative works. The course is led by Professor Ryan Claytor, who runs Lansing-based comic publisher Elephant Eater Comics. To mark the end of the semester, students from the class will display, sell and sign their works at East Lansing’s Hollow Mountain Games. Saturday. 3-5 p.m. FREE. Hollow Mountain Games, 611 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. elephanteater.com.

The Capital City Brass Band rings in the holiday season with “Celebrate!,” a concert of holiday-themed music. Sunday, the holiday show comes to the Grand Ledge High School Auditorium. The event also includes a pre-concert community sing sing-along at 2:30 p.m. “We are really excited about these holiday concerts and hope the community will enjoy listening to our music and getting into the holiday spirit,” said Tracy Sonneborn, president of Capital City Brass Bands. The band also performs Friday night in Jackson, see website for details. 3 p.m. FREE. Grand Ledge High School Auditorium, 820 Spring St., Grand Ledge. capitalcitybrassband.com.

Still looking for that perfect gift? REO Town’s Robin Theatre is opening its doors Sunday to offer locally made crafts and curated vintage goods for your last-minute shopping needs. A wide variety of items will be on display, ranging from vintage clothes to original art prints and paintings to locally roasted coffee beans. Featured vendors include Rust Belt Roastery, Remark Clothing, MiddleWestMarket, Kimberly Lavon INK, Papercuts Handmade, Mary “Makeshift” Molnar and more. Live entertainment will be provided by various artists in a holiday-themed open mic format. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. FREE. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. therobintheatre.com.

For more local events, see below.

Saturday, December 19

Classes and Seminars

Domestic Violence Support Group. Noon-1:30 p.m. FREE. Women's Center of Greater Lansing, 1710 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 372-9163, womenscenterofgreaterlansing.org.

Aux Petits Soins-Explorers 1. French immersion class for babies, ages 0-2. 9:30 a.m. $15/$12 students. 1824 E. Michigan Ave., Suite F, Lansing. (517) 643-8059, facebook.com/auxpetitssoinsllc.

Tai Chi at Allen Market Place. Instruction in Qigong, meditation and Yang style tai chi forms. 9-10 a.m. FREE. Allen Market Place, 1619 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing. (517) 272-9379.Music

Holiday Wishes Christmas Variety Show. Proceeds benefit food bank. 7 p.m. $10/$8 pre-sale/$5 kids. Food donations encouraged. Grand Ledge High School, 820 Spring St., Grand Ledge. (517) 627-2682, glholidaywishes.com.

Matt LoRusso Trio at Troppo. FREE. Troppo, 101 S. Washington Square, Lansing. (517) 371-4000.

A Celebration of Christmas in Northtown. Daryl Hibbert and others perform live. 4-6:30 p.m. FREE. Agape Christian Church, 3021 Turner St., Lansing. (517) 394-2663.

A Jazzy Little Christmas. MSU Jazz professors perform. 8-10 p.m. $20/$18 seniors/$10 students. Fairchild Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. (517) 353-5340, ow.ly/VMFIR.

Atomic Boogaloo Band with The Vivacious Miss Audacious. Eclectic music performance. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Pay what you can. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. atomicboogalooband.com.

Deacon Earl: Acoustic at Ellison Brewery. 8-11 p.m. FREE. Ellison Brewery & Spirits, 4903 Dawne Ave., East Lansing. (517) 203-5498.

Tease A Gogo Holiday Burlesque Extravaganza. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $10. The Avenue Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. teaseagogo.com.

Mr. Denton on Doomsday w/Jenn's Apartment & Sumarah. 9 p.m. $10. Mac's Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.EventsAlpacas of Tealwater Ranch Holiday Sale. Alpaca education and wool products for sale. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. FREE. Tealwater Ranch, 1312 N. Ionia Road, Vermontville. tealwaterranch.com.

Wonderland of Lights. Light show at the zoo. 5-8 p.m. $7/$5 kids. Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 342-2710, ow.ly/UUf7c.

Free Public Tours. 1 and 3 p.m. FREE. Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive, MSU Campus, East Lansing.

BevDev. Behind-the-scenes look at cocktail creation. Noon-1:30 p.m. $5. American Fifth Spirits, 112 N Larch St Lansing. (517) 999-2631, americanfifthspirits.com.

Family Tree Talk-Holiday Edition. 2-3 p.m. FREE. Capital Area District Libraries South Lansing Branch, 3500 South Cedar St., Lansing. (517) 272-9840, cadl.org.

Home for the Holidays All-Nighter @ ICAC. Fun events and pet adoption, all night long. 11 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Adoption fees vary. Ingham County Animal Control, 600 Curtis St., Mason. (517) 242-7440, ac.ingham.org.

Practice Your English for Kids. All levels welcome. 1-2 p.m. FREE. ELPL 2.0 Maker Studio, 300 M.A.C. Ave., East Lansing. elpl.org.

Winter Solstice. Live music, vendor specials, sleigh rides and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. FREE. Lansing City Market, 325 City Market Drive Lansing. (517) 927-9795, ow.ly/VJuyi.

Theater

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. Classic story from a new point of view. 2 and 8 p.m. $25 at 2 p.m.; $28 at 8 p.m. Williamston Theater, 122 S. Putnam St., Williamston. williamstontheatre.com.

Cirque Dreams: Holidaze. Holiday circus spectacular. 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets from $35/$25 students. Cobb Great Hall, Wharton Center East Lansing. 1-800-WHARTON, whartoncenter.com. Sunday, December 20

Events

Wonderland of Lights. Light show at the zoo. 5-8 p.m. $7/$5 kids. Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 342-2710, ow.ly/UUf7c.

Free Public Tours. 1 and 3 p.m. FREE. Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive, MSU Campus, East Lansing.

Lansing Area Sunday Swing Dance. Lessons 6-6:45 p.m., dance 6:45. $8 dance/$10 dance & lesson. The Lansing Eagles, 4700 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing. (517) 490-7838.

Home for the Holidays All-Nighter @ ICAC. Fun events and pet adoption, all night long. Midnight-4 a.m. Adoption fees vary. Ingham County Animal Control, 600 Curtis St., Mason. (517) 242-7440, ac.ingham.org.

Candlelight Vesper Service. Excerpts from Handel's "Messiah" performed. 4 p.m. FREE. Friendship Baptist Church, 2912 Pleasant Grove Road Lansing.

PFLAG Greater Lansing Area Meeting. LGBTQ group reviews past year. 3-5 p.m. FREE. First Congregational UCC Church, 210 W. Saginaw Highway, Grand Ledge. (517) 925-1125.Theater

Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. Classic story from a new point of view. 2 p.m. $25. Williamston Theater, 122 S. Putnam St., Williamston. williamstontheatre.com.Classes and Seminars

Juggling. Learn how to juggle. 2-4 p.m. FREE. Orchard Street Pumphouse, 368 Orchard St., East Lansing. (517) 371-5119.

Kendo Demonstration. Demo of Japanese sword-based martial art. 10-11 a.m. FREE. Westside Community YMCA, 3700 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (269) 425-6677.

Lansing Area Codependents Anonymous. Third floor meeting room. 2-3 p.m. FREE. CADL Downtown Lansing Library, 401 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing. (517) 515-5559, cadl.org.

Spiritual Talk, Pure Meditation and Silent Prayer. 7 p.m. FREE. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre, 7187 Drumheller Road, Bath. (517) 641-6201, selfrealizationcentremichigan.org.

Charlotte Yoga Club. Beginner to intermediate levels. 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. $5 annually. AL!VE, 800 W. Lawrence Road, Charlotte. (517) 285-0138, charlotteyoga.net.

George and Oatmeal Save Santa. Christmas planetarium show for families. 2:30 p.m. $4/$3.50 students and seniors/$3 kids. Abrams Planetarium, 400 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. (517) 355-4672, abramsplanetarium.org.Music

Caroling at Potter Park. Okemos Community Church singers carol under holiday lights. 5:45-6:45 p.m. Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 349-4220.

Mid-Michigan Folkgrass Jam. Join in or just watch. 2-6 p.m. $4 suggested donation. Woldumar Nature Center, 5739 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (517) 482-2382, re-news.net/mmbo.