What's up in Lansing: Holiday shopping opportunities and more

Good day and happy weekend.

Holiday shopping can be chaotic and stressful, so the Lansing City Market offers a slate of fun activities to brighten up your gift-buying. Vendors and crafters from near and far set up shop Saturday, offering Michigan-made gifts, floral arrangements, food, drinks and gift cards. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with children, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. a brass quintet performs seasonal favorites. During the afternoon, the market offers free horse-drawn carriage rides. For a donation, the market wraps gifts for visitors, with all funds benefitting Ele's Place. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Lansing City Market, 325 City Market Drive, Lansing. (517) 483-7460, lansingcitymarket.com.

Lansing’s REO Town district hosts pop-up gifts shops and holiday sales Saturday, offering vintage clothing, handmade goods, local art and more. Certain venues play host to one-day shops, while permanent storefronts offer special deals. And you can fuel your shopping expedition with food and libations from REO Town restaurants and bars. See web for participating locations. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. FREE. REO Town, South Washington Avenue between Elm Street and South Street. reo. town.

Over 100 works of art from local artists, as well as gift-able items and gift certificates, go up for silent auction Saturday at REACH Studio Art Center's annual holiday benefit. The fundraiser for the REO Town art organization also features food, wine and locally brewed beer. Four artists featured in REACH's gallery will be in attendance to mingle: printmaker Kimberly Lavon, mixed-media artist Ivan Iler, beader/weaver Jenny Schu and airbrush artist Wendy Dalton. A preview party before the event offers additional sales and socializing opportunities. 6:30- 7:30 p.m. preview party; 7:30-9:30 p.m. main event. $20 advance/$25 at door/$40 with preview party. REACH Studio Art Center, 1804 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 999-3643, reachstudioart.org.

Not all music this month needs to include jingle bells and references to the man dressed in red. A group of local musicians gets together Saturday for an avantgarde performance and community meal. The morning features works by Bjørn Fongaard, Tom Johnson, Pauline Oliveros, Judith Shatin, Christian Wolff and MSU faculty member Alexis Bacon, including Bacon’s 2014 piece, “Elegy,” for two violas. The day also includes a complete program of paper pieces by 1960s and ‘70s performance art group Fluxus. The performance may result in the flinging of wet paint, so attendees are advised to wear clothes that can get dirty. Participants are also encouraged to bring a dish to share. 11 a.m. open rehearsal, 12:30 p.m. performance art, 12:45 p.m. lunch, 2 p.m. recital, 3:30 p.m. paper program. FREE, donations encouraged. 1124 Bement St., Lansing.

The Lansing Symphony offers an evening of holiday favorites for its annual Holiday Pops concert. The orchestra is joined by guest vocalist Matt Eldred and the MSU Youth Chorale for an evening of carols and seasonal tunes. 3 p.m. $20-50. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 487-5001, lansingsymphony.org.

For more local events, see below.

Saturday, December 10

Classes and Seminars

French Club for Kids. Activity group for ages 6-12 encouraging French language use. 2-4 p.m. FREE. Aux Petits Soins, 1824 E. Michigan Ave. Suite F, Lansing. (517) 999-7277, apsfrenchclass.com.

French Playtime. Playgroup ages 1-6 encouraging French language education. 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. FREE. Aux Petits Soins, 1824 E. Michigan Ave. Suite F, Lansing. (517) 999-7277, apsfrenchclass.com.

Events

Drop-in Ornament Making. Make a festive ornament while supplies last. 11 a.m.-noon. FREE. CADL Dansville, 1379 E. Mason St., Dansville.

Festival of Trees. Showcase of holiday trees. Noon-8 p.m. $5/kids FREE. Turner-Dodge House, 100 N. East St., Lansing.

REO Town Holiday Pop-Up Market. Offering vintage clothing, handmade goods, local art and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. FREE. REO Town, South Washington Avenue between Elm Street and South Street. reo.town.

Literature and Poetry

Book Signing. With Joyce Benvenuto and Lia Farrell (Lyn Farquhar). Noon-4 p.m. Everybody Reads Books and Stuff, 2019 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 339-9486.

Music

Together at Christmas. Concert by LanSING out gay men's chorus. 7:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, 510W. Ottawa St., Lansing. lansingout.org.

Handel's 'Messiah'. With MSU's Choral Union, University Chorale and State Singers. 8 p.m. $20/$18 seniors/$10 students. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.

Make the Season Bright. Owosso Civic Players annual holiday show. 3 and 7 p.m. $21.50/$19.50 students and seniors/$11.50 children. The Lebowsky Center, 122 E. Main St., Owosso. (989) 723- 4003, owossoplayers.com.

Family Holiday Sing-a-long. Lead by Carrie Quisenberry. 10-11 a.m. Donations welcome. MSU Community Music School, 4930 Hagadorn Road, East Lansing. tenpoundfiddle.org/fiddlescouts.

Lansing Area Ukulele Group Holiday Strum and Sing. With ugly sweater contest. 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. FREE. Sir Pizza Grand Cafe, 201 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing. (517) 896-4025, benhassenger. com/laugh.

Contemporary Music Potluck. With Fluxus paper pieces as well. 12:45 p.m. FREE. 1124 Bement St., Lansing.

Festivus Karaoke, 9 p.m., FREE. Avenue Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.

Taylor Taylor, 8 p.m. The Black Cat, 115 Albert Ave., Lansing.

Smash Alley, 9 p.m. Colonial Bar & Grill, 3425 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Lansing

Showdown, 9:30 p.m. The Exchange, 314 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.

Heartsick, 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

Jason Alarm, 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

Dewaynes, 9 p.m. 9 p.m. Moriarty's Pub, 802 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

The New Rule, 8 p.m. Reno's East, 1310 Abbot Road, East Lansing

Life Support, 8 p.m. Reno's North, 16460 Old US 27

Elkabong, 8 p.m. Reno's West, 5001 W. Saginaw Hwy,

Theater

A Midsummer Night's Dream. Directed by Andy Callis. 8 p.m. $5-10 donation. Black Box Theatre, 411 N. Grand Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-1488, lcc.edu/ showinfo.

Events

A Not So Silent Night. Benefit for REACH Studio Art Center. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $20 in advance/$25 at door/$40 with preview party. Reach Studio Art Center, 1804 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 999- 3643, reachstudioart.org/nssn2016.

Free Public Tours. Meet at Visitor Services just before tour. 1 p.m. FREE. Broad Art Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive, MSU Campus East Lansing.

Holiday Sale! Handcrafts & Cookies. Handcrafts by quality artists and crafters. 9 a.m.-3p.m. FREE. Unitarian Universalist Church, 5509 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. uulansing.org.

Second Saturday at the Museum: The Futurist Designer. Kids experiment with magnets. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Michigan History Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing. (517) 420-1342, ow.ly/ o7Ez306oVKI.

Second Saturday Supper. Baked chicken dinner. 5-6:15 p.m. $9/$5 kids. Mayflower Congregational Church, 2901 W Mount Hope Ave., Lansing. (517) 484-3139, mayflowerchurch.com.

Arts

Williamston Pop Up Art & Crafts Show. With work from local artists, crafters and makers. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. FREE. Keller's Plaza Upstairs, 107 S. Putnam, Williamston. (517) 485-6277.

Sunday, December 11

Classes and Seminars

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

Juggling. Learn how to juggle. From 2 to 4 p.m. FREE. Orchard Street Pumphouse, 368 Orchard St., East Lansing. (517) 485-9190.

Kendo Martial Art Class. Martial arts practice group. 10-11:30 a.m. $5. Westside Community YMCA, 3700 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (269) 425-6677, koyokai.wordpress.com/about.

Music

Together at Christmas. Concert by LanSING out gay men's chorus. 7:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, 510 W. Ottawa St., Lansing. lansingout.org.

Make the Season Bright. Owosso Civic Players annual holiday show. 3 and 7 p.m. $21.50/$19.50 students and seniors/$11.50 children. The Lebowsky Center, 122 E. Main St., Owosso. (989) 723- 4003, owossoplayers.com.

'Food for Thought' Winter Concert. With the Delta Community Choir. 4-5:30 p.m. FREE. Donations welcome. Our Savior Lutheran Church, 7910 E. St. Joe Hwy., Lansing. (517) 627-6202.

An Evening of Lessons and Carols. With the MSU Children's Choir, chancel and handbell choirs. 7 p.m. FREE. Presbyterian Church of Okemos, 2258 Bennett Road., Okemos. (517) 349-9536, okemospres.org.

Holiday Pops. Afternoon of carols and festive tunes. 3-5 p.m. $20-$50. Wharton Center for Performing Arts, 750 E Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 487-5001, lansinsymphony.org

LCC Concert Choir. Directed by Kelly Stuible- Clark. 4 p.m. FREE. Plymouth Congregational Church, 2001 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing. (517) 483- 1488, lcc.edu/showinfo.

Theater

A Christmas Quartet - Four Plays of Christmas. Mid Michigan Family Theatre performs. 3-5 p.m. $7/$5 children and seniors. 2/42 Community Building, 2630 Bennett Road Okemos. (517) 339-2145, mmft.org.

A Midsummer Night's Dream. Directed by Andy Callis. 2 p.m. $5-10 donation. Black Box Theatre, 411 N. Grand Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-1488, lcc.edu/ showinfo.

Events

Free Public Tours. Meet at Visitor Services just before tour. 1 p.m. FREE. Broad Art Museum, 547 E. Circle Drive, MSU Campus East Lansing.

Festival of Trees. Showcase of holiday trees. Noon-6 p.m. $5/kids FREE. Turner-Dodge House, 100 N. East St., Lansing.

Holiday Open House & Concert. Live holiday jazz by Generations, plus holiday crafts and snacks. 1-3 p.m. FREE. CADL Stockbridge, 200 Wood St., Stockbridge. (517) 851-7810.

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

One World One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure. Big Bird and Elmo take imaginary trip to the moon. 2:30-3:30 p.m. $3-4. Abrams Planetarium, 755 Science Road, East Lansing. (517) 355-4672, ow.ly/2VGl304fahD.

Christmas in the Village. Tree lighting and historical reenactments. 2-4 p.m. FREE. Meridian Historical Village, 5151 Marsh Road, Okemos. (517) 347- 7300, meridianhistoricalvillage.org.

Arts

Art Opening for Matthew Gillengerten at EagleMonk Pub & Brewery. Crafter shows cutting and cribbage boards, wall art. 3-5 p.m. FREE. EagleMonk Pub & Brewery, 4906 W. Mount Hope Highway, Lansing. eaglemonkbrewing.com.