What's up in Lansing: Holiday parades and more

Good day and happy weekend.

There is no shortage of holiday-based events going on in Mid Michigan this weekend. Several communities are hosting their own holiday parades and shopping days. Check out a summary of local festive fun here.

In order to help out homeless veterans, Classic Pub & Grill is playing host to a fundraising dinner and silent auction from 2-6 p.m. Sunday. There will be live music and a $5 donation at the door is suggested. 16219 Old U.S. 27, Lansing.

On the music front, Lansing-based smooth jazz saxophonist Phil Denny promises to have you swinging around the Christmas tree at his fourth annual Christmas Collective concert Saturday. Denny is joined by a crew of acclaimed musicians from across the country. The evening’s set list includes smooth jazz takes on holiday favorites as well as original pieces.

7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25, VIP package available. Pattengill Middle School Auditorium, 626 Marshall St., Lansing. phildenny.com.

Sometimes the rush of the holiday season makes it hard to stop and smell the sugarplums. Fortunately, the Greater Lansing Ballet Co. brings an abridged version of "The Nutcracker" to MICA Gallery for busy holiday enthusiasts. "Nutcracker in a Nutshell" lasts less than an hour and covers all the highlights of the beloved holiday ballet.

Sunday. 1 p.m. FREE. MICA Gallery, 1210 Turner St., Lansing. micagallery.org.

The famous, booming chords of "Hallelujah Chorus" are heard everywhere from movies to TV shows and even commercials — but the best place to hear the piece is the concert hall. Choirs from MSU, including the Choral Union, University Chorale and State Singers, take the stage with MSU Symphony Orchestra to perform George Frideric Handel's masterpiece, "Messiah." Written over 250 years ago, the work has become a staple of the holiday season and is one of the world's most popular orchestral productions.

Sunday. 7 p.m. $20/$10 students. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.

For more of the weekend's events, see below.

Saturday, December 5

Events

Downtown DeWitt Christmas Market. Winter activities, games, music and light parade. 2-6:30 p.m. Downtown DeWitt. dewittdda.org.

Help-Portrait. Family portrait by professionals. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. FREE. Volunteers of America, 5411 S. Cedar St., Lansing. (517) 282-0077, helpportrait.com.

Holiday Giveaway - Free Flea Market. Giveaway of clothing, bed linens, furniture, books, toys and more. 9 a.m. FREE. Trinity AME Church, 3500 W. Holmes Road, Lansing.

Sugar Plum Fairy American Girl Party. Tea party and ballet performance. 1-3 p.m. $20. Jackson School of the Arts, 634 N. Mechanic St., Jackson. (517) 784-2389, jacksonarts.org.

Winter Glow. East Lansing's holiday celebration. 2-5 p.m. FREE. 300 Block Albert St., East Lansing. (517) 319-6888, ow.ly/VhhSv.

Winter Glow at ELPL 2.0. Snowball crafts and fun. 2-5 p.m. FREE. ELPL 2.0 Maker Studio, 300 M.A.C. Ave., East Lansing. (517) 351-2420, elpl.org.

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

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

MSU Faculty Recital: Panayis Lyras, piano. 8-9:30 p.m. $10/$8 seniors/students FREE. Fairchild Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. (517) 353-5340, music.msu.edu.

Deacon Earl @ Lansing City Market. Live blues, reggae, Americana and more. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lansing City Market, 325 City Market Drive, Lansing. (517) 483-7460.

ArtsHoliday Open House at MICA Gallery. Mulled cider, sweet treats and holiday shopping for art. Noon-6 p.m. FREE. MICA Gallery, 1210 N. Turner St., Lansing. (517) 371-4600, micagallery.org.

Studio Sale at Jon Whitney Pottery. Functional stoneware sale. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. FREE. 3642 West Kipp Road, Mason. ow.ly/VhlJe.Theater

Cymbeline. Shakespeare play. 8-10 p.m. $5/$10 donation. Lansing Community College, 500 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing. (517)483-1546, lcc.edu/showinfo.

Carol's Christmas. Funny take on "A Christmas Carol." 2 and 4:30 p.m. $7/$5 kids and seniors. Happendance, 3448 Hagadorn Road, Okemos. (517) 339-2145.

A Christmas Carol. Humorous, musical version of classic tale. 2 and 4:30 p.m. $7/$5 kids. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.

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

Monkey King. MSU Theatre's Freshman Showcase. 8 p.m. $13/$11 seniors and faculty. Arena Theatre, MSU Auditorium, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.Sunday, December 6

Events

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.

'Nutcracker in a Nutshell' Ballet Performance. Abridged version of ballet. 1-2 p.m. FREE. MICA Gallery, 1210 N. Turner St., Lansing. micagallery.org.

Cookie Walk and Bazaar. Baked goods for sale. Noon-4 p.m. Lansing Liederkranz Club, 5828 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing. (517) 882-6330, liederkranzclub.org.

VegMichigan Potluck. Vegan potluck. 6-8:30 p.m. $10/FREE with dish to share. Clerical Technical Union of MSU , 2990 E. Lake Lansing Road, East Lansing. (517) 449-3701, ow.ly/Vhr7D.

World Human Rights Day Celebration. Presentations about human rights issues around the world. 4-6 p.m. FREE. Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing. gluna.org.

Classes and Seminars

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

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.

Music

Community Performance of the Messiah. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Grace Lutheran Church, 528 N. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd., Lansing. Theater

Carol's Christmas. Funny take on "A Christmas Carol." 3 p.m. $7/$5 kids and seniors. Happendance, 3448 Hagadorn Road, Okemos. (517) 339-2145.

A Christmas Carol. Humorous, musical version of classic tale. 2 p.m. $7/$5 kids. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.

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.

Monkey King. MSU Theatre's Freshman Showcase. 2 p.m. $13/$11 seniors and faculty. Arena Theatre, MSU Auditorium, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.