A weekend full of holiday cheer in Greater Lansing

This second weekend in December is a busy one, with holiday events galore.

Attending performances from Michigan State University’s and Lansing Community College’s music groups is a great way to show support for local college arts programs and hear students’ hard work pay off. This weekend, there are a few to choose from. MSU jazz orchestras will accompany distinguished jazz trombonist Adrian Mears, the semester's second MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence, at 8 p.m. Friday at Fairchild Theatre. On Saturday, choir and orchestra members from the MSU College of Music will perform Christmas oratorios from Bach and Saint-Saëns at 8 p.m. at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall, and the LCC Concert Choir will host its holiday performance, featuring Vivaldi's “Gloria,” at 7 p.m. at the Okemos Community Church. The LCC Rock Band will jam out at 6 Sunday night at The Avenue in Lansing, sure to be a lively showing.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ten Pound Fiddle will host its annual Holiday Sing with song leader Sally Potter, Doug Berch, Doug Austin and spoken word artist Ruelaine Stokes at the University United Methodist Church in East Lansing. LanSINGout, the city’s LGBTQ+ community chorus, will hold its holiday concerts at 7:30 Friday and Saturday evenings at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lansing. Saturday afternoon brings TUBACHRISTMAS to the steps of the State Capitol at 1 p.m. for an arrangement of holiday music by tuba and euphonium players. Ending the weekend on Sunday is Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s Season’s Greetings performance at the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall at 3 p.m. and Michigan violinists Rodney Page and Artaska’s A Beautiful December Night show at UrbanBeat at 6:30 p.m.

While we’re discussing live performances, don’t forget about the theater productions. “A Very Williamston Christmas” continues at the Williamston Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Read more about the play in theater columnist Mary Cusack’s review. "A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play” by the Generations Community Theater is ending its two-weekend run at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Finally, the Riverwalk Theatre’s “A Year With Frog and Toad,” written by Arnold Lobel, author of the classic children’s book series, premieres this weekend. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. City Pulse’s Todd Heywood interviewed the leads, brothers Connor and Quinn Kelly, for this month’s Behind the Curtain.

Enjoy holiday displays, lighted trees and an illuminated tunnel from the comfort of your car at the City of Lansing Parks & Recreation’s annual Holiday Nights of Lights Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lansing’s Frances Park. Or, if you’re looking to get your daily steps in, visit Potter Park Zoo’s Wonderland of Lights, which continues this weekend from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For even more holiday lights, enjoy the Leslie Area Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Lighted Parade on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. in downtown Leslie.

It's the holiday shopping season (which I’m all too familiar with, since my parents won’t stop pestering me for my Christmas wish list while I write this letter), and the Lansing area has no shortage of holiday-themed markets to browse this weekend. The Alternative Christmas Market at the Presbyterian Church of Okemos, taking place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., features handmade and fair-trade items from nonprofit and charitable organizations such as the Mayan Women’s Cooperative (Guatemala), Nyaka School for Orphans (Uganda) and Simbolei Academy for Girls (Kenya) as well as food from immigrant and refugee-run restaurants and baked goods from PCO’s youth group. The Winter Farmers Market at East Lansing’s Winter Fest, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, includes local vendors selling everything from dog treats and coffee to handmade pottery and beeswax candles. The Jolly Holiday Market at REO Town Marketplace in Lansing, which is open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., also features giftables from local artisans and businesses. Finally, the Kringle Holiday Market at Reutter Park in downtown Lansing, open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offers 10 market sheds with unique rotating vendors as well as ice skating, food and heaters to keep warm. With so many options, there are no excuses for not having the best, most unique gifts at the family holiday gathering this year.

Congratulations on making it through another week of work or school. You’ve earned a couple of days off, so make sure to celebrate to the best of your ability. As always, I wish you the best of weekends.