Holiday events both familiar and fresh

In the coming weeks throughout Greater Lansing, the spirit of the holiday season will come alive through events both new and old. Tried-and-true favorites like the Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert, Downtown Lansing Inc.’s Kringle Holiday Market and Potter Park Zoo’s Wonderland of Lights will be joined by festivities such as a Krampus celebration, a touring circus show and a hip-hop rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Whether you choose to celebrate the holidays with the community or prefer to spend close-knit time with family and friends at home, City Pulse wishes you the happiest of holidays.

‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’

Wednesday, Dec. 6

7:30 p.m.

Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall

750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing

The touring production of “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” stops at the Wharton Center 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 6). The show blends music and dance from Tchaikovsky’s beloved Christmas-themed ballet with hip-hop influences to “create one of the most awe-inspiring dance performances of the modern era,” the Wharton Center wrote in a press release.

“Just like the original, in ‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker,’ Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince go on a dream adventure, battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season,” the show’s website reads. “Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th-Century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of contemporary New York City.”

The show, directed and choreographed by Emmy Award-winning and Tony- and Olivier-award nominated artist Jennifer Weber, features a cast of a dozen dancers, a DJ, a violinist and an opening set by MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip-hop’s founding fathers.

To learn more about the show, visit hiphopnutcracker.com. Tickets for the Wharton Center date are available at whartoncenter.com, by calling 517-432-2000 or 1-800-WHARTON, or at the Wharton Center Ticket Office.

Holiday Cheer with MSU Symphony Orchestra and choirs

Saturday, Dec. 9

8 p.m.

Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall

750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing

More than 300 students from Michigan State
University’s Symphony Orchestra and choirs will take the stage of the Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall 8 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 9) to perform classic and beloved holiday music.

“Choral music provides a tremendous sense of unity and brings communities together, especially during the holiday season,” said Jonathan Reed, associate director of choral programs and conductor of the MSU Choral Union. “Our choirs have been working really hard and are energized to share a terrific program that we feel will leave concertgoers inspired.”

Reed will share the podium with Octavio Más-Arocas, director of orchestras, and Sandra Snow, director of choral programs, to guide the students in performances of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” by Charles Wesley; “Gloria,” by John Rutter; “O Holy Night,” by Chad Rehmann; “Radetzky March,” by Johann Strauss; “Sleigh Ride,” by Leroy Anderson; “A Holly and Jolly Sing Along,” by James M. Stephenson; “Waltz of the Flowers,” from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”; and select movements from George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.”

Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors ages 60 and older and $12 for students and can be purchased at whartoncenter.com, by calling 517-432-2000 or 1-800-WHARTON, at the Wharton Center Ticket Office or at the door if available.

Living Nativity

Saturday, Dec. 9

5:30-8:30 p.m.

Mason First United Methodist Church

201 E. Ash St., Mason

Mason First United Methodist Church will host a free Living Nativity 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 9), where live actors and animals will recreate eight scenes from the biblical Christmas story. Visitors can view the displays while driving through the church’s parking lot, embarking on the journey with Mary and Joseph to the fateful stable in Bethlehem from the comfort of their cars.

Attendees should enter the parking lot from Rogers Street. There will be signs and people directing guests to the line. For more information, visit the Mason First United Methodist Church Connection Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/379444135463181.

Old Town Krampusnacht

Saturday, Dec. 9

6-9 p.m.

Old Town, Lansing

Lansing’s Old Town neighborhood aims to honor its “rich” German heritage with a Krampusnacht celebration 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 9), featuring a traditional Krampus parade, photo opportunities with Krampus and St. Nikolas, a costume contest, a Misfit Market of vendors, food and drink merchants, live performances, crafts, games, story readings for kids and warming stations to beat the wintry weather. In addition, Old Town shops will offer Krampus sales and specials for those who haven’t completed their holiday shopping.

“Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, is a celebration that dates back hundreds of years to Europe, where it was popular in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands,” the neighborhood wrote in a press release. The counterpart of St. Nikolas, who delivers presents to well-behaved children, Krampus is a horned figure who scares children who have misbehaved during the Advent season.

The event is free and open to all ages. All proceeds earned will support the Lansing Makers Network.

Christmas in the Village

Sunday, Dec. 10

2-4 p.m.

Meridian Historical Village

5151 Marsh Road, Okemos

Visit the Meridian Historical Village 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 10) for an afternoon of Christmas traditions from the Victorian Era. Activities include meet-and-greets with Santa, children’s crafts, a gift shop, a silent auction, portraits by photographer Raymond Holt, a skit and song by Girl Scout Troop 30074 at 2:30 p.m., a concert by the Renaissance Singers of Greater Lansing at 3 p.m. and the township’s annual Christmas tree lighting at 4 p.m. The village’s buildings will also be open for tours.

For more information about this free event, visit meridianhistoricalvillage.org or call 517-347-7300.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

Dec. 14

7:30 p.m.

Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall

750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing

Mannheim Steamroller, a music ensemble founded and directed by Grammy Award-winning percussionist and composer Chip Davis, is bringing its annual Christmas tour — the longest-running concert tour in the entertainment business — to the Wharton Center on Dec. 14.

The group, best known for its reworkings of classic Christmas songs, will perform numbers from its many Christmas albums in its distinctive neoclassical sound. The albums have become Christmas classics, selling more than 31.5 million copies and occupying top positions on Billboard’s Seasonal Chart each year.

“I remember when I came out with my first Christmas album in 1984, followed by our first tour. Back then, many in the music industry said focusing on Christmas just wouldn’t work,” Davis said. “Now, over 35 years later, we are still going strong. I want to thank our fans for making us part of their holiday tradition, especially after the hardships of the last few years. Today we

often see multi-generational families join us during the holidays each year.”

Tickets for the shows are available at whartoncenter.com, by calling 517-432-2000 or 1-800-WHARTON, or at the Wharton Center Ticket Office. For complete tour details, visit mannheimsteamroller.com.

Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops

Dec. 17

3 p.m.

Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall

750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing

The Lansing Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by Broadway vocalist and Michigan native Terri Hansen, will bring the joy of the holiday season to the Wharton Center on Dec. 17 with a concert featuring a range of holiday music, from newer, fan-favorite tunes to traditional carols.

The program will include “Festive Sounds of Hanukkah,” by Bill Holcombe; “My Favorite Things,” from “The Sound of Music”; “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey; “Suite from the Polar Express,” by Alan Silvestri; and much more.

Tickets are available at lansingsymphony.org or whartoncenter.com.

Cirque Dreams: ‘Holidaze’

Dec. 18-20

7:30 p.m.

Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall

750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing

The Wharton Center will host a “merry and bright holiday circus” Dec. 18 through 20 as Cirque Dreams, part of the Cirque de Soleil Entertainment Company, takes its “Holidaze” tour to the people of Greater Lansing.

The show’s storyline is loosely based on Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” but the main events are the individual circus performances. These include jugglers that use only their mouths, contortionists able to squeeze into 2-by-2-foot boxes, aerial dancers that hang from the ceiling by their hair, hula-hoopers, jump-ropers and potentially even Santa Claus on a flying reindeer.

Cirque Dreams, known globally for its two productions, “Holidaze” and Celebration,” has been performing at casinos, theme parks, theaters and more throughout the world since 1993.

Tickets for the all-ages shows are available at whartoncenter.com, by calling 517-432-2000 or 1-800-WHARTON, or at the Wharton Center Ticket Office. For more information, visit cirquedreams.com.

Kringle Holiday Market

Through Dec. 22

4-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Reutter Park

400 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing

Downtown Lansing Inc.’s annual Kringle Holiday Market returns 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 22. Visit Reutter Park for local holiday shopping, free ice skating and other wintry activities.

“We are excited to open our Kringle Holiday Market for another season,” said Cathleen

Edgerly, executive director of Downtown Lansing Inc. “DLI’s mission is to create a downtown that is accessible and welcoming for all residents. Our Kringle Holiday Market is the perfect place to come together as a community to celebrate the holiday season while supporting local businesses and our residents.”

Vendors include Impression 5 Science Center, Tiny Bit of Wood, Heaven Scent Body Products, Butterfly High, Ray’s Candy & Crafts, various Old Town shops and other local and regional businesses.

Additional holiday activities include free horse-drawn carriage rides and music on Friday (Dec. 8), free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday (Dec. 9), caroling and gift wrapping on Dec. 15, cookie decorating with Sweet Encounter Bakery & Cafe on Dec. 16 and a community vendor night and skate party on Dec. 22.

Downtown Lansing Inc. will also collect monetary donations and other items for various local nonprofits each week. To keep up with each week’s selected nonprofit and view a full list of vendors, visit
downtownlansing.org/kingle-holiday-market or
facebook.com/downtownlansing.

Wonderland of Lights

Through Dec. 23

5-8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday

Potter Park Zoo

1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing

Potter Park Zoo’s annual Wonderland of Lights runs 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sunday until Dec. 23. Attendees can enjoy holiday music while they tour the zoo, which is decorated with thousands of lights and holiday decorations. An audio tour is available at potterparkzoo.org/audio-tours for a more guided experience.

There will also be a Zoo Nights event 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 13 for guests ages 21 and up, offering a chance to view the light display and animals while sampling a variety of food and drinks from local restaurants and beverage companies. Tickets are $15 for zoo members and $20 for non-members. For the kids, Santa will be available for photos Friday and Saturday evenings.

“This is your chance to create unforgettable family memories amid the breathtaking and dazzling light displays,” the Zoo wrote on its website. “Join us for these special Michigan winter evenings and immerse yourself in the beauty of this holiday tradition!”

Tickets are $9 for adults; $5 for kids ages 3-12, seniors ages 60+ and military members; and free for infants under 3. For more information, visit
potterparkzoo.org/event/wonderland-of-lights-3.

Holiday Open House

Dec. 16-30

1-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday

Noon-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday; Dec. 25

Turner-Dodge House

100 E. North St., Lansing

The annual Holiday Open House at Lansing’s historic Turner-Dodge House, sponsored by Friends of the Turner-Dodge House and Lansing Parks and Recreation, brings seasonal cheer to the Classical Revival-style home for the third year in a row. Local businesses, organizations and individuals will decorate all three floors for the holidays, sure to be a dazzling visual delight.

The admittance fee is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under. All proceeds go toward the restoration and preservation of the mansion. The exhibit will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

If you’d like to volunteer to help decorate the house, email barbara.loyer@lansingmi.gov or send a message through the house’s Facebook page, facebook.com/turnerdodgehouse.