Holiday activities abound in area

Christmas may be nearly three weeks away, but holiday festivities, like today’s annual Christmas parade through downtown Lawrence, abound this weekend. Here’s a selection:

Miscellaneous

  • Douglas County Toys for Tots Drive for 500, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today, Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, Kansas University campus.
  • Creative Hand Studio Open House, featuring Lawrence artist Barbara Solberg, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, 2504 Westdale Road.
  • Haskell Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Stidham Union, Haskell Indian Nations University campus, 832-6694.
  • Holiday Art Fair, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. today, Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., 843-2787.
  • Eldridge Hotel Old Fashion Christmas Parade, 11 a.m. today, downtown Lawrence, 749-5011.
  • New Dawn Native Dancers Third Annual Christmas Dance, 4:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. today, Coffin Sports Complex, Haskell Indian Nations University, 843-5423.
  • 8th Annual Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade kicks off Sesquicentennial Celebration, 5 p.m., tree-lighting ceremony, 5:30 p.m. today, 618 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, (785) 234-9336.
  • “The Nutcracker,” Metropolitan Ballet, 7:30 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday, Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 S.E. Eighth Ave., Topeka, (785) 234-4545.
  • John Talleur Print Studio dedication, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., 843-2787.

Art events

  • “The Art of Giving,” a holiday open house, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. today, Hallar Gallery, 4540 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 561-5339.
  • “Tweaking the Right Brain,” opening reception, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. today, runs through Dec. 29, Olive Gallery and Art Supply, 15 E. Eighth St., 331-4114.
  • “Memories of Havana,” watercolors, textural paintings and handcrafted furniture by Fito Garche, opening reception, 7 p.m. today, runs through Dec. 31, The Red Dresser, 624 N. Second St., 856-7877.
  • “Teaching the Object,” sculpture by faculty at Kansas University, Kansas State University, Wichita State University and the Kansas City Art Institute, opened Friday, runs through Jan. 10, Arts Incubator, 1801 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 421-0235.

Theater

  • “Fiddler on the Roof,” 7:30 p.m. today, Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, 832-6050.
  • “Lulu,” 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. today, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Inge Theatre, Murphy Hall, Kansas University campus, 864-3982.
  • “Wonderful Life,” 8 p.m. today and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 N.H., 843-7469.
  • “And Much of Madness,” 8:30 p.m. today and Sunday, Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread, 760-4772.
  • “A Christmas Story,” 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday, American Heartland Theatre, Crown Center, 2450 Grand, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 742-9999.
  • “Sarah Plain and Tall,” 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday, Coterie Theatre, 2450 Grand, (816) 474-6552.
  • “A Christmas Carol,” 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Missouri Repertory Theatre, 4949 Cherry, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 235-1579.
  • “The Mineola Twins,” 8 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Sunday, Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. , (816) 531-PLAY, ext. 10.
  • “The Gingerbread Boy,” 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. today, Shawnee Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, (816) 942-5552.
  • “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” 2 p.m. today and Sunday, Theatre for Young America, 5909 Johnson Drive, Mission, (913) 831-2131.
  • “A Tuna Christmas,” 6 p.m. dinner today, 8 p.m. show today, 2 p.m. show Sunday, Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy, 3028 S.W. Eighth Ave., Topeka, (785) 357-5211.

Music

  • The Wilders, The Midday Ramblers, 8 p.m. today, Liberty Hall, 642 Mass., 749-1972.
  • Holiday Vespers, 2:30 p.m. today, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Lied Center; Pre-Vespers organ recital, 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Bales Organ Recital Hall, Kansas University campus, 864-2787.
  • Deftones, Thursday, Thrice, 7:30 p.m. today, Memorial Hall, 600 N. Seventh St., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 371-7555.
  • Christmas Vespers and Open House, 2 p.m. Sunday, Territorial Capital Museum, Lecompton, (785) 887-6285.
  • “An Evening of Class,” Lawrence High School Orchestra, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Lawrence High School cafeteria, 1901 La., 832-5050.