Festival of Trees to adorn Liberty Hall

More than 50 creatively decorated trees and eight wreaths will be on display today through Thursday at Liberty Hall, 642 Mass., for the 18th annual Festival of Trees.

The trees and wreaths will be auctioned off at 8 p.m. Tuesday during a gala event to benefit The Shelter Inc. Admission to the auction is $25.

This year’s featured artist is Jan Gaumnitz, who has designed and donated 25 whimsical, clay angel ornaments, above.

Viewing hours for the trees will be 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday. A $2 donation is suggested to view the trees.

Performance

KU students to fill week with music

Jazz Vespers return this week for its third year with new interpretations of holiday classics played by top ensembles from the Kansas University jazz studies program and guest soloists.

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lied Center.

Then on Sunday, KU vocalists and musicians will perform the venerable Holiday Vespers for the 80th year at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to both events are $12.50 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.

Band

Big Wu set to take The Bottleneck stage

“Did you know that there are many fine and upstanding Americans who honor the therapeutic value of live rock ‘n’ roll music and, subsequently, beer? The Big Wu does.”

So says the biography of this Minneapolis-born band, which has been known to temper its original material with covers of everyone from Bob Dylan to Black Sabbath. Mostly though, the Wu serves it up toe-jam style with plenty of noodle-dance inspiring wankery and tie-dyed harmonies. The Big Wu performs at 9 p.m. Tuesday at The Bottleneck.

Downtown

Christmas parade to continue Saturday

The Old-Fashioned Christmas parade has been saved by local businesses.

The annual downtown event will be at 11 a.m. Saturday. About 100 carriages that have been decorated for the holidays will parade down Massachusetts Street. The parade begins at Seventh Street and ends at 14th Street.