The Lawrence Arts Center will open “A Kansas Nutcracker” on Friday, with Ric Averill, its longtime artistic director, playing the role of Gen. Hugh Cameron, an eccentric figure who settled in Lawrence during the tumultuous years just before the Civil War. A

Warmth of the season

54, 56, 59. Bet you didn’t think those would be high temperatures we’d see in mid-December. But those are the highs for today, Saturday and Sunday. There will be clouds in the sky, and there is a slight chance of rain all three days. The respective lows will be 45, 52 and 48, and there some showers forecast for Sunday night.

Ballet with Kansas roots

The Lawrence Arts Center will open “A Kansas Nutcracker” on Friday, with Ric Averill, its longtime artistic director, playing the role of Gen. Hugh Cameron, an eccentric figure who settled in Lawrence during the tumultuous years just before the Civil War. “A Kansas Nutcracker: 1856 Bleeding Kansas Edition” is at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

Brass gives off holiday glow

‘Tis the season with the Canadian Brass holiday show, featuring classics from their album “Christmas Time is Here,” brass standards and numerous original works. For more than 40 years, Canadian Brass has entertained audiences in every major concert hall with its outstanding music, insightful asides and light-hearted banter. Canadian Brass: A Holiday Concert is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive.

A family show

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the Disney film, “Mary Poppins” uses a combination of magic and common sense to show the Banks family how to value each other again. “Mary Poppins” has performances throughout the weekend, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive.

Jazz holiday party

It’s a cool Yule with Kansas Public Radio’s Big Band Christmas Concert! The sixth annual KPR holiday music fest features the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and singers Kathleen Holeman and Ron Gutierrez. Doors open at 7 p.m.; concert starts 8 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. Tickets available at the Liberty Hall box office and ticketmaster.com.

Big-screen Christmas

The Regal Southwind cinema will host the 60th anniversary showing of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” (1954) with featurettes, extras, and original trailers. Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like this timeless, old-fashioned Christmas movie. There are two showings: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Regal Southwind Stadium 12, 3433 S. Iowa St.

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• City commissioners say the city erred in processing Rock Chalk Park payment
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• Lawrence man sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for filing false tax return

More Dec. 12 events

Salvation Army’s Christmas Joy Shop, 9 a.m.-noon, Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St.

Honey Beezz Flea Market, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Columbus Hall, 2206 E. 23rd St.

2014 Post-Election Conference: National Panel, 9:30-11 a.m., Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive.

Mike Shurtz Trio featuring Erin Fox, 10:15-11:30 a.m., Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St.

2014 Post-Election Conference: National Panel, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive.

Adornment Holiday Art Show and Sale, 1-5 p.m., Van Go, 715 New Jersey St.

International Coffee Hour, 3 p.m., ECM Center, 1204 Oread Ave.

Mexican Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Eagles Lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St.

Bingo night, doors 5:30 p.m., refreshments 6 p.m., bingo starts 7 p.m., Eagles Lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St.

Taize service, 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St.

An Evening with Singer-Songwriter Kelley Hunt, doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Castle Tea Room, 1307 Massachusetts St.

The Nutcracker, 7:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.

Arnie Johnson and The Midnight Special, 8 p.m., Slow Ride Roadhouse, 1350 N. Third St.

A Special Benefit Concert: Chris Mann and Oleta Adams with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.

More Dec. 13 events

Red Dog’s Dog Days workout, 7:30 a.m., parking lot in 800 block of Vermont St.

Breakfast with Santa, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.

St. John Catholic Church Rummage Sale, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1246 Kentucky St.

Eudora’s Market On Main indoor farmers and crafts market, 9 a.m.-noon, 724 Main St., Eudora.

Holiday Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

Honey Beezz Flea Market, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Columbus Hall, 2206 E. 23rd St.

German School of Northeast Kansas, 9:30-11 a.m., Bishop Seabury Academy, 4120 Clinton Parkway. (Ages 3 and up.)

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 10 a.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

Art Cart: What’s Missing? 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St.

Festival of Nativities, noon-4 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. Fourth St., North Lawrence.

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 1 p.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

Lawrence Inside Out Portrait-Taking, 1-4 p.m., Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St.

Adornment Holiday Art Show and Sale, 1-5 p.m., Van Go, 715 New Jersey St.

KU School of Music: Community Music School Recital, 2 p.m., Room 328, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Drive.

The Nutcracker, 2 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.

“Mary Poppins,” 2:30 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive.

Americana Music Academy Saturday Jam, 3 p.m., Americana Music Academy, 1419 Massachusetts St.

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 3:30 p.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

Headpin Challenge, 6-9 p.m., Royal Crest Lanes, 933 Iowa St.

Sip & Shop Lawrence 2014, 6-10 p.m., The Roost, 920 Massachusetts St.

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 6 p.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

American Legion Bingo, doors open 4:30 p.m., first games 6:45 p.m., snack bar 5-8 p.m., American Legion Post #14, 3408 W. Sixth St.

The Nutcracker, 7:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.

Lawrence Civic Choir Winter Concert, 7:30 p.m., Free Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave.

Jazz Border Showdown: KU Jazz Ensemble I and MU Concert Jazz Band, 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., The Blue Room, American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St., Kansas City, MO.

More Dec. 14 events

Honey Beezz Flea Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Columbus Hall, 2206 E. 23rd St.

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 10 a.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

Salvation Army’s Children’s Christmas Program, 10:45 a.m., Salvation Army Chapel/Multipurpose Room, 946 New Hampshire St.

Festival of Nativities, noon-4 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. Fourth St., North Lawrence.

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 1 p.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

The Nutcracker, 1 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.

Adornment Holiday Art Show and Sale, 1-5 p.m., Van Go, 715 New Jersey St.

William Baker Festival Singers: 17th Annual Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral, 2-3 p.m., Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St. (at Broadway), Kansas City, Mo.

District 2 Kansas Authors Club Annual Holiday Party, 2-4 p.m., Stony Point Hall, 1514 N. 600 Road, Baldwin City.

Lawrence Coalition for Peace & Justice meeting, 3:30-5 p.m., Education Room, The Community Mercantile, 901 S. Iowa St.

Midland Railway Santa Claus Express, departing 3:30 p.m., Midland Railway Depot, 1515 High St., Baldwin City.

Presentation of 2014 Dole Leadership Prize honoring John D. Kemp, 4 p.m., Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive.

Tandy and Friends Presents: 2014 Annual Organ Vespers Concert, 5 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St.

The Nutcracker, 5 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.

O.U.R.S. (Oldsters United for Responsible Service) dance, doors 5 p.m., potluck 7:15-7:45 p.m., dance 6-9 p.m., Columbus Hall, 2206 E. 23rd St.

Earth Care/Climate Change Advocacy-Action Meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland Drive.

Topeka Symphony: Sweets and Suites, 7:30 p.m., White Concert Hall, SW 17th St., Topeka.