8 Must-Do Christmas Events This Week

Kelsey Leigh Ervi

Garrett Storms in SantalLand Diaries

Now is the time of year when you forget about all your hoity-toity arts education and binge-watch cheesy Christmas movies on Lifetime. There's nothing wrong with partaking in a little holiday nostalgia this month, especially with all of the horrid shit that's happened in 2014.

You'll have to wait a few more weeks for the actual holiday, but judging by the thousands of holiday lights that currently adorn the city, the Christmas season is officially in full swing in Dallas. Forget your deeply pretentious interest in avant-garde art, and sit down and enjoy a these classics from your childhood along with a few options that will satisfy your discerning tastes.

Fort Worth Symphony Presents The Messiah
December 2
Bass Performance Hall
$30-80
Handel's enduring composition has started many a holiday season, and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's performance is an excellent way to add a little classical music to your Christmas tradition. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will be joined by the immensely talented Southwestern Seminary Master Chorale in a combination that is sure to be music to everyone's ears.

Dallas Theater Center Presents A Christmas Carol
Wyly Theatre
November 25-December 27
$18-80
Even if you've never read a word of Charles Dickens' holiday classic, everyone can appreciate the story of Bob Cratchitt, Tiny Tim, and Ebenezer Scrooge. Dallas Theater Center's performance of A Christmas Carol is done in a theater-in-the-round style surrounded by the audience, while the ghosts of Christmas past fly around above. If you want to see A Christmas Carol, it's important that you get your tickets as quickly as possible. Last year, 26 performances sold out.

A Christmas Story
December 2-14, 2014
The Music Hall At Fair Park
$30.25-$104.75
If you didn't grow up watching A Christmas Story on TV, you were sorely deprived as a child. This goofy holiday classic was adapted into a musical in 2012 to rave reviews on Broadway, and now it is making an appearance at Dallas Summer Musicals. The flagpole scene is just as hilarious on stage as it was in the film, and you'll appreciate the musical's attention to detail as you relive one of your childhood favorites.

Dallas Woman's Forum Holiday Home Tour
December 4-7, 2014
Alexander Mansion
$5-12
In East Dallas, the Alexander Mansion sticks out amongst the car washes and fast food joints like a somehow beautiful sore thumb. Home of the Dallas Woman's Forum, the Alexander Mansion is one of Dallas' oldest homes, especially along that stretch of Ross Avenue. Once a year, the Forum opens up their beautifully decorated home during the holidays for those of us who love looking at great Christmas decorations. You can also wrap up your holiday shopping at the Mansion's upstairs pop-up boutique, and enjoy a delicious lunch in the Holiday Bistro.

Theatre Three Presents A Civil War Christmas
November 20-December 14, 2014
Norma Young Arena Stage
$15 +up
Set on Christmas Eve in 1864, Paula Vogel's A Civil War Christmas tells the story of characters from across the war-torn United States whose lives are "strangely and poetically intertwined," including Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, and a Union soldier. The backdrop of this inspiring and uplifting tale is an interesting blend of traditional folk songs and Christmas carols, making it perfect for your entire family.

Blue Yule 2014
December 5, 2014
McKinney Avenue Contemporary
$25
Sure, you could go to Hallmark or Target to buy Christmas ornaments, but only at Blue Yule can you find ornaments hand-crafted by nationally renowned and local artists for your tree. The event serves as a fundraiser for the MAC's 2015 season of programming, which means that your decor purchases will directly benefit excellent art in Dallas. They'll also have their mysterious blue punch on hand, which could result in a lot of embarrassing dancing before the night is over with.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Pops Christmas
December 5-7, 2014
Meyerson Symphony Center
$41-156
It isn't Christmas without good tunes, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is one of the best places to hear your favorite holiday songs. At this performance, you'll hear all of your favorites performed by the Symphony's talented musicians, alongside with songs from beloved holiday movies. A troupe of dancers joins the DSO Pops performance this year, which means that it will be an even bigger show than usual.

WaterTower Theatre Presents The SantaLand Diaries
December 5-28, 2014
$27.50
David Sedaris is great any time of year, but The SantaLand Diaries is a great way to add a little irreverence to your holiday festivities. The story is based on Sedaris' own real life experiences playing an elf alongside a Santa Claus at Macy's, and has a few actual pee-your-pants funny moments. You'll have to schlep up to Addison for WaterTower Theatre's performance of the show, but it's entirely worth the drive.