Dallas

Dec 19: Lil Wayne with T Pain, Keyshia Cole, and Gym Class Heroes. At 7. $39.75–$125.75. americanairlinescenter.com

Dec 2 & 3: It’s a Wonderful Christmas with Michael W. Smith—this Grammy Award–winning contemporary Christian singer/songwriter leads the symphony in songs for the season. At 7:30. $35–$89. Dec 4–6: Christmas Pops. DSO Chorus. Ron Raines, vocalist. Richard Kaufman, principal Pops conductor. At 8. $27–$110. Dec 11–21: The Stories of Christmas: A Christmas Celebration—the DSO brings you an evening of holiday favorites, including performances by a children’s choir, Dickens carolers, and a visit from Santa. Call for times. $15–$105. Dec 26 & 27: The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller—this "eighteenth-century rock band” blends rock, acoustic, and electronic music to whip up spirited Christmas tunes. At 8. $35–$110. dallassymphony.com

Dec 3 at 8: My Brightest Diamond. Dec 5 at 8: Asylum Street Spankers. Dec 6 at 8: Stanton Moore Trio. Dec 12 at 9: Kelly Willis and Bruce Robinson Holiday Show. Dec 13 at 1 & 8: The Polyphonic Spree Holiday Extravaganza. Dec 18 at 8: ohGr. Dec 19 at 8: Billy Joe Shaver. Dec 26 & 27 at 8: Todd Snider. Dec 29 at 8: Hays Carll. Dec 30 at 8: The Gourds. Dec 31 at 8: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. For prices call or go to granadatheater.com.

Dec 3 at 8: Anthony Hamilton; $30–$55. Dec 4 at 8: Blue October; $35.50–$75.50. Dec 7 at 8: Buddy Guy with Tom Hambridge; $26.50–$95.50. Dec 8 at 8: Colbie Caillat; $23–$45. Dec 9 at 7: Secondhand Serenade and Cute is What We Aim For; $18.50–$35. Dec 9 at 9: Brendan James with Jonathan Clay; $10. Dec 15 at 8: Back in Black and Appetite for Destruction; $10–$30. Dec 15 at 8: Ours; $15. Dec 26 at 8: Edwin McCain; $20–$50. Dec 27 at 8:30: Bob Schneider; $21.50–$50. Dec 28 at 8: 1100 Springs; $13.50–$40. Dec 29 at 8: $47.50–$97.50. Dec 30 at 8:30: Old 97’s; $25.50–$50. Dec 31 at 8: Cross Canadian Ragweed, Wade Bowen, and Mickey & the Motorcars; $75.50–$200. hob.com/dallas.

Dec 2 at 8: Duran Duran with Your Vegas; $49.50–$125. Dec 5 at 5:30: How the Edge 102.1 Stole Christmas with Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol, Shiny Toy Guns, Cold War Kids, and Carolina Liar; $19.50–$49.50. Dec 6 at 4: 97.1 The Eagle presents XXXmas with Hinder, Buckcherry, Drowning Pool, Rev Theory, Hollywood Undead, and In This Moment; $39.50. Dec 14 at 8: Toby Mac and Relient K; $28. nokialivedfw.com

The Nutcracker—for years, families have relied on Tchaikovsky’s two-act fairy tale to distract them from long lines at the mall and eggnog hangovers. Despite being on the brink of bankruptcy a few months ago, the TBT has raised enough money to keep its season—and this beloved tradition—afloat. For full write-up see In the Chute. Dec 23–28. For times & prices, call or go to texasballettheater.org.

Dec 13 & 14: Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters—based on the award-winning children’s book by John Steptoe, this stage adaptation tells the tale of two very different sisters who journey to meet the king. At 1:30. $14–$23. (El Centro Theater, 801 N. Main.) Thru Dec 21: Madeline’s Christmas—celebrate the season in Paris with the famous little firecracker. Based on the book, this musical adventure is sure to bring cheer to your holiday. Fri at 7:30, Sat at 1:30, Sun at 1:30 & 4:30. $14–$24. Thru Dec 23: Santa’s Holiday for Strings: A Puppetry Extravaganza—utilizing multiple styles of puppetry, Kathy Burks’ nationally celebrated troupe brings Santa, Frosty, Christmas trees, penguins, and more to life in this unique celebration. Fri at 7:30, Sat at 1:30, Sun at 1:30 & 4:30. $14–$24. dct.org

The Goat, or, Who Is Sylvia?—when a prominent architect reveals, at the peak of his career, that he is in love with a goat, everyone he knows reacts with disdain. This critically acclaimed play by Edward Albee takes a deep and unsettling look at the concept of who we are allowed to love and the limits of tolerance. Thru Dec 13. Wed–Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $15–$30. kitchendogtheater.org

Trysts in Toledo—in the late 1600’s, witty cloak-and-dagger romances were all the rage. In the fashion of those novels, this play follows the romantic confusions of a houseful of young nobles and their roguish servants in a dizzyingly complex plot ripe with sarcasm and silliness. Dec 11–Jan 18. Thur at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2:30 & 8, Sun at 2:30 & 7:30. $20–$40. theatre3dallas.com

Eurydice—described as “a luminous retelling of the Orpheus myth,” Sarah Ruhl’s version of the classic love story is told through the eyes of its heroine, who dies on her wedding day and must journey to the underworld. Thru Dec 13. Wed & Thur at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8:15. Wed & Thur $15, Fri $20, Sat $25. undermain.org

Dec 5–Jan 3: Going Native: The Holiday Group Show—the ten artists featured here present works in a range of mediums, from sculptures made of aluminum and wire to hand-drawn mandalas. Open Wed–Sat 11–4 & by appt. Free. dahliawoodsgallery.com

Thru Mar 15: Take Your Time: Olafur Eliasson—from light-filled environments to walk-in kaleidoscopes, this internationally acclaimed exhibition (Time magazine named it one of the year’s best) takes you through the first full-scale survey of Eliasson’s work. The Copenhagen-born artist believes that “being emotional does not imply just feelings, but also a social responsibility,” a sentiment he injects into his installations, large-scale immersive environments, freestanding sculptures, and photographs. For full write-up see In the Chute. Thru May 17: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs—this lavish showcase of 130-plus antiquities first opened stateside in 2005, but now the boy king’s bling is back for an encore. There are some cool, older-than-Moses pieces to ogle, many plucked from the young ruler’s tomb—like his dazzling diadem and the golden dagger that lay atop his mummified body. You’ll see a trove of personal items too, such as his child-size throne (he was only nine or so when he came to power), an elaborately decorated mirror, and even a fancy dog collar (pharaohs: they’re just like us!). (Mon–Thur: gen adm $27.50, senior citizens & college students $24.50, youths 6–17 $16.50, museum members $22.50, children 5 & under free. Fri–Sun & holidays: gen adm $32.50, senior citizens & college students $29.50, youths 6–17 $16.50, museum members $22.50, children 5 & under free.); also, Opening Tutankhamen’s Tomb: The Harry Burton Photographs—follow up the Tutankhamen exhibit with a peek at forty of Burton’s photographs, which chronicle the discovery of King Tut’s untouched tomb. Open Tue & Wed 11–5, Thur 11–9, Fri–Sun 11–5. Gen adm $10, senior citizens $7, students with ID $5, children 11 & under free (Thur 5–9 & first Tue of every month everybody free). dallasmuseumofart.org

Thru Jan 31: Sarah Lucas—defiant. Playfully symbolic. Comically blatant. Bawdy. Lucas’s work is all of these. She satirizes the stereotype of the macho male in Little Man Big Willy, questions what a female artist should look like in Self-Portrait with Skull, and addresses anatomical differences in Untitled (couple), which makes use of a raw chicken and a large sausage. A leading figure of the Young British Artists, Lucas is provocative, to say the least. Open Tue–Fri 10–6, Sat 11–4. Free. gossmichaelfoundation.org

Thru Dec 13: Alex Rubio: Exodus—inspired by Aztec religion and mythology, the prophecies of Nostradamus, and popular doomsday movies like The Day After Tomorrow and I Am Legend, the San Antonio native’s apocalyptic imagery also draws heavily on biblical references. Rubio’s painting The 4 Horsemen, in Dallas for the first time, is a contemporary take on pestilence, famine, war, and death; also, Alex de Leon: Divided We Stand—de Leon, who was born in Edinburg and raised in San Antonio, conveys pointed social commentaries through his art. This particular installation, which uses materials such as cardboard to create representations of human settlements, is an interpretation of the isolation of social classes in America; also, Sally Warren: Traces—the San Antonio-born artist bases her graphite drawings of abstracted mountains on scenic commercial photographs. Her final product, which she describes as a “lacy topography,” aims to preserve the fragility and elusiveness of colorful natural rock formations. Open Wed–Sat 11–9. Free. the-mac.org

Thru Dec 2: From Manet to Miro—featuring 65 drawings by some of the most important artist of the last two centuries, this exhibit spans the history of modern and contemporary drawing from Francisco Goya to Lucien Freud. And it’s the first time this incredible collection has been shown in the U.S. Open Tue–Sat 10–5, Thur 10–8, Sun noon–5. Gen adm $8, SMU students, faculty & staff, and children 12 & under free (Thur 5–8 everybody free). meadowsmuseumdallas.org

The result of the 2006 merging of the Dallas Museum of Science and History (established in 1936), the Science Place (established in 1946), and the Dallas Children’s Museum (established in 1995), the MNS occupies three structures in Fair Park: the Nature Building, which houses hundreds of artifacts and mammal specimens; the Science Building, where you’ll find more than two hundred hands-on exhibits (everything from the Dental Gallery to the Little Urban Farm); and the city’s only public planetarium. The newest permanent gallery, Your Incredible Body, is an interactive exploration of why and how our body does what it does, from sneezing and sweating to digesting food and thinking. Open Mon–Sat 10–5, Sun noon–5. Gen adm $8.75; youths 12–18, students & senior citizens $7.75; children 3–11 $5.50; 2 & under free. natureandscience.org

Thru Jan 4: In Pursuit of the Masters: Stories From the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection—to mark the center’s fifth anniversary and to honor its late patrons, the Nasher presents this comprehensive exhibit of the couple’s collecting philosophy, which features several of their never-before-seen masterpieces. Open Tue & Wed 11–5, Thur 11–9, Fri–Sun 11–5. Gen adm $10, senior citizens $7, students $5, children 12 & under and museum members free. nashersculpturecenter.org

The museum, located in the former Texas School Book Depository, chronicles the life and death of President John F. Kennedy. Cameras that recorded the events at Dealey Plaza on Nov 22, 1963, are on permanent display. Open Mon noon–6, Tue–Sun 10–6. Gen adm $13.50, senior citizens & youths 6–18 $12.50, children 5 & under free. jfk.org

Dec 6: Tenth Anniversary celebration—close to a million visitors have come to peruse the museum’s holdings (which hail from China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia) since it opened a decade ago; mark the occasion with a tour—and cake. Thru Dec 28: Texas Collects Asia: Japanese Folk Art—the renowned craft tradition of Japan is illuminated by this impressive array of religious sculptures, paintings, and children’s toys, as well as Mingei ceramics, panels, and other handmade goods. Thru Jan 4: Big! Himalayan Art—as the title suggests, the art included here isn’t small. The sixteen large-scale paintings, appliqué textiles, tangkas (paintings or textile works on cloth), and ritual objects are indicative of art displayed at temples and community festivals in the Himalayas. Thru Jan 4: Texas Collects Asia: Contemporary Art—these paintings, sculptures, and photographs by contemporary Asian artists reflect cultural changes across the continent, particularly the struggle to define and articulate the Asian idenity in a rapidly changing world. Thru Jul 12: Tending the Afterlife: Chinese Tomb Art From the Neolithic Period to the Ming Dynasty—timed to coincide with the blockbuster King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, this comprehensive installation reveals the mysteries of China’s buried treasures. Many of the tomb goods on view—intricate bronze mirrors, earthenware figures, and precious works of art in jade, bronze, gold, silver, and clay—have never been seen by the public. Open Tue & Wed 10–5, Thur 10–9, Fri–Sun 10–5. Free. crowcollection.org

National Football League. Dec 14: New York Giants. Dec 20: Baltimore Ravens. At 7:15. $59–$125. dallascowboys.com

National Basketball Association. Dec 2: Los Angeles Clippers. Dec 4: Phoenix Suns. Dec 6: Atlanta Hawks. Dec 9: San Antonio Spurs. Dec 11: Charlotte Bobcats. Dec 13: Oklahoma City Thunder. Dec 15: Denver Nuggets. Dec 23: Memphis Grizzlies. Dec 30: Minnesota Timberwolves. At 7:30 (except Dec 4 at 7). $2–$1,000. mavs.com.

National Hockey League. Dec 5: Colorado Avalanche. Dec 10: Phoenix Coyotes. Dec 12: Detroit Red Wings. Dec 16: Phoenix Coyotes. Dec 18: Columbus Blue Jackets. Dec 27: Anaheim Ducks. Dec 29: San Jose Sharks. Dec 31: New Jersey Devils. At 7:30 (except Dec 27 at 7 & Dec 29 at 8). $15–$150. stars.nhl.com

The park will be one of the brightest spots in Dallas this holiday season with thousands of twinkling LED lights. More than 60,000 visitors are expected to attend the two-day festival, which will feature performances by the Dallas Wind Symphony, a Texas-sized snow hill, rides on the Texas Skyway gondola, horse-drawn carriage rides, and, of course, the official tree lighting ceremony. After you’ve had your fill of the festivities, kick back with a blanket or sleeping bag, and watch Elf and the Polar Express on the big screen at the Cotton Bowl. Free. Dec 13 & 14 from 3 to 8. fairpark.org

Celebration: Le Cirque—forget twinkling lights, hot apple cider, and caroling. This year’s holiday highlight are the acrobats, aerialists, hand balancers, jugglers, and clowns that make up this Dallas-based troupe of international circus performers. Dec 28–31. Fri at 7, Sat & Sun at 2 & 7. $19–$65. dct.org

The holiday season doesn’t officially start—in Dallas, at least—until this parade wends its way through the streets of downtown. The early-morning procession has become such a local tradition that it’s hard to believe it is only twenty-one years old. Some 350,000 revelers will brave chilly temps (and millions more will watch it live on national TV) to see their favorite characters, colorful floats, marching bands, and giant balloons zig and zag along the sixteen-block route. This year's theme is Santa’s Whimsical Workshop. Dec 6 at 10. Free; res bleacher seating $20. childrensparade.com

Located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, the 1,826-acre lakeside park offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of the Metroplex. Set up camp at one of 355 sites, launch your boat on the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Reservoir, take a ninety-minute guided hike, peruse the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center, or bike fifteen miles of trails. And don’t miss the eight-hundred-foot limestone escarpment that abuts the blackland prairie: It’s one of the highest points in North Texas. Open daily 8–10. Gen adm $5, children 12 & under free. cedarhillstatepark.org

The 66-acre site, with its dozens of themed gardens, sits on the southeast shore of White Rock Lake. Thru Dec 30: Holiday Tea—sip on a hot beverage in the DeGolyer Garden Café and Tea Room after you take a stroll through the gardens. (Seatings at 11 & 2. Holiday tea $33.50, champagne tea $42.50; reservations required, 214-515-6610.) Thru Dec 31: Holiday at the Arboretum—in lieu of a white Christmas, Liz Minyard and Paul Lokey’s Nutcracker display, on view in the historic DeGolyer Estate, should put you in the spirit of the season. (Tours daily from 10 to 4.) Open daily 9–5 (closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). Gen adm $8, senior citizens $7, children 3–12 $5, 2 & under free. Parking $5. dallasarboretum.org

More than two thousand animals, including many rare and endangered species, make their home on the 95 acres of the Dallas Zoo. The Wilds of Africa attraction is considered one of the best exhibits of its kind and the two-acre Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo lets kids peek at naked mole rats, pet farm animals, and ride ponies. Open daily 9–5. Gen adm $8.75, senior citizens $5, children 3–11 $5.75, 2 & under free. Parking $5. dallaszoo.com

Consecrated on Thanksgiving Day in 1976, this 3.5-acre site was built as a nondenominational sanctuary and features a Chapel of Thanksgiving (which boasts the sixty-foot-high stained glass Glory Window), a meditation garden with waterfalls, fifteen-ton Thanksgiving monoliths, and a Wall of Praise displaying a mosaic of Norman Rockwell’s The Golden Rule. Open Mon–Fri 9–5, Sat & Sun 10–5. Free; $2 donation suggested. Guided tours: gen adm $4, senior citizens and youths 17 & under $3. thanksgiving.org

Built on a former illegal dump site, this center focuses on improving the environment through educational hands-on exhibits, miles of nature viewing trails, the Children’s Discovery Garden, and sustainable building features, including a vegetated roof. Situated within the six-thousand-acre Great Trinity Forest, which is the largest urban hardwood forest in the U.S., the center provides direct access to a myriad of outdoor activities, including nature viewing, hiking, picnicking, and canoeing. Open Tue–Fri 9–4, Sat & Sun 10–5. Gen adm $6, children $3. trinityriveraudubon.org