Once again in December, the acclaimed local folk duo Over the Rhine will perform a mix of Christmas songs and their own music in a genre they call “Reality Christmas,” reflecting the complicated feelings the holidays invoke. With special guest, Lucy Wainright Roche, they will be dabbling with three-part harmonies this year. See them at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Cincinnati, on Dec. 20-22. Performance times are 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $40-$65. For more information, call 513-977-8838 or visit www.memorialhallotr.com.
Fitton Christmas Show, with Nancy James
For the fourth straight year, Nancy James and her River City Band will perform a mix of holiday classics and contemporary favorites. See it at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton, on Dec. 15. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $29-$37. For more, call 513-863-8873 or visit www.fittoncenter.org.
Breakfast With Santa
A breakfast buffet and a visit with Jolly Old Saint Nick will also include holiday crafts, jazz music, and the Madcap Puppets performing “The Great Space Caper.” Registration is required. Check it out at the Ronald Reagan Lodge of Voice of America MetroPark, 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester Twp., on Dec. 15 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tickets are $13.99-$18.50. Children 3 and younger are admitted free. For more information, call 513-867-5835 or visit www.yourmetroparks.net.
Chris Tomlin Christmas
This contemporary Christian artist has sold more than seven million albums. He released his 10th, “Holy Roar,” last year. See him at the Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati, on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28-$98. For more, call 513-232-6220 or visit www.tafttheatre.org.
“The Naughty List”
This popular and uniquely Cincinnati holiday show has OTRImprov using audience suggestions and stories to skewer everything we love and hate about the Christmas season. Check it out at Arnold’s Bar and Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Cincinnati, on Dec. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information, call 513-878-6286 or visit www.otrimprov.com.
“The Nutcracker”
The Cincinnati Ballet performs the classic Tchaikovsky ballet about a young girl whisked off to the Land of Sweets by the Nutcracker Prince. No funky twists. No modern interpretations. This one is for the traditionalists. See it at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, on Dec. 19-29. Tickets are $29-$105. For performance times and other information, call 513-621-2787 or visit www.cincinnatiarts.org.
“Awaited”
The largest Christmas show in Cincinnati will retell the Nativity Story with over 80 elaborately costumed performers in a show that includes video projection and aerial movement. See it at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, on Dec. 20-23. Performance times are 8 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday-Monday. Tickets are $25-$100. For more information, call 513-621-2787 or visit www.cincinnatiarts.org.
RL Big Bang Holiday Show
Jazz enthusiasts won’t want to miss this performance by the RL Big Bang Band, who’ll be playing favorites by Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie and others. See it at the Sorg Opera House, 57 S. Main St., Middletown, on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit www.sorgoperahouse.org.
Winter Solstice Sunrise
This educational program will transport you 2,000 years into the past, when the ancients traveled great distances to this fort to observe the winter solstice sunrise. You will align between a stone-capped mound and an earthen wall and watch the sun rise to greet you just as they did. Check it out at Fort Ancient, 6123 Ohio 350, Oregonia, on Dec. 21 from 7:15-8:15 a.m. There is no admission cost. For more information, call 513-932-4421 or visit www.fortancient.org.
Christmas Belair Show
The Belairs are a four-part harmony group who will sing and dance their way through the biggest hits of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, with tributes to Dusty Springfield, Roy Orbison, Dion, Neil Diamond and more. See them at Miami Valley Gaming, 6000 OH-63, Lebanon, on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15-$35. For more information, visit www.miamivalleygaming.com.
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