Sights & Sounds – Dec. 4
The Meadows Racetrack & Casino has an awesome roster of free concerts in December.
• Silks Lounge, 8 p.m.: Justin Fabus Band (country), Dec. 6; Radio Tokyo (pop/dance), Dec. 7; The Igniters (soul/blues), Dec. 13; Da Phunk (funky dance party), Dec. 14; Dr. Zoot (holiday show), Dec. 20; Bon Journey (Bon Jovi/Journey tribute band), Dec. 21; Todd Jones (country), Dec. 27; Airborne (variety/dance), Dec. 28; In the Mood (New Year’s Eve performance), Dec. 31.
• Pacers Lounge , 9 p.m.: “Flashback Fridays” with DJ AJ Fresh, Fridays, featuring videos from the 70s, 80s and 90s; “Saturday Dance Night” with DJ AJ Fresh.
Penn Brewery will host St. Nik Weekend Dec. 6-7.
The two-day event will include a Keg Tapping and St. Nik Party on Friday, featuring traditional Alpine music from Autobahn from 6-8 p.m. followed by holiday music by the Blues Orphans from 8-11 p.m. Saturday’s events include lunch with St. Nik & Friends (the Pirate Parrot and Washington Wild Thing) from noon-3:30 p.m. and the Freeze Fundraiser for Special Olympics from 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets for the fundraiser are $20 and cover admission, one drink ticket, light appetizers and three raffle tickets. There will also be local celebrity bartenders and entertainment from Joel Lindsey Trio of Blvd. of the Allies from 7-10 p.m., followed by a disc jockey. Twenty percent of all dollars spent on food and beverages Saturday evening will go to Special Olympics of Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit www.pennbrew.com.
A Christmas Cantata: The Gift of Love will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Bible Chapel, McMurray. A love offering will be accepted for The City Mission during this musical celebration of Christmas with the Worship, Youth and Children’s Choirs.
The Old Schoolhouse Players will present “The Littlest Angel” Dec. 6-8 and 13-15 at the Mt. Pleasant Community Center. Admission is $16/adults, $13/seniors 60+ and students and $8/age 12 and under. For tickets, call 724-344-7467.
The Harmony Singers of Pittsburgh will present a free holiday concert, “Comin’ Up Christmas Time,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Brightwood Christian Church in Bethel Park.
The concert will feature favorite carols, holiday music and a sing-a-long. Refreshments will follow. A free-will offering to benefit the charitable and entertainment efforts of the Harmony Singers will be accepted. A basket raffle and holiday cookie sale will also take place.
For more information, visit www.harmonysingers.org.
The Carnegie Performing Arts Center presents “The Nutcracker” Dec. 6-8 and 13-15 at the Andrew Carnegie Free Music Hall.
Local students performing include Adrienne Elion, a student at Chartiers Valley High School, who will portray the Queen of the Snow and Danielle Buttlar, a student at Jefferson Middle School in Mt. Lebanon, who will portray the part of Clara.
There will be a raffle and Chinese auction during intermissions. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are available at the door and are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children.
For more information, call 412-279-8887 or visit www.carnegieperformingartscenter.com.
Renaissance & Baroque will present Piffaro, The Renaissance Band at 8 p.m. Dec. 7 in Synod Hall, Oakland.
“Drive the Cold Winter Away” celebrates the season, from dancing to feasting and worshipping to merry-making, with shawms, sackbuts, dulcians, recorders, bagpipes, lute and harp. Ticket prices range from $20-$35, and full-time student tickets are $10.
For more information and tickets, call 412-361-2048, or visit www.rbsp.org.
The Trailer Park Boys “Dear Santa Claus Tour” comes to the Benedum Center at 8 p.m. Dec. 9.
For tickets, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.trustarts.org.
The Hollywood Theater, Dormont, will present the following holiday films in December:
• At 11 a.m., Dec. 7, immediately following the Dormont Holiday Parade, the Hollywood Theater will show free holiday cartoons and the movie “The Polar Express.” Hot chocolate and $1 popcorn will be offered. “The Polar Express” screens again at 1 p.m. Dec. 8.
• Horror-themed holiday movies on Dec. 8 – 4:30 p.m. “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964); 6:30 p.m. “Krampus: The Christmas Devil” (2013); and 8:15 p.m. “Silent Night Deadly Night 2” (1987). All shows are $5; all 3 for $10.
In addition to holiday movies, the Hollywood is hosting a gift drive for children served by The Bradley Center, a regional behavioral healthcare and child welfare system. Bring a new, unwrapped gift to the theater any time before Dec. 7. Gift suggestions: department store gift cards, arts/crafts items, clothing, toys/games, puzzles, MP3 players/ear buds, Steelers/Pirates/Penguin items. For information, visit www.thebradleycenter.org.
Other December offerings include:
• “Madoka Magica Part 3: Rebellion” – The Hollywood Theater is the only theater in Pennsylvania screening this new anime movie. Tickets are $15. Screenings are at 7 and 10 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7. Advance tickets at www.showclix.com. To gear up, the Hollywood will show “Madoka Magica Parts 1 & 2” at 7 p.m. Dec. 5.
For more information, call 412-563-0368 or visit www.thehollywooddormont.org.
At Bethany Presbyterian Church, Bridgeville, the BRASS accompanied by the Char Val Singers will perform a free Christmas concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 13.
The South Hills Chorale will perform its annual fall Holiday Songfest on Dec. 13 and 14 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair. The Chorale will also present a special multi-media presentation of “‘Twas the Night before Christmas.”
Tickets at $15 are available by advance sale or at the door. A group rate of $12/ticket is also available. To purchase in advance, call Pat Moraytis at 412-221-9109. For more information about the Chorale, visit www.southhillschorale.org.
On Dec. 14, the ToonSeum in the Cultural District will host Kid’s Shopping Day, a discounted sales event providing children the opportunity to shop for friends and family.
The event will be held 1-5 p.m. and offer discounted merchandise including books and comics for all ages, collectibles and membership packages. The gift shop will also be open for browsing. Holiday snacks and treats will be provided throughout the day as well as screenings of favorite holiday films.
For more information, visit www.toonseum.org.