Thursday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 8

It’ll be a cold day in Hades when the Trans-Siberian Orchestra fails to tour the states for the holidays. With its latest show, The Lost Christmas Eve, TSO tells a story of loss and redemption reminiscent of film director Frank Capra’s vision complete with scenes set at a Gothic cathedral, a toy shop or a blues bar. In signature style, fans can also count on a show filled with blazing pyrotechnics, cool light effects, black leather, electric guitars, black ties and violins. It will surely be an enchanted Christmas. The tour stops at the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave., Tulsa for a 7:30 p.m. show on Thursday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $32-$72.50. TSO then pushes on to Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., for shows at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Tickets are $30-$70.50. For Tulsa information, go to www.bokcenter.com. Tickets for the OKC show can be purchased at www.chesapeakearena.com.
 

Friday, Dec. 7, at 8:30 p.m.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has played hard all season, and the holiday has afforded no break for the team everyone feared for only a few weeks ago. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha and the team head into a game Friday, Dec. 7, against Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers with a lingering drama still in the air: Can the young team that everyone had such high hopes for seeing another run for the NBA Championship make it without James Harden? Now that the world knows the answer is most definitely “yes” from the first months of season’s play, can the sports world move past its resolve to mull over the team’s future? It’s a speculator’s game as much as any futures on the stock market, but we prefer to focus on the game at hand, and Friday’s will be the one to watch. The game starts at 8:30 p.m. and will broadcast from the Chesapeake Energy Arena on ESPN. Tickets are available at the arena box office, 100 W. Reno Ave., Oklahoma City, and online at www.nba.com/thunder. Also in the week ahead, the team plays Indiana (Dec. 9) and New Orleans (Dec. 12) on the home court.
 

Saturday, Dec. 8, at 8:30 a.m. (registration)

Tulsa’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk will be just one of dozens of jolly jogs through America’s cities this month, all to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation and its quest to elevate awareness of arthritis and fund research that helps millions of patients. What makes Tulsa different? Could it be that Tulsans are especially festive and outgoing when it comes to the colorful get-up they wear for this awesome event? Could it be the pitter-patter of small feet (both human and canine) mixed among the more thud-erous footfalls of the average recreational runner? The truth is, Tulsa is like other participating cities enhanced by its residents’ generosity to a cause, yet there’s much to be said for the way we celebrate days like the Jingle Bell Run either as runners or spectators. After all, who doesn’t like to see a retriever in antlers? Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Tulsa Community College Metro Campus, 909 S. Boston Ave. The 1k run and walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the 5k following at 10 a.m. For more, go to www.arthritis.org/oklahoma online.
 

8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams seems to be making a lot of headlines these days, but its not for the typical shenanigans (hit-and-run accidents, drug use, assaults on paparazzi) that land stars in print and on screen. A scroll through web news reveals Adams and his girlfriend are having a second child, that he is an accomplished photographer with a new book of portraits (Exposed) just published and that the singer will remain on tour for the rest of the year. One of those Bare Bones Tour stops will be at the Brady Theater, 105 W. Brady St. Adams plays at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10. Tickets are $35-$75, available at www.bradytheater.com. One more note: The “Summer of ‘69” singer still loves to sing the anthem. Lucky us!
 

Saturday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m.

Sure, you could watch it at home on TV, but a parade just isn’t the same unless you’re on the sidewalk facing the same winter chill as the smiling faces riding the floats. The Tulsa Holiday Parade of Lights begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, beginning at Fourth Street and Elgin Avenue and traveling along Fourth Street to Denver Avenue. The parade travels Denver and turns right at First Street and follows it all the way to the Blue Dome District and an ending at First Street and Elgin. Floats, people and animals on foot and wheels are plugged in for this mobile holiday lights display that ends with Santa in his sleigh. At parade’s end, stick around for the Winterfest fireworks display and everything the fifth annual festival has to offer. If you can’t make it out, check out the parade broadcast live on KTUL Channel 8. Parade details are available at www.tulsaholidayparade.com.

Ends Sunday, Dec. 9

The holidays are upon us, but Philbrook Festival of Trees has been in the spirit for weeks. The museum will wind down its annual holiday display and light events this weekend. Take a last turn about the galleries and enjoy Christmas trees and holiday décor created by area artists and designers available for purchase for your home. What you’ll find is truly original work and something special if you have gift giving in mind. Hours are 10 a.m-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday-Sunday. The museum remains open until 8 p.m. Thursday. Admission during Festival of Trees is $11 general admission and $8 for seniors (ages 62 and up). Still want more? Garden Glow, Philbrook’s stunning outdoor light display continues through Dec. 29. Go to www.philbrook.org for more. Philbrook Museum of Art is located at 2727 S. Rockford Road, Tulsa.
 

This weekend
The sets are impressive, the music a delight. American Theatre Company’s holiday favorite A Christmas Carol is back for a 35th year with Charles Dickens’ memorable characters in a musical production at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St. The Robert Odle and Richard Averill adaptation of the Scrooge tale and all its holiday spirit trappings has become a habit with Tulsans. The show opens in the PAC’s John H. Williams Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 6., at 7:30 p.m. The musical continues through Dec. 23. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. while matinees are scheduled Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30, available at www.tulsapac.com.
Oklahoma Children’s Theatre has its own production of A Christmas Carol also opening Thursday, Dec. 6. This adaptation uses humorous touches to share this lesson in good will to all. Catch one of five performances through Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center’s Burg Theatre at Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City. Tickets are $7-$12 and available at www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org.
In Guthrie, they tell Dickens their way. A Territorial Christmas Carol takes the tale and sets it down like a twister in Oklahoma during the days of land runs in Indian Territory. The play continues its traditional run at the Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie, through Dec. 23. Tickets are $13.56 online at www.thepollard.org.
 

Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

With every album he’s released in his short music career, Eric Church climbs higher in adoration. Praised by his fan base (called the Church Choir), the bad boy of country has ridden success through three albums, including the most recent, Chief. It seems the music world has fallen for him, too. The BOK Center welcomes Church on his Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. Doors open at 6 p.m. Special guests Justin Moore and Kipp Moore open for Church. Tickets are $37.50-$47.50, available at the BOK Center’s box office, 200 S. Denver Ave., and online at www.bokcenter.com.
 

Nov. 29-Dec. 1, Thursday-Saturday
Broadway star Michele Ragusa headlines Chesapeake Energy’s The Christmas Show. We don’t know if she’ll be playing one of Santa’s elves or the main man himself for the big holiday show, but we do know Ragusa has been lauded for every big comic role that has come her way, including saucy Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein on Broadway, haughty diva Lilli/Kate the Terror in Kiss Me Kate, spitfire Maria in West Side Story and dizzy Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. We wouldn’t put it past Ragusa to suit up for the musical revue also featuring a kick-line of Santas and the Christmas Jukebox at the OKC Philharmonic at Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall’s Thelma E. Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre, 201 N. Walker Ave., Oklahoma City. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15-$65. Learn more at www.okcphilharmonic.org.

Friday, Nov. 30, at 9 p.m.
When someone says Keller Williams is coming to town, you know they’re not talking about the local real estate company. Three bedrooms and baths never generated as much widespread excitement as the musician considered a one-man band. Williams whistles, scats, sings and loops all those sounds on stage to weave a fabric of sound as layered and rich as if he orchestrated a full band – which he sometimes does. Keller plays Cain’s Ballroom, 423 S. Main St., Tulsa, at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $19-$29, available at Cain’s box office and online at www.cainsballroom.com.