10 fun things to do: Holiday events and more kick off this weekend in Columbus

With Thanksgiving behind us — as well as much of the attendant shopping mayhem — the central Ohio performing-arts season is kicking into high gear.

Two seasonally appropriate ballets are on tap, the Columbus Dance Theatre’s “Wonderment” and the New Albany Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker.”Theater lovers will have plenty to choose from, too, including a family-friendly production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” “Mr. Scrooge the Musical.”

Speaking of Dickens, the Ohio History Connection’s annual “Dickens of a Christmas” event — an immersive experience at Ohio Village — is kicking off this weekend.

For those looking for a break from the holiday spirit, there are other options, including a winds concert in Grove City and a MadLab short-play festival. And for folks still not sure of what to get or give for the holidays, Winterfair is back at the Ohio Expo Center.

Read on for details about these and other weekend entertainment options. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.

Wonderful ‘Wonderment’ to be performed

When it comes to holiday ballets, “The Nutcracker” isn’t the only game in town. For several years, the Columbus Dance Theatre has offered an original ballet tailor-made for the season, “Wonderment.” Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” the ballet will return this year with performances at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Riffe Center’s Davidson Theatre, 77 S. High St. Tickets cost $27, or $22 for senior citizens, $17 for students. (www.capa.com)

A sing-along at the opera

Opera Columbus will invite audiences to make music with them for the inaugural edition of the group’s “Messiah Sing-Along.” At 2 p.m. Sunday at the McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, the company will lead concert-goers in singing George Frideric Handel’s sacred choral masterpiece “Messiah.” Tickets cost $10. (www.mccoycenter.org)

Scrooge to be in fine voice

The Columbus Children’s Theatre will present a musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, “Mr. Scrooge the Musical,” running about an hour and suitable for family audiences, will feature singing parts for the familiar characters, including Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and the grumpy title character. Performances begin Friday and continue through Dec. 23 at the Riffe Center’s Studio One, 77 S. High St. Tickets cost $24, or $19 for senior citizens and children. (www.columbuschildrenstheatre.org)

A ‘Dickens’ of a good time

Music, storytelling, activities and craft opportunities will enliven the annual “Dickens of a Christmas” at Ohio Village, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue. All of the happenings will help summon Christmas as it might have been celebrated in the 1890s, but what will really sell the recreation is Ohio Village itself, which will be decked out in the style of the season. The event will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2, 9 and 16; and from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, cost $18, or $14 for ages 4 through 12, $13 for Ohio History Connection adult members, $9 for youth members, and free for ages 3 and younger. (www.ohiohistory.org)

GalaxyCon returns with star-studded lineup

You’ve heard him in the video game “Halo.” Now here’s your chance to meet the performer who gives voice to the game’s protagonist “Master Chief,” Steve Downes. A Columbus native, Downes will be on hand to meet and greet fans at GalaxyCon Columbus, which takes place Friday through Sunday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St. Besides Downes, there will be numerous other celebrity appearances at the comic-book, sci-fi, and anime-centric event, including Richard Dreyfuss, Vincent D’Onofrio and William Shatner. Available passes include a 3-day pass for $110. (galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-columbus)

MadLab's 'Theatre Roulette' returns

Theater lovers should buckle their seatbelts for the 23rd installment of “Theatre Roulette,” MadLab’s annual presentation of short plays. The program of 21 plays is spread across a trio of programs: the first program, including “A Very Special Hanukkah Special” and “Last Minute Shoppers,” will be performed on Nov. 30 and Dec. 8; the second program, including “Les Miserabelves,” on Dec. 1, 9 and 14; and the third, including “The Santa Thing” and “13th Crime,” on Dec. 2, 7 and 15. All plays will be performed on Dec. 16, and each show will take place at MadLab, 227 N. 3rd St. Tickets for individual shows cost $20, or $17 for students and senior citizens and $15 for MadLab members; a festival pass for all three shows costs $48, or $40 for students and senior citizens and $36 for members. (www.madlab.net)

Winterfair is back at the Ohio Expo Center

As you’re looking to fill out your Christmas list or simply keep your stockings stuffed, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen can always be counted on to help. The group will present “Winterfair” — an annual sale of locally produced jewelry, artwork, ceramics as well as soaps, lotions and more — at the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7. (www.winterfair.org)

Take a walk this winter at Dawes Arboretum

The Dawes Arboretum invites you to take a stroll through its grounds from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning Friday and continuing on Dec. 2, 8-9 and 15-16. The arboretum, at 7770 Jacksontown Road, Newark, will offer “Winter Wonder Walks.” Along the way guests will encounter live music, an encounter with Santa Claus and — perhaps best of all — food trucks selling coffee and hot chocolate. Tickets cost $10, or $5 for children, free for age 5 or younger. (www.dawesarb.org)

Winds concert to benefit Grove City Food Pantry

A holiday concert will be performed by the Grove City Community Winds at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grove City High School, 4665 Hoover Road, Grove City. The ensemble, including brass, woodwinds and percussion instrumentalists, will sample seasonal favorites and be joined by the Grove City Chamber Singers. For admission, the group requests a donation of one can of food for the Grove City Food Pantry.

Youth-focused ‘Nutcracker’ to be performed

With a cast drawn from the New Albany Ballet Company, a dance school in the central Ohio suburb, the New Albany Children’s Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker” features young dancers in nearly every role. Watch the up-and-coming dancers of all ages in performances starting Friday and Saturday at the McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany. Performances continue through Dec. 10. Tickets start at $33.50. (www.capa.com)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus this weekend