Not enough Christmas happenings yet? Here are 6 more right ahead

If you haven’t found the right arts event to get you in a holiday state of mind, it’s not too late. Believe it or not, there are still more holiday-themed concerts, plays and other performances ahead. Let’s call them, with a nod to Charles Dickens, the Events of Christmas Yet to Come.

Here are a half dozen big ones:

The Illusionists: Dec. 15, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. I hear you: “What does sleight of hand and other trickery have to do with the holidays?” But the title of this show from the touring magicians is “The Magic of the Holidays” — and I don’t think they mean that warm and fuzzy feeling you get from all the goodwill in the air.

The all-ages show stops at the arts center’s Walt Disney Theater for an 8 p.m. performance with illusionists Pablo Cánovas, Chris Cox, Kevin James, Hyunjoon Kim and Steve Valentine. Tickets start at $30. More: Drphillipscenter.org.

One-Man ‘A Christmas Carol’: Dec. 15-17, Imagine Performing Arts Center at Oviedo Mall in Oviedo. Southern Winds Theatre’s annual production returns for its 26th year. In this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story of Scrooge, ghostly visits and a holiday redemption, David A. McElroy plays dozens of characters to convey the magic of the Christmas classic.

The show runs about two hours; curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16 and 5 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets are $18-$25. More: imagineperformingartscenter.org/events.

Central Florida Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’: Dec. 16-17, Linda Chapin Theater at the Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive in Orlando. A longstanding Central Florida tradition, this version of “The Nutcracker” has been performed annually since 2001.

Among its other bells and whistles, the Central Florida Ballet production is known for its pyrotechnics that punctuate the story’s magical moments, fiber-optic technology that lights up the stage, and an extended aerial routine during Tchaikovsky’s “Arabian Dance.”

Showtimes are 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets start at $28. For “Nutcracker” patrons, the convention-center parking fee is $10. More: CentralFloridaBallet.com.

Maitland Symphony Orchestra: Dec. 17, Maitland Presbyterian Church, 341 N. Orlando Ave. in Maitland. One of the signature groups of Performing Arts Maitland, the symphony orchestra will present a concert titled “A Christmas Symphony: From Reflection to Celebration.” The group says the program includes diverse compositions designed to “evoke the essence of the holiday season.”

Showtime is at 4 p.m., with general-admission tickets (available online or at the door) for $20, $10 for students. More: pamatter.org/mso-concerts.

Christmas in Orlando: A merry month of concerts, plays, events

Dickens by Candlelight: Dec. 19-23, Audubon Park Covenant Church, 3219 Chelsea St. in Orlando. This Orlando tradition began in 1997, with local actor-director-playwright Robin Olson’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” for three actors. Enjoy tea and holiday cookies during the telling of the tale, and come early for Christmas caroling. This year’s cast will be Terry Olson, Robin Olson and Monica Long Tamborello.

Caroling starts at 7, with the show at 7:30 nightly. Tickets are $49.50 but there are discounts available. A limited number of $15 tickets go on sale at 12:30 p.m. the day of each performance, $29.50 tickets are available to those who bring items for the church’s food pantry. More: facebook.com/DickensByCandlelight.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Dec. 22, Amway Center in Orlando. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra has made itself ubiquitous to the holidays, often stopping at Orlando’s Amway Center with the latest version of its annual Christmas extravaganza of music, lights and pyrotechnics. And, yes, it’s an orchestra and plays classical music — but it’s classical music revved up with the spirit of rock. (Hint: It’s loud.)

This year’s production is called “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More,” and has performances at 2:30 and 7:30 Dec. 22. More: amwaycenter.com/events.

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews.