Of charity and cheer

It’s that time of year, where traditions take over and the familiar foods, friends and celebrations bring families and communities together. In that spirit, the CN&R is back with its annual guide to all the fun stuff going on in the name of the season, as well as a handful of opportunities to help those who need it most during the holidays.

So, have another slice of pie brothers and sisters. Let that cocoa warm your belly and meet me for a chilly stroll across the soggy orange and brown leaves in Bidwell Park—It’ll be our thing.

Music, theater, singing and dancing

Le Noel Deprave— A Holiday Burlesque Show
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30pm, Nov. 30 through Dec. 23. Chico Cabaret spikes the egg nog with stripping elves and more, as Santa, Mrs. Claus and the gang sing and dance to holiday classics in a vaudevillian burlesque show. Cost: $15. Chico Cabaret, 2201 Pillsbury, Almond Orchard Shopping Center. Info: (530) 895-0245. www.chicocabaret.com.

The Yule Logs
Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, 7, 12 & 16. “Chico’s premier Christmas/ pop rock band” again takes advantage of the season that is the reason for a handful of seasonal performances. Nov. 30, 8pm at Chico Cabaret; Dec. 1, 8pm at Café Coda; Dec. 7, 9pm at Duffy’s Tavern; Dec. 12, 8pm at Woodstock’s; Dec. 16, 10pm at Off Limits. For info: www.myspace.com/theyulelogs.

A Christmas Carol, The Musical
Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 1 through Dec. 9. Chico’s children’s theater, Theatre, ETC has assembled 24 grade school and high school performers for a musical rendition of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Evening performances happen Thurs.-Sat., 7:30pm, and matinees Saturdays at 2pm. Cost: $7/advance; $10/door. Theatre, ETC, 14 Hillary Lane. (530) 895-8382. www.theatreetc.com.

Patsy Cline: Christmas & More
Friday, Dec. 1, 7:30pm. Joni Morris’s Christmas Special-tribute to Patsy Cline. Tickets: $15-$25. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Rd., Paradise. (530) 872-8454.

Christmas in Paradise
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 2-3. The 100-member Paradise Community Chorus presents a program of holiday favorites. Sat. evening show at 7:30pm and Sun. matinee at 2pm. Tickets: $7/general. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Rd., Paradise. (530) 872-8454.

Oroville Holiday Concert
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 2-3. Oroville’s Community Chorus and Community Band join forces for a program of traditional holiday music. Sat. evening show at 7:30pm and Sun. matinee at 3pm. Tickets: $8/general. Oroville State Theater, 1489 Myers St., Oroville. Box office: (530) 538-2470.

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol
Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 7-23, 7:30pm. The Blue Room flips the script with Tom Mula’s reworking of the Dickens classic from the point of view of Scrooge’s business partner Jacob Marley. Tickets: $12-$15 (Thursdays, all seats $8). Blue Room Theatre, 139 Main St. (530) 895-3749. www.blueroomthetre.com

The Nutcracker (Chico)
Dec. 7-10. Chico Performances and Friends of Chico Community Ballet present Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker, featuring nearly 40 local grade school, high school and university performers. Evening shows, Thurs.-Sat., 7:30pm & matinees, Sat. & Sun., 2pm. Cost: $20-$25; seniors, $21; students/children, $17. Laxson Auditorium on the Chico State campus; University Box Office: (530) 898-6333.

Glorious Sounds of the Season
Friday-Sunday, Dec. 8-10. This is the season’s biggie. Chico State’s School of the Arts pulls out all the stops for this concert of holiday favorites. Performers include the 150-voice Choral Union, Gospel Choir, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, faculty ensembles, University organ and the Children’s Choir of Chico. Fri./Sat. shows are at 7:30pm and Sun. show is at 2pm. Cost: $20. Harlen Adams Theatre on the Chico State campus; University Box Office: (530) 898-6333.

Christopher Cross— Holiday Benefit Concert
Saturday, Dec. 9, 7pm. When you get drunk between the moon and New York city do you end up in Paradise? Christopher Cross sails into town to perform a benefit concert for Paradise Hospice. Tickets: $30-$75 (V.I.P. tix for $125 include after show reception with Mr. Cross). Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Rd., Paradise. (530) 872-7166.

Chico High Winter Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7:30pm. Chico High’s Symphonic Band Winter Concert. Tickets available from CHS band students and at the door. Laxson Auditorium on the Chico State campus. Info: (530) 891-3026.

The Eight: Reindeer Monologues
Dec. 15, 16 & 21-23, 10:30pm (doors, 10pm). Chico Cabaret’s dark Christmas comedy is back again. The Eight: Reindeer Monologues gets the dirt on Santa and his reindeer. Cost: $10. Chico Cabaret, 2201 Pillsbury, Almond Orchard Shopping Center. Info: (530) 895-0245.

The Nutcracker (Paradise)
Friday-Sunday, Dec. 15-17. The Northern California Ballet’s annual presentation of the holiday classic, Nutcracker. Four show times: Fri./Sat. at 7:15pm and Sat./Sun., at 2:15pm. Tickets: $7-$18. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Rd., Paradise. (530) 872-8454. More info: (530) 872-1719.

Community events

Community Tree Lighting
Friday, Dec. 1, 6pm. It’s the official first tree lighting in the new Chico City Plaza. Join Children’s Choir of Chico, Sound of the Foothills chorus, Chico Fire Dept.'s antique engine, Santa Claus along with Mayor Scott Gruendl for the annual public tree lighting. Chico City Plaza. Info: (530) 345-6500.

Oroville Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 9, 6pm. Oroville’s Christmas Parade of Lights. Oroville businesses and organizations decorate cars, trucks, horses and themselves. Huntoon, Robinson & Myers Streets, downtown Oroville. (530) 533-0263.

Special for the holidays

Homespun Christmas
Friday, Dec. 1, 9am-3pm. The Trinity United Methodist women present their annual bazaar and luncheon. Lunch of sandwiches, soup and pie served 11am-1:30pm. Trinity United Methodist Church, Fifth & Flume Sts. (530) 343-1497.

Christmas Tree Auction & Holiday Festival
Friday, Dec. 1, 6-10pm. As a benefit for Chico Community Shelter Partnership, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, as well as four local-artist paintings, will be auctioned off at this annual holiday party. Live jazz by Bob Aranguren Trio, plus hor d’oeuvres, desserts and no-host beer and wine bar. Tickets: $25/single; $40/couple, available at Art Etc. or Torres Shelter. Masonic Family Center, 1110 East Ave. (530) 891-9048.

Frontier Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 2, noon-4pm. It’s Christmas Pioneer-style at the Frontier Christmas at Lake Oroville. Meet Santa and buy holiday food and crafts, and play pioneer games, pan for gold and listen to pioneer tunes. Free admission. Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Lake Oroville. (530) 538-2219.

Breakfast With Santa
Saturday, Dec. 9, 8-11am. For only $5 get a small gift and have a pancake breakfast while hanging out with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves (parents can eat too, for additional $2 each). CARD is holding three pancake/gift sessions: 8am, 9am and 10am. Call to reserve. CARD Community Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave. (530) 895-4711.

Mistletoe Party & 150th birthday of Lott Home
Sunday, Dec. 10, noon-4pm. Friends of the Parks & City of Oroville presents the annual Mistletoe Party in combination with the 150th birthday of the Lott Home. Feat. Trinity Presbyterian Church Bell Ringers, gifts from Santa and hot spiced tea and cookies. $1/donation at door. Lott Home, 1067 Montgomery Street, Oroville. Info: (530) 538-2497.

Christmas Caroling/ Potluck Dinner
Sunday, Dec. 10. Sierra Club Yahi Group hosts a holiday potluck and evening of caroling at local nursing homes. Be prepared to bring a dish and call to sign up and get info on times and meeting places: (530) 899-9980 or (530) 343-9843.

Signing Santa Claus
Thursday, Dec. 14, 10-11:30am. No, it’s not one of those creepy Santa dolls singing “Jingle Bell Rock,” this is a flesh-and-blood St. Nick, signing (as in sign language) live at Chico Mall as part of the NorCal Center on Deafness’s annual Signing Santa Claus event. Meet Signing Santa and get your picture taken too. Chico Mall, 1950 E. 20th St. (530) 879-0339.

Artists, artisans and Fair Trade

Chico Christmas Faire
Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1-3. Arts, crafts, food and beverages, plus Santa every day at this huge Chico tradition! Also featuring live celtic music by Golden Bough (Sat. & Sun. only). Fri., noon-8pm; Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., 10am-5pm. Admission: $3 ($1/seniors; children/free). Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Info: (530) 345-9652.

Cottage Artisans Sale
Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1-3. Buy original art by local artists and artisans. Fri., 4-9pm; Sat., 10am-5pm; Sun., 10am-4pm. Chico Art Center, Fifth & Orange Sts. (530) 895-8726. www.chico artcenter.com.

Bizarre Bazaar
Saturday, Dec. 2, 9am-5pm. The Chikoko Artist Collective will present their handmade fashions alongside the functional hip art of local indie designers for a day-long sale of one-of-a-kind gifts, followed by an evening variety show. Chico Women’s Club, Third & Pine Sts. (530) 343-3328.

Christmas Arts & Crafts Faire
Sat. & Sun., Dec. 2 & 3. A community Christmas arts & crafts faire to raise money for the Paradise Ridge Senior Center. Sat., 9am-4pm & Sun., 10am-3pm. Paradise Senior Center, 877 Nunneley Rd., Paradise. (530) 877-1733.

Fair Trade Store
Chico Peace & Justice Center’s Fair Trade Store is open throughout the holidays. Hand-made gifts from the around the world, without a guilty conscience! All of the items in the store are certified to come from sources that provide living wages and promote fair labor practices. Everything from toys, instruments, tapestries and jewelry to coffee, tea and chocolate is available. Store hours: Monday-Thursday, noon-6pm & Fri., 1-5pm. Chico Peace & Justice Center, 526 Broadway. (530) 893-9078. www.chico-peace.org.