6 Things to Do This Week

Attendees line up on I Street to watch the parade as it turns down 10th Street at Modesto’s annual Celebration of Lights in 2011. Debbie Noda Modesto Bee file

Dickens Faire, Celebration of Lights

Modesto celebrates with a series of seasonal events this Saturday. First, stroll through the popular annual Dickens Faire inside and outside the McHenry Mansion. The event includes a craft fair, carolers, children’s activities and more and will lead into the city’s Celebration of Lights Parade. The illuminated holiday parade goes through downtown Modesto starting at 5:30 p.m. After, trees will be set aglow outside Modesto Centre Plaza at K and 10th streets. Following that will be the kickoff of the Rockin’ Holiday at Tenth Street Plaza featuring “Graffiti”-era rockabilly music with Rockin’ Rick and the Rhythm Wranglers and more.

WHEN: Dickens 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Celebration 5:30 p.m., Rockin’ 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Dickens McHenry Mansion, 906 15th St.; Celebration 14th and I streets; Rockin’ Tenth Street Plaza, Modesto

ADMISSION: All events free

CALL: (209) 549-0428 or (209) 577-5344

Community Christmas events

Some surrounding-area communities will hold their own holiday kickoff events this weekend as well. In Livingston, the Lighted Christmas Tree Forest will open Friday. The new court of lighted Christmas trees will be up through Christmas Day. You can also visit the Murphys Open House as the foothills community starts the season with its annual downtown stroll and lighted holiday parade Friday. Finally, on Saturday, get into the seasonal spirit with the unveiling of Ceres’ popular Christmas Tree Lane. The neighborhood display will start with the Ceres Christmas Festival at nearby Smyrna Park. Pictures with Santa and trolley rides through Christmas Tree Lane will be available.

WHEN: Livingston 6 p.m. and Murphys 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Ceres 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Livingston Old Court Theater, Murphys Main Street, Ceres Moffett Road

ADMISSION: All events free

CALL: Livingston (209) 394-8830, Murphys (209) 736-0567, Ceres (209) 538-5682

Holiday with the Rat Pack

Get a taste of the glitz and glamour of the 1950s and ’60s era with the “Christmas Spectacular: Holiday With the Rat Pack” show. The event will feature local singer Matt Henderson singing the hits and holiday favorites of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and other members of Hollywood’s Rat Pack. Henderson and friends will put on a Sinatra-style show with songs, anecdotes and more. He also performs his Rat Pack act regularly at area senior homes.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: State Theatre, 1307 J St., Modesto

ADMISSION: Free for those 55 and older, donations accepted for others

CALL: (209) 527-4697

ONLINE: www.thestate.org

Diciembre Navideño

Compañía Mazatlán Bellas Artes presents a colorful and festive seasonal production with “Diciembre Navideño.” The Mexican Christmas production will include dances and wardrobe spanning Mexican holiday traditions over years and regions. They will include the Tarazcos and Nahuas indigenous rituals of central Mexico, “callejoneadas” of modern Jalisco and African-influenced dances of Oaxaca. The show will feature 20 dancers and musicians on stage.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Foster Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $15-$30

CALL: (209) 338-2100

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

YES Company Gift of Song

The Youth Entertainment Stage Company returns with its fifth annual holiday production of the “Gift of Song.” The holiday music revue and singalong is performed by members of the student musical-theater program from the Stanislaus County Office of Education. This year’s event will be dedicated to the memory of longtime area arts advocate Bette Belle Smith. The show will feature holiday music and Broadway classics.

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Johansen High School Theatre, 641 Norseman Drive, Modesto

TICKETS: $10-$12

CALL: (209) 238-1700

ONLINE: www.yescompany.org

Sierra Rep Songs of the Season

Sierra Repertory Theatre rolls out its annual holiday and preview event “Songs of the Season.” Cast members from the company’s current production of “Sanders Family Christmas” and other veteran performers will take part in the concert, which will feature songs from shows in the upcoming 2015 season. Those include “Mary Poppins,” “The Music Man,” “Always Patsy Cline” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The show will also feature some holiday favorites.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Sierra Repertory Theatre, East Sonora Theatre, 13891 Mono Way, Sonora

TICKETS: $30

CALL: (209) 532-3120

ONLINE: www.sierrarep.org

This story was originally published November 26, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "6 Things to Do This Week."