KC events Dec. 14-20: ‘Charlie Brown Christmas,’ Dickens Carolers, Irreplaceables

Fans of the Lifetime channel reality TV show “Dance Moms” will be familiar with The Irreplaceables, an elite team that combines contemporary, jazz and hip-hop dance for a high-energy performance. Four members — Kalani Hilliker, Chloe Lukasiak, Nia Sioux and Kendall Vertes — are touring the country with a show that will include their dance presentation as well as a workshop and Q&A. 816-205-8560. Tickets are $35-$250 through thetrumankc.com.

When the NCAA women’s volleyball championships were in Kansas City for the first time in 2010, Penn State defeated California to win its fourth consecutive national title. The top-ranked Nittany Lions, who also won national championships in 2013 and 2014, will go for another title after beating Missouri this past weekend in the round of 16. The semifinals (Penn State-Nebraska and Stanford-Florida) will be Thursday, with the championship match Saturday. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $45-$75 through sprintcenter.com.

The Symphony is presenting multiple holiday-themed events during December, with “Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ ” still to come Dec. 22-23, but the Christmas Festival will keep the musicians the busiest, with seven shows over five days. The Kansas City Symphony Chorus, the Allegro Choirs and the ReZound! Handbell Ensemble will join them for carols and other holiday fun. Also, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17; and 7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 18-19. Kauffman Center. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $15-$90 through kcsymphony.org.

“Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral” will feature the William Baker Festival Singers performing carols, traditional classics and modern works in two of Kansas City’s grandest cathedrals. The local 50-voice chorale, which performs around the nation, will be joined by Allegro Con Spirito on Friday and by the Spring Hill High School Madrigal Choir on Sunday. 913-403-9223. Tickets are $5-$40 through festivalsingers.org.

Fresh off its bronze-medal performance at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus Competition this past summer in Las Vegas, Kansas City’s own men’s a cappella group will present “Holiday Harmonies.” Central Standard’s sister group, Vocal Standard, will help celebrate the holidays with a wide selection of songs of the season. 816-474-4444. Tickets are $15-$50 through follytheater.org.

Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the “Peanuts” gang will join Charlie Brown to mount a play, save a tree and uncover the true meaning of Christmas in this touring stage version of the classic 1965 animated television special. The play presents the comic-strip characters of Charles Schulz and the music written for the TV show by Vince Guaraldi. 785-864-2787. Tickets are $14-$40 through lied.ku.edu.

This exhibit in the museum’s Chinese Temple Room will showcase ancient Chinese burial rituals through a 2,000-year-old, life-sized burial suit, assembled from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked with gold wire. Ninety pieces from the museum’s collection of early Chinese art will be displayed in adjacent galleries. Runs through April 1. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday. 816-751-1278. Tickets are $10-$18 at nelson-atkins.org; includes admission to “Through the Eyes of Picasso.”

Who would have thought in early October that this Saturday night matchup would be the biggest game of the Chiefs’ season? At that time, they were 5-0 and the Chargers were 1-4 after starting 0-4. But now the teams are tied atop the AFC West at 7-6 with three games left in the regular season as the Chiefs continue to fight for their playoff lives and the Chargers are playing like one of the best teams in the AFC. 816-920-9300. Tickets are $40-$305 through chiefs.com.

This will be a special night for local hockey fans. Not only will the Mavericks play the Colorado Eagles, who won last season’s Kelly Cup as champions of the ECHL, but it will also be Pay What You Can Night for admission. And don’t worry, you will be able to keep track of the ongoing Chiefs-Chargers game because live coverage will be shown during intermissions. Also, vs. Colorado, 4:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. 800-745-3000. Tickets are $16-$55 through kcmavericks.com.

The Chesapeake in the title at least partially refers to a Chesapeake Bay retriever, who is at the center of the plot of this 2000 one-person play by Lee Blessing. A performance artist takes on a conservative senator running for re-election who would like to cut funding for the arts. The artist plots to kidnap and retrain the senator’s lovable dog as one final performance using NEA funding. Runs through Jan. 7. Jerome Stage. 816-531-7529. Tickets are $32-$42 through unicorntheatre.org.

This is the busy time of year for the Dickens Carolers, who are celebrating their 34th season of holiday caroling. Costumed in turn-of-the-century attire, they provide entertainment at hundreds of holiday events each year. Their three concerts at the Chestnut Fine Arts Center are the highlight of their schedule and will have even the most bah-humbug person cheerily ready for Christmas day. 913-764-2121. Tickets are $27 through chestnutfinearts.com.

Although there will be several productions of the nearly three-century-old “Messiah” performed around the region this holiday season, the Spire Chamber Ensemble’s version is perhaps the area’s most traditional. The Spire Baroque Orchestra will provide accompaniment on original period instruments. Kauffman Center. 816-944-0360. Tickets are $31.50-$51.50 through spirechamberensemble.org.

American Youth Ballet, “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 16-17, Yardley Hall. jccc.edu/theseries

Ensemble Iberica, Cantigas de Santa Maria, Dec. 16, St. Paul’s Episcopal. ensembleiberica.org

Ibsen Ballet Theatre Youth Company, “The Nutcracker Ballet,” Dec. 16-17, Staley High School Performing Arts Theatre. ibsendance.net

Liberty Youth Ballet Company, “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 16-17, Liberty Community Center. lybc.live

Mid America Freedom Band, “Kringle and Krampus: Holidays on Screen,” Dec. 16-17, National World War I Museum. freedomband.com

Miller Marley Youth Ballet, “Clara’s Dream,” Dec. 16-17, Olathe South High School Performing Arts Center. millermarley.com

Noah Geller and Shir Ami, Dec. 19, 1900 Building. 1900bldg.com

“A Crooner Christmas, Sinatra Style,” Dec. 14-16, MTH Theater at Crown Center. mthkc.com

Lavell Crawford, Dec. 15-17, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

The Night the Buzz Stole XXmas featuring X Ambassadors, Irontom and more, Dec. 14, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Almost Kiss and KC/DC, Dec. 15, Ameristar. ameristar.com

Jackyl with Wayland, Dec. 15, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

Suicideboys, Dec. 15, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Todd Rundgren, Dec. 15, VooDoo. voodookc.com

Howard Hewett, Glenn Jones and Troop, Dec. 16, Music Hall. ticketmaster.com

The Night the Buzz Stole XXXmas featuring Børns, AJR, Kitten and more, Dec. 16, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Pokey LaFarge, Dec. 16, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Brent Smith and Zach Myers with J.R. Moore and Zack Mack, Dec. 16, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

Hermon Mehari Quintet, Dec. 17, Polsky Theatre. jccc.edu/theseries

Tatsuya Nakatani and Friends, Dec. 17, 1900 Building. 1900bldg.com

Skate with Santa, Dec. 15, Line Creek. kcparks.org

UMKC men’s basketball vs. Central Michigan, Dec. 19. Municipal Auditorium. umkckangaroos.com