KC events Nov. 22-28: Plaza Lighting, Festival of Lights, Michael Jr., Jane Lynch

Mayor Sly James will flip the switch for this Thanksgiving tradition at 6:45 p.m., with fireworks and a concert by The Elders to follow. Kansas City’s 89th holiday kickoff might be your last chance to hear The Elders, the area’s favorite Irish rock band, who have announced they will call it quits after 2018. It is also James’ last year as mayor. For the record, last year’s celebrity switch flippers were Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson and quarterback Alex Smith, both of whom are no longer with team. Lights will shine daily through Jan. 13. 816-753-0100. countryclubplaza.com.

Quality Hill produces one of Kansas City’s favorite annual Christmas musical shows by combining sacred with secular, and popular with traditional into one cabaret revue for the entire family. Featuring vocalists Lauren Bradshaw, Brad Dawdy and Lindsey McKee and pianist/emcee J. Kent Barnhart, the show will present music ranging from gospel to contemporary to classical. Runs through Dec. 23. 816-421-1700. Tickets are $38-$41 through qualityhillplayhouse.com.

Although he is best known for playing sex-crazed Uncle Elroy Jones in the movies “Next Friday” and “Friday After Next,” Don “DC” Curry has been doing standup longer than some comedians who appear at the Improv have been alive. The Fort Worth, Texas, native has been named “Comedian Of The Year” by the BET network, where he appeared on and hosted “ComicView.” Also, 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23; 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25. 816-759-5233. Tickets are $20-$55 through improvkc.com.

Powell Gardens has more to offer than spring blooms and summer butterflies. The holiday celebration of Festival of Lights will feature botanically themed lighting displays throughout the 970-acre grounds situated 30 miles east of Kansas City, including a walking path through six of the venue’s seven themed gardens. There also will be free children’s activities, complete with an ornament station. Runs 4-10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Jan. 6. 816-697-2600. Tickets are $5-$12 through powellgardens.org.

With the closing of Stanford’s Comedy Club after more than 40 years, the opening of Clint’s Comedy Stop has helped fill the void. Located in Overland Park’s Rosana Square Shopping Center, Clint’s is bringing some of the same national acts to town that used to appear at Stanford’s. James Johann and Aaron Naylor are local products who have performed nationwide. 913-749-2200. Tickets are $20 through clintscomedystop.com.

The Mavericks got off to a red-hot start in the 2018-19 hockey season, winning nine of their first 11 games and compiling 19 points to stand atop the Mountain Division of the ECHL. They are very familiar with Wichita. This post-Thanksgiving Day match-up will be the teams’ fifth game this season and their fourth straight in an 11-day span. 816-252-7825. Tickets are $14-$27 through kcmavericks.com.

Bernard Labadie, conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in New York and a leading interpreter of baroque and classical repertoire, will return as guest conductor of the Kansas City Symphony for this program highlighted by Mozart’s final symphony, “Jupiter.” Julian Kaplan, principal trumpet for the symphony, will be featured on Haydn’s popular Trumpet Concerto. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $25-$85 through kcsymphony.org.

If you’re intrigued by the role the mob played in Kansas City’s history, this event will answer all your questions. Not only will the documentaries “Black Hand Strawman: The History of Organized Crime in KC” and “Gangland Wire: From the River Quay to Las Vegas” show each day, but retired FBI agent William Ouseley, retired KCPD sergeant Gary Jenkins and mob historian Terence O’Malley will hold a panel discussion and a Q&A. Tickets are $10-$15 through ganglandwire.com/kansas-city-mafia-film-festival.

A church might seem like an odd venue for a comedian to perform, but Michael Jr. isn’t your typical comedian. In addition to having a clean act during this era filled with foul-mouthed funny folks, the Grand Rapids, Mich., native actively caters to a Christian crowd. He has built an impressive TV resume, complete with appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “The Late, Late Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Tickets are $15-$50 through evangel.church or eventbrite.com/event/50655303376.

“A Swingin’ Little Christmas!” will put all of Jane Lynch’s talents on display. Known mostly for her Emmy-winning comedy antics on “Glee” and “Hollywood Game Nights,” Lynch also has a musical side. Joining her for holiday-themed three-part harmonies and onstage banter will be Kate Flannery (“The Office”) and Tim Davis (vocal arranger for “Glee”), as well as the Tony Guerrero Quintet. 785-864-2787. Tickets are $19-$50 through lied.ku.edu.

Productions featuring Junie B. Jones and based on Barbara Parks’ books have become a staple for Theatre for Young America. In this episode, it’s holiday season and everyone’s favorite first-grader is planning a party with the rest of the students in Room One, but Tattletale May gets in the way. Junie comes up with a plan to teach May a lesson before learning an important lesson about the joy of giving. Runs through Dec. 22. 816-460-2083. Tickets are $9-$12 through unionstation.org or tya.org.

Set in an indoor soccer facility, “The Wolves” is a dramatic comedy that focuses on the interactions of nine teenage girls who are teammates warming up before their matches each week. Their conversation topics range from injuries and boyfriends to menstrual cycles and eating disorders as the drama builds toward the big season-ending match. Written by Sarah DeLappe, it was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Runs through Dec. 30. 816-531-7529. Tickets are $33-$43 through unicorntheatre.org.

“Fairy Tale Favorites,” Nov. 23-24, Puppetry Arts Institute. hazelle.org

Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, Nov. 24, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Celtic Thunder, Nov. 25, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Phosphorescent, Nov. 26, Granada. thegranada.com

Tash Sultana with Ocean Alley, Nov. 26, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland. midlandkc.com

Underoath with Dance Gavin Dance and The Plot In You, Nov. 27, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Good Charlotte with Knuckle Puck, Sleeping With Sirens and The Dose, Nov. 28, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

In Flames with From Ashes To New, Nov. 28, Granada. thegranada.com

Thanksgiving Breakfast Dance, Nov. 22, Kansas National Guard Armory, Kansas City, Kan. ticketkc.com

Luminary Walk, Nov. 23-Dec. 8, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. opabg.org

Pilgrim Run, Nov 22, Hyde Park. pilgrimrun.org

Ward Parkway Thanksgiving Day Run, Nov. 22, Ward Parkway Center. wardparkwaythanksgivingdayrun.com

Thanksgiving Buffet. 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 22. $19-$39. Bristol Seafood Grill, 51 E. 14th. bristolseafoodgrill.com, 816-448-6007

Thanksgiving Buffet. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 22. $18-$39. Bristol Seafood Grill, 5400 W. 119th, Leawood. bristolseafoodgrill.com, 913-663-5777

Thanksgiving buffet. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 22. $28.99. The Buffet Ameristar Casino, 3200 N. Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com, 816-414-7000

Thanksgiving buffet. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 26. $29.99. Epic Buffet Hollywood Casino, 777 Hollywood Casino Blvd., Kansas City, Kan. hollywoodcasinokansas.com, 913- 287-9763

South African Wine and Art Experience. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26. $25. Flying Horse Taproom, 600 E. 63rd. flyinghorsetaproom.com, 816-444-0772

Thanksgiving Buffet. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 22. $19-$38. Gaslight Grill 5020 W. 137th, Leawood. gaslightgrill.com, 913-897-3540

Martin City Beer Dinner. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27. $30. HopCat, 401 Westport. hopcat.com/kansas-city, 816-656-3439

Thanksgiving three-course prix-fixe menu. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 22. $39. J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood, 8901 Metcalf, Overland Park. jgilberts.com, 913-642-8070

Thanksgiving Feast. Noon-6 p.m. Nov. 22. $18-$55; $35 wine pairing. Lidia’s Kansas City, 101 W. 22nd. lidias-kc.com, 816-221-3722

Thanksgiving Three-Course Dinner Special. Noon-7:30 p.m. Nov. 22. $33.95. Piropos, 4141 N. Mulberry. piroposkc.com, 816-741-3600

Thanksgiving three-course table d’hote. Noon-7 p.m. Nov. 22. $48-$65. The Savoy, 219 W. Ninth. thesavoykc.com, 816-443-4260

This story was originally published November 21, 2018 at 1:22 PM.