Kansas City events Dec. 19-25: Symphony Christmas Festival, more Nutcrackers

He’s a comic stalwart in Los Angeles these days, but Jeremiah Watkins is a native of the Kansas City area who landed his first job in show biz at a local radio station when he was 19. A year later, he moved to Los Angeles, where he has become a regular at all the major comedy clubs, including the famous Comedy Store. He also has appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Netflix’s “Historical Roasts.” 816-326-8776. Tickets are $15-$20 through thecomedyclubkc.com.

With “The Monique Show,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “Showtime at the Apollo” and BET’s “ComicView” on his resume, J.J. Williamson has definitely made his mark in television. The comic from Jackson, Mississippi, who now lives in Atlanta, also appeared in the 2004 movie, “Johnson Family Vacation,” and has performed in comedy clubs around the nation. 816-759-5233. Tickets are $17-$47 through improvkc.com.

Who knew that “The Nutcracker” was set in Kansas City? It is in the VidaDance Company’s version, which is a new take on the classic holiday ballet. Combining ballet, modern, tap, jazz and hip-hop, “Cracked! A Reimagined Kansas City Nutcracker” follows Clara as she meets local favorites such as Christopher Elbow Chocolate, Tea-Biotics Kombucha and the Cherry Mash Fairy. 913 663-9157. Tickets are $12-$14.99 through vidadancecompany.com.

Les Lankhorst, a Salina, Kansas, native who has embodied Frank Sinatra on stages around the world, will bring his Sinatra-centric show of holiday favorites and swinging standards to Kansas City for three shows. Lankhorst has performed in national tours of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Zorba the Greek” and has starred as Sinatra in the Las Vegas and touring productions of “A Rat Pack is Back.” 816-221-6987. Tickets are $31 through mthkc.com.

Beau Bledsoe, guitarist and director of Ensemble Ibérica, will be joined by Amado Espinoza (flute, charango and percussion), Molly McLaughlin (vocals and flute), Brandon Draper (percussion) and Coleen Dieker (violin) in this performance of music from before and after the European colonization of the New World. Ensemble Ibérica focuses on the music of Ibéria (Spain and Portugal) and the colonial Americas. Tickets are $30 through ensembleiberica.org.

Among the area’s many celebrations of holiday music, this one stands above the rest. Not only will it take place in the scenic Kauffman Center and feature the Kansas City Symphony headlining the program of songs of the season, but it will also include the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, the Rezound! Handbell Ensemble, choirs and other special guests – one being Santa Claus himself. Also, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $15-$100 through kcsymphony.org.

What is likely the best men’s college basketball team in Missouri will visit the Sprint Center to challenge the Kansas State Wildcats, who started the season 4-0 before losing three of four games. The Saint Louis Billikens, led by former Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford, were 8-2 after a 67-61 loss at No. 12 Auburn on Dec. 14. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $12-$47 through sprintcenter.com.

Powell Gardens’ Chapel Concert Series will present the Kansas City Flute Choir performing a holiday program on a wide array of flutes in Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel. Before or after the concert, visitors can take in Festival of Lights: Luminosity, which offers a wonderland of color along a mile-long walk through the gardens. 816-697-2600. Tickets are $10 through powellgardens.org.

The annual Christmas concert of the professional vocal ensemble known as Kantorei KC will explore imagery of the season through scenes of darkness and light. The program will include “The Longest Nights,” a song cycle for voices and string quartet by Timothy C. Takach, as well as works by Britten, Barnum, Howells and others. Tickets are $10-$25 through kantoreikc.org; students free.

The Miller Marley School of Dance and Voice has joined with guest performers every year since 2005 to present “Clara’s Dream,” a condensed version of “The Nutcracker” that follows Clara on a magical journey through a dreamlike world filled with scenes from the classic ballet. Before “Clara’s Dream,” other performing groups from Miller Marley will entertain with a variety of dance styles. 913-492-0004. Tickets are $12-$25 through millermarley.net.

The idea of TubaChristmas has been around for decades, and now trombones have jumped on the bandwagon. The third annual Trombone Christmas Kansas City will be held in the Grand Plaza at historic Union Station, which is all dressed up for the holidays. As part of the event, which is open to trombone players of all ages and experience levels, participants will vie for an award for the most holiday spirit in dress and/or decoration. 816-460-2020. unionstation.org/trombonechristmaskc. Free.

Part of a nationwide pub crawl, SantaConKC will spread holiday cheer while raising funds for Street Medicine KC. Participants are encouraged to dress in Santa suits as they join a bevy of other Santas in Westport and take buses, fueled by Jingle Juice and Jolly Jello shots, to continue the party in other bar districts. Tickets are $40 through kcsantacon.wixsite.com/kcsantacon.

William Baker Festival Singers, “Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral II,” Dec. 20, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. festivalsingers.org

Spire Chamber Ensemble, Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 21, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and Dec. 22, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish. spirechamberensemble.org

Lee’s Summit Symphony Holiday Spectacular, Dec. 21, Pavilion at John Knox Village. lssymphony.org

“High Solstice Cabaret,” Bohemian Cult Revival, Dec. 21, The Black Box. eventbrite.com/event/77969154841

“The Hippie & the Hitman” Musical Cabaret, Dec. 23, Buffalo Room. brownpapertickets.com/event/4452386

Night the Buzz Stole Xmas Night 2 featuring Angels & Airwaves, Badflower and Search & Seizure, Dec. 19, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Danielle Nicole and Brandon Miller, Dec. 20, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Night the Buzz Stole Xmas Night 3 featuring Cold War Kids, Lovelytheband, She Wants Revenge and Berwanger, Dec. 20, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Jackyl, Dec. 21, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. arvestbanktheatre.com

Jeezy with Mozzy and OMB Peezy, Dec. 21, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Trampled Under Foot, Dec. 21, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

“A Trip on the Polar Express,” Dec. 22, Independence Community Ice, Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. heartlandfsc.org/theater-on-ice

Kansas City Mavericks (hockey) vs. Utah, Dec. 20; vs. Tulsa, Dec. 21. Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. kcmavericks.com

KC Stampede Wrestling Tournament, Dec. 20-21, Hy-Vee Arena. hyveearena.com/upcoming-events/kc-stampede-wrestling

Kansas City Santa Shuffle 5K, Dec. 21, 18th and Vine. teamwallstreet.org

Winter Martini Shake-off. 5-9 p.m. Dec. 21. $40. Independence Square; check in at 3 Trails Brewing, 111 N. Main, Independence. theindependencesquare.com

Feast of the Seven Fishes. 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 24. $65. Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, 4814 Roanoke Parkway. jaxfishhouse.com/kansas-city, 816-437-7940

Feast of the Seven Fishes. 6 p.m. Dec. 24. $65; $40 wine pairing. Lidia’s Kansas City, 101 W. 22nd. lidias-kc.com, 816-221-3722

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Kansas City events Dec. 19-25: Symphony Christmas Festival, more Nutcrackers."