The Week Ahead: Highlights for Nov. 26-Dec. 2

Festivals

Winter Worldfest Weekend

TODAY Celebrating holiday traditions from many cultures, featuring Korean and African dancers, marketplace, interactive Lego display for children and more. 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. today, Center House, Seattle Center; free (206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com).

Holiday Carousel

ENDS DEC. 30 Ride the grand carousel; proceeds benefit Northwest Center programs serving children with developmental disabilities. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday through Dec. 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 30, Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle; $2 (206-623-0340 or www.downtownseattle.com).

Winterfest

ENDS JAN.1 Holiday-train display, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Center House; carousel, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Fisher Pavilion, $1; ice rink, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Fisher Pavilion, $5/adult, $3/ages 6-12, ages 5 and younger free, $2/skate rental; Seattle Center (206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com).

Bellevue Magic Season

ENDS DEC. 31 Snowflake Lane nightly light show with falling snow, live toy soldiers, carolers, music-and-light show, 7 p.m. daily through Dec. 24, nightly Celebration Lane performance today-Dec. 31, along the sidewalks of Bellevue Way and Northeast Eighth Street; Design in Light architectural mosaic of lights, Northeast Sixth Street Pedestrian Corridor; Downtown Bellevue Glitters light display on buildings, trees, plazas and construction sites in downtown Bellevue; 106th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Sixth Street, (425-453-3113 or www.magicseason.com).

Concerts

Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, The Randy Rogers Band

FRI Energetic, fun-loving Bentley is having great success with his third album, "Long Trip Alone." It landed at No. 1 on the country chart, and the first single from it, "Every Mile a Memory," was a No. 1 single and video. Lambert's debut album, "Kerosene," recently was certified gold. The Randy Rogers Band released its first album in September. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett; $29.50 (866-332-8499 or www.everetteventscenter.com).

Josh Blue, Chris Porter

FRI The lovable Blue is the inspiring winner of TV's "Last Comic Standing" competition. Much of his material comes from his experiences of living with cerebral palsy. 8 p.m. Friday, Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $28.25 (206-628-0888 or www.ticketmaster.com).

Roosevelt Jazz Band "Ellington Jazz Nutcracker"

SAT-NEXT SUN Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn swing the sugar plums. Proceeds go to support one of the finest high-school jazz bands in the country. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. next Sunday, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $15-$20 (206-292-ARTS or www.ticketmaster.com).

Classical Music

German Baroque

Holiday concert

TODAY German Christmas music featuring soprano Amanda Jane Kelley, Vicki Boeckman, Margriet Tindemans and Jillon Stoppels Dupree. 2 p.m. today, Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave. W., Seattle; $10-$25 (206-726-6088 or www.galleryconcerts.org).

Barenaked Ladies, Mike Doughty's Band

TODAY KMTT/The Mountain's 12th-annual Winter Warmth charity concert features Barenaked Ladies, the whimsical pop-rock band from Toronto that has a new album out, "Barenaked Ladies Are Me." In past shows here, the band has chosen one man in the crowd to moon the audience — so wear clean underwear! Concert benefits First Place; 7:30 p.m. today, Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett; $30-$57.50 (866-332-8499 or www.everetteventscenter.com).

Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide concert

TODAY Featuring holiday songs rooted in the Celtic tradition, dance, storytelling and juggling. 3 p.m. today, Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline; $8-$15 (206-471-4645 or www.magicalstrings.com).

Seattle Pacific University Choirs: Sacred Sounds of Christmas

TODAY Advent and Christmas music and readings that span centuries, featuring Seattle Pacific University's Concert Choir, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Women's Choir and Mannerchor. 4 p.m. today, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $15-$18 (206-281-2100).

Seattle Symphony:

Ravel's "La Valse"

THU-NEXT SUN All-classical program including Ravel's "La Valse" and excerpts from "Swan Lake" and "Cinderella." 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. next Sunday, Benaroya Hall, S. Mark Taper Forum, 200 University St., Seattle; $40-$94 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Nightclubs

Conor Byrne Pub 5140 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle (206-784-3640).

THU "Ballard Jazz Walk." Matt Jorgensen +451; Thomas Marriott's Willie Nelson Project, in one of eight venues on "the street" featuring jazz.

Dimitriou's Jazz Alley 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle (206-441-9729).

TODAY Taj Mahal Trio. Always a favorite in Seattle, this interpreter of blues and music of the African diaspora usually starts off the week with a frog in his throat, but it eventually hops out.

THU-NEXT SUN Count Basie Orchestra. With Butch Miles on tubs, you know the band's gotta swing, and those arrangements of "Splanky" and "L'il Darlin' " are still as great as ever. William H. Hughes conducts and plays trombone, but the Count himself, of course, will be there in spirit.

Egan's Ballard Jam House 1707 N.W. Market St., Seattle (206-789-1621).

THU Jessica Lurie Ensemble. A member of the Tipton Sax Quartet, Lurie is an aggressive sax player with a kind of minimalist repetitive streak that gives her playing special momentum.

The Tractor 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle (206-789-3599).

THU The Origin Uber Band. With John Bishop, drums; Rich Cole, sax; and guitarists Rick Mandyck and Dave Peterson. Part of the Ballard Jazz Walk.

The War Room 722 E. Pike St., Seattle (206-328-7666).

TUE "Drum and Bass." Long-running drum-and-bass night from 360 BPM and UTN.

Theater

"Black Nativity"

ENDS 12/27 "Joy to the world ... " Intiman Theatre reprises its annual seasonal production, based on a Langston Hughes treatment of the story of Christ's birth. With Seattle gospel queen Patrinell Wright leading the choir, and plenty of rousing music, dance, sanctifying and sermonizing. Previews 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday. Opens 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. next Sunday. Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St., Seattle; $10-$42 (206-269-1900 or www.intiman.org).

"Bye Bye Birdie"

ENDS 12/31 "So put on a happy face ... " The 1960 Broadway musical, about what happens to little Sweet Apple, Ohio, when an Elvislike pop idol and his entourage visit for a publicity stunt. 2 and 7 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. next Sunday. Village Theatre, Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah; $25-$49 (425-392-2202 or www.villagetheatre.org).

"A Christmas Carol"

ENDS 12/24 ACT Theatre remounts its dandy, festive adaptation of Charles Dickens' ubiquitous holiday morality tale for the 31st year. The capable thesps Terry Edward Moore and David Pichette alternate in the role of Scrooge. 1 and 4 p.m. today, 1 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 4 p.m. next Sunday. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle; $15-$44 (206-292-7676 or www.acttheatre.org).

"Late Nite Catechism"

ONGOING In this long-running clerical romp, Aubrey Manning portrays a nun teaching Catholic dogma to a class composed of audience members. This is great entertainment for those of all faiths. 2 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. next Sunday. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle; $24.50-$29.50 (206-292-7676 or www.acttheatre.org).

"Teatro ZinZanni: Dinner & Dreams"

ONGOING One Reel's unique dinner-theater extravaganza, a zany variety-circus event served up with a multicourse meal designed by top Seattle chef Tom Douglas, uncorks a bawdy, mirthful evening of romance and munching performed in an elegant antique cabaret tent. 5:30 p.m. today, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m. next Sunday. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $104-$155 (206-802-0015 or dreams.zinzanni.org).

Books

John Keeble and Kathleen Flenniken

TUE Local fiction and poetry Prairie Schooner Award-winners read from their books — Keeble from his short-story collection, "Nocturnal America," and Flenniken from her volume of poems, "Famous." 7 p.m. Tuesday, University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle; free (206-634-3400 or www.ubookstore.com).

Jack Prelutsky

WED Local author and newly-named Children's Poet Laureate introduces his new book, "Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant: and Other Poems." 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Ballard Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., Seattle; free (206-684-4089 or www.spl.org).

Elizabeth George

WED The acclaimed mystery author reads from her new Inspector Lynley mystery, "What Came Before He Shot Her." 7 p.m. Wednesday, University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle; free (206-634-3400 or www.ubookstore.com).

Leslie Mackie and Greg Atkinson

THU It's dueling local chefs night — Mackie of Seattle's Macrina Bakery discusses her new cookbook, "Leslie Mackie's Macrina Bakery and Café Cookbook." 7 p.m. Thursday, University Bookstore, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle; free (206-634-3400 or www.ubookstore.com). Over on Bainbridge Island, Greg Atkinson, Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine contributor and chef, discusses his new cookbook, "West Coast Cooking." 7 p.m. Thursday, Eagle Harbor Book Co., 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island; free (206-842-5332 or www.eagleharborbooks.com).

Subhankar Banerjee

THU The photographer-author ("Arctic Wings: Birds of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge") presents new Arctic photos and lectures, "America's Arctic — Is It For Sale?" 7 p.m. Thursday, Kane Hall, University of Washington, Seattle; free (206-223-6303 or www.mountaineersbooks.org).

Ben Lerner

THU The author reads from his new collection, "Angle of Yaw," a National Book Award finalist in poetry. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Open Books: A Poem Emporium, 2414 N. 45th St., Seattle; free (206-633-0811 or www.openpoetrybooks.com).

Visual Arts

Event

William Christenberry

SAT The photographer gives a talk. 2 p.m. Saturday at Henry Art Gallery, Seattle; free (206-543-2280 or www.henryart.org).

Museums

Bellevue Arts Museum

"Call Me Chairmaker," 52 sculptural chairs by Garry Knox Bennett, one of the foremost contemporary studio furniture-makers in the country (ends today). Calligraphy by Mohamed Zakariya (ends Feb. 18). "Dim Sum at the On-On Tea Room," a retrospective of jewelry by Northwest craftsman Ron Ho (ends Feb. 18). 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue (425-519-0770 or www.bellevueart.org).

Experience Music Project

ENDS 1/1 "DoubleTake: From Monet to Lichtenstein," Paul Allen offers a first peek at his art collection, including canvases by van Gogh, Rothko, Turner, de Kooning, Picasso, Renoir and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 325 Fifth Ave. N., Seattle (206-367-5483 or www.emplive.com).

Frye Art Museum

"Klompen," a clever, coin-operated sound sculpture by Trimpin (ends Jan. 21). "Little Women, Little Men," Folk Art Portraits of Children from the Fenimore Art Museum (ends Feb. 4). Also showing: "Spectatorship and Desire: Loss," paintings from the museum's collection (ends March 4). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 704 Terry Ave., Seattle (206-622-9250 or www.fryeart.org).

Museum of History & Industry

ENDS 12/17 "Picturing the Century: One Hundred Years of Photography," a fascinating traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution highlights photographs from the National Archives that chronicle a century of American life. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. First Thursdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 2700 24th Ave. E., Seattle (206-324-1126 or www.seattlehistory.org).

Seattle Asian Art Museum

ENDS 1/15 "Reflex," trick-the-mind images by Brazilian-born conceptual artist Vik Muniz. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, extended hours until 9 p.m. Thursday, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle (206-654-3100 or www.seattleartmuseum.org).

Galleries

Cornish College Main Gallery

ENDS 12/16 Selected works by Thelma Lehmann. The artist, author, philanthropist and former Seattle Times art critic celebrates her 90th birthday with a retrospective exhibition. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1000 Lenora St., First Floor, Seattle (206-726-5066 or www.cornish.edu).

Davidson Galleries

ENDS SAT Woodcuts and paintings by Lockwood Dennis. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 313 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle (206-624-7684 or www.davidsongalleries.com).

Friesen Gallery

ENDS TODAY "Tracking," a strong show of sculpture and works on paper by Jane Rosen. Also, "Pilchuck: The 16th Year of Emerging Artists in Residence," with works by Pat Bako, Jenny Heishman, Cara Meling and others. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1200 Second Ave., Seattle (206-628-9501 or www.friesengallery.com).

Howard House

OPENS THU "Never Always," new sculpture and photographs by admired Northwest artist Dan Webb (ends Jan. 6). 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 604 Second Ave., Seattle (206-256-6399 or www.howardhouse.net).

James Harris Gallery

ENDS 12/22 "Actual," conceptual photographs by Roy McMakin. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 309A Third Ave. S., Seattle (206-903-6220 or www.jamesharrisgallery.com).