FRIDAY
Music: Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers are up next in the new “Eddie Owen Presents” series at the Red Clay Theatre and Arts Center in Duluth. The show starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 30 .
Music: Formerly Atlanta-based, and now working out of Northern California, Sound Tribe Sector 9 mixes the electronic thump of club music and hip-hop, the experimental explorations of jazz and the elasticity of a jam band. The band is in the midst of a five-night stand at the Tabernacle, which continues through Dec. 31.
Comedy: Atlanta favorite and former local resident Tom Simmons brings his stand-up comedy to the Laughing Skull Lounge this weekend. He’ll perform nightly Dec. 29 through Jan. 1, with special pricing for the New Year’s Eve show.
Comedy: Amy Schumer has appeared on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central’s “Reality Bites Back.” She’ll help ring in the New Year at the Punchline Dec. 30 and 31.
Performing arts: “Odysseo” is an equestrian ballet that is a lavish blend of multimedia and performing arts. From one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, the show just extended its run under the big tent near Spring and 8th streets through Jan. 15. Check out our review of the show.
Stage: The bratty Herdman kids bully their way into the annual Christmas pageant and create chaos instead of holiday cheer in Synchronicity Theatre’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” The show continues through Jan. 1 at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s in downtown Atlanta.
Stage: A mysterious visitor drops in on Madeline and her friends in “Madeline’s Christmas,” a musical play adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ children’s book. The show runs through Jan. 1 at Horizon Theatre Company.
Stage: “The Nativity: A Gospel Celebration” is True Colors Theatre Company’s gospel telling of the Christmas story written, directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris. It continues through Dec. 30 at Southwest Arts Center in Atlanta.
Stage: Harold M. Leaver returns as Crumpet in “The Santaland Diaries,” an adaptation of David Sedaris’ tale of working as a Christmas elf at Macy’s. The show is at Horizon Theatre through Jan. 1.
Stage: The beloved Rankin-Bass cartoon “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” comes to life in this puppet-tastic version from Jon Ludwig at the Center for Puppetry Arts. The show continues through Dec. 31.
Stage: Another long-running holiday tradition, “Sanders Family Christmas” is back at Theatre in the Square in Marietta for the 13th season. Visit with the bluegrass gospel singing family through Dec. 31.
Holiday, families: At Stone Mountain Christmas, Crossroads at the base of Stone Mountain is decked out with more than 2 million lights. The park also offers many more Christmas-themed activities and entertainment options. The season continues through Jan. 1 at Stone Mountain Park.
Holiday: The Atlanta Botanical Garden celebrates the holiday season with Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, a dazzling show that features nearly 1 million lights crafted into displays inspired by nature. The show runs through Jan. 7.
Exhibition, religion: “Passages” is a traveling exhibition of the world’s largest private collection of rare biblical texts and artifacts. It continues at the Perimeter Expo in Dunwoody through May 13.
Holiday: It’s a bright and shiny Christmas at Lake Lanier as the Magical Nights of Lights spectacular continues. The display happens nightly through Jan. 1.
Holiday: More than 1 million lights and hundreds of individual light displays fill Atlanta Motor Speedway in Gift of Lights, a 1.5 mile drive-through experience. It runs through Jan. 1.
Holiday: Life University’s Lights of Life is one of the best holiday bargains around at just $5 per carload and it runs through Dec. 31.
SATURDAY
Music, holiday: Watch the big peach fall on New Year’s Eve at Underground Atlanta at the Peach Drop 2012 New Year’s Eve Countdown. Before the countdown, music will fill the air all day, with a year-ending set from Kansas at 11:15 p.m.
Music, party: Two very different artists headline the annual Downtown Countdown New Year’s Eve celebration: Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk and rap trio Naughty by Nature. The party takes place at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta beginning at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31.
Parade, festival: The Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade begins at Peachtree and Baker streets and concludes at the Georgia World Congress Center, where the Chick-fil-A Bowl Fanfest happens from 2-6 p.m.
Holiday: Lawrenceville Rings, a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, begins at 3 p.m. and ends at midnight, showcasing a fireworks display and ringing of bells. “Early Eve for Kids” happens 3-6 p.m. at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse.
Music: One of Georgia’s most successful exports, the Zac Brown Band will ring in the New Year at Philips Arena. Brown will also showcase the artists signed to his Southern Ground record label beginning at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31.
Music: Spend New Year’s Eve with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which welcomes London and Broadway stage stars Joan Hess and Kirby Ward. The show begins at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Atlanta Symphony Hall.
Music: Dash Rip Rock has rocked the South since the mid-’80s, and the New Orleans band rings in the New Year at French Market & Tavern. Doors open for the show at 8:30 p.m.
Music: Michelle Malone will help usher in the new year at Eddie’s Atticin Decatur, along with country-rocker Hannah Thomas. Shows are at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31.
Holiday, music: McDonough, aka the Geranium City, hosts the first Geranium Drop on the city’s historic square. The live music begins at 8:45 p.m. Dec. 31.
Music: Guadalcanal Diary and Dex Romweber Duo take the stage at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta to bring in 2012. The evening begins at 7 p.m. Dec. 31.