Christmas is 10 days away, and holiday festivities are at their merriest. Here are some of this weekend’s top offerings.
Christmas concerts at The Orchard Chapel
The Word Barn’s 12 Nights of Christmas continues with five shows in three days at The Orchard Chapel in Hampton Falls. Beloved Irish band Lunasa presents A Celtic Christmas on Friday, with an early show from 5-7 p.m. and a late show from 8-10 p.m. ($35). The first Candlelight Carol Sing takes place on Saturday from 3-4 p.m. ($0-$15). Session Americana presents Home for the Holidays on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. ($26). And Zachariah Hickman brings some special guests to a Handsome Holiday Happening on Sunday from 7-9 p.m. ($25). Learn more here.
Laughing Through the Holidays at Book & Bar
A lineup of six talented comedians will be serving up a festive feast of laughter at Portsmouth Book & Bar this weekend. Hosted by Jake Valeri, “Laughing Through the Holidays” offers two back-to-back performances on Friday night, with an early show at 7 p.m. and a late show at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $10-$12. Learn more here.
Special shows at The Dance Hall
Dan Blakeslee and the Calabash Club present a Christmasland Jubilee at The Dance Hall on Friday from 7-8:30 p.m., kicking off a joyous weekend in Kittery ($17-$22). Boston-based fiddler Leland Martin celebrates his new album, “Moonlighter,” on Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m. ($17-$22). The audience becomes the chorus when Portsmouth Pro Musica’s Priscilla French leads a Messiah Sing on Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m. ($20-$25). Learn more here.
McCue’s Comedy standup shows
McCue’s Comedy Club keeps the jokes coming in Portsmouth. Vermont native EJ Murphy headlines at Rio Tequila Cantina following a couple of openers on Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. And Boston-based comic Kathe Farris headlines a comedy showcase at Roundabout Diner on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
Secret Santa Spectacular at 3S Artspace
Cast members from RGC Theatre and Dive In Productions will anonymously gift each other songs to perform live on the stage of 3S Artspace in Portsmouth during an event that’s part gameshow, part holiday party, and part variety show. Secret Santa, A Holiday Spectacular takes place Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$25. Learn more here.
Portsmouth Pro Musica winter concerts
Margarat Bonds’ “The Ballad of the Brown King” tells the story of the Three Wise Men, focusing on the African king Balthazar. Portsmouth Pro Musica will perform the cantata at St. Mary’s Church in Dover on Friday from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and at South Church in Portsmouth on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Tickets are $13-$15. Learn more here.
Live music at The Stone Church
Regional indie-folk favorites Sneaky Miles and Jake Swamp and The Pine will split the bill at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday at 8 p.m. ($20-$25). A special Holiday Show with local acts Dan Blakeslee and the Calabash Club and Marjorie Senet and the Broken-Home Boys follows on Saturday at 7 p.m. ($15-$20). Learn more here.
Winter wonders at WSCA Radio
Acclaimed guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto returns to the Button Factory Stage at WSCA in Portsmouth for a Winter Solstice Concert on Friday from 8-9 p.m. ($17). A night later, vocalist Jennifer Rachele, bassist Andrew Strout, and keyboardist Robert Gerry present Soulful Sounds for the Holidays on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. ($10). Learn more here.
PMAC concerts at The Press Room
The Portsmouth Music and Arts Center will put some of its students and faculty members in the spotlight on the stage of The Press Room in Portsmouth this weekend. The PMAC Teen Rock Show takes place Saturday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. The PMAC Jazz Institute Show follows on Sunday from 6-9 p.m. Tickets to each concert are $5.
Holidaze Show at STAR Theatre
There’s nothing like a healthy dose of Maine humor to get you in the holiday spirit, and no one embodies Maine humor like C.L. Thomas. TTTom Clark will bring his comedy character back to STAR Theatre in the Kittery Community Center for the second annual Holidaze Show on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.