Holiday Guide

Christmas Ornament Show Eleventh annual group show and sale. Noon-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m., Sunday, through Dec. 30; free. Velvet Da Vinci, 508 Hayes (at Laguna), 626-7478 / www.velvetdavinci.com.

Craft Showcase 2 Curated exhibition and sale of new works from California's growing fine craft movement. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday-Monday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, through Dec. 30; free. Museum of Craft & Folk Art, Fort Mason, Bldg. A, Marina & Buchanan, 775-0991 ext. 109 / www.mocfa.org.

Gingerbread Contest and Exhibit 21st annual display of edible creations. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m., Sunday, through Dec. 30; free-$4. Coyote Point Museum, Coyote Point Park, 1651 Coyote Point, San Mateo, 650-342-7755 / www.coyoteptmuseum.org.

"Holiday Exhibition" Vintage and contemporary photographs from the Gallery Collection. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, through Jan. 12; free. Artseal Gallery, 1847 Larkin (at Pacific), 567-3523 / www.artseal.com.

International Holiday Festival In conjunction with "Global Shoes," the hands-on exhibit teaching kids about international cultures, the museum presents a Russian Winter Fair with performances and dance lessons. 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 27-29. The festival ends with World Play Day, a family block party with food and cultural events from different countries. Noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30. All events free-$7. Bay Area Discovery Museum, Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds (at Murray), Sausalito, 437-4398 / www.badm.org.

"The Sounds of Christmas" New York­based visual artist and musician Christian Marclay's installation incorporating his collection of more than 1,000 vinyl LPs of Christmas music. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, through Dec. 31; free. Live DJ performances 5-8 p.m., Thursday, through Dec. 27. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission (at Third St.), 978-2787 / www.yerbabuenaarts.org.

'Tis the Reason Holiday group show. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, through Dec. 27; free. Michael Martin Galleries, 251 Post (at Stockton), 217-0070 / www.mmgalleries.com.

EVENTS

Holiday Animation Program Features Infinite Escher, Bunny, Tin Toy, and Tops. Noon, 2 & 4 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, Dec. 26-30; free-$10. Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon (at Marina), 397-5673 / www.exploratorium.edu.

Holiday Week at Lawrence Hall of Science Family-friendly week of magic shows, storytelling, performances, and demonstrations. 1 p.m., Wednesday-Monday, Dec. 26-31; free-$7. Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive (at Grizzly Park), UC Berkeley campus, 510-642-5132.

Kwanzaa Celebration Fourth annual cultural celebration with kids' arts and crafts and African performers and drummers. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26; free-$7. Bay Area Discovery Museum, Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds (at Murray), Sausalito, 437-4398 / www.badm.org.

Nia: A Community Kwanzaa Celebration Celebration of black family history, community, and culture with arts and crafts, food demonstrations, drumming, and dancing. Noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30; free-$6. Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak (at 10th St.), 888-625-6873 / www.museumca.org.

PERFORMANCE

Another Wrapping Paper Caper Lunatique Fantastique returns with an all-new version of its holiday puppet detective story. Plays 1:30 & 3:30 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 27-30; 1:30 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 2-5; $8-$12. Zeum Theater, 221 Fourth St. (at Howard), 820-3353 / www.zeum.org.

Beach Blanket Babylon Steve Silver's North Beach perennial presents a seasonal extravaganza with tap-dancing Christmas trees and an oversize Yuletide hat. Plays 8 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 26-27; 7 & 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Dec. 28-29; 1 & 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30; $25-$62. Club Fugazi, 678 Green (at Powell), 421-4222.

The Big-Fat Year-End Kiss-Off Comedy Show IX A hilarious evening of stand-up, improv, and sketches featuring Bay Area political pundits Will Durst and Johnny Steele, among others. 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26; $17. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College (at Derby), 925-798-1300.

The Christmas Ballet, 2001 Edition Smuin Ballets/SF presents this refreshing alternative to The Nutcracker, choreographed by Michael Smuin. 2 & 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26; 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27; 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28; 2 & 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29; 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30; $30-$40. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission (at Third St.), 978-2787 / www.smuinballets.com.

A Christmas Carol ACT presents Dickens' classic holiday tale. Plays 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26; noon & 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27; 2 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Dec. 28-29; $15-$61. Geary Theater, 415 Geary (at Mason), 749-2228 / www.act-sfbay.org.

Cinderella The African-American Shakespeare Company's all-black cast performs the classic fairy tale. 3 & 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29; 2 & 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30; $15-$20. Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon (at Bay), 762-2071 ext. 1 / www.african-americanshakes.org.

Fiddler on the Roof Holiday musical about Jews in czarist Russia returns, starring Theodore Bikel. Opens 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26. Plays 2 & 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27; 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28; 2 & 8 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 29-30; 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1; 2 & 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2; 8 p.m., Thursday-Friday, Jan. 3-4; 2 & 8 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 5-6; $34.50-$77.50. Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market (at Eighth St.), 512-7770.

A Karen Carpenter Christmas "The Enough Is Enough Tour" ends eight years of this musical tribute to the brother-and-sister team. Plays 8 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 26-29; $17. The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), 826-5750.

New Pickle Circus in Show Up! Amazing physical feats and acrobatic tricks, performed to a new score by Felonious: onelovehiphop. Plays 2 & 7:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, Dec. 26-30; 2 p.m., Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 31-Jan. 1; $15-$24. Cowell Theater, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, Marina & Buchanan, 345-7575.

The Nutcracker Children's Fairyland's Storybook Puppet Theater presents the holiday classic. 11 a.m., 2 & 4 p.m., Friday-Sunday, through Jan. 5, no performances on New Year's Day; free-$6. Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue (at Grand), Oakland, 510-452-2259 / www.fairyland.org.