Things to do in Paradise/Downtown

In your neighborhood

All are welcome to celebrate the holidays with Barry and Batya Segal in a free concert scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lev HaShem Messianic Synagogue, 3644 N. Rancho Drive. Barry Segal was a successful musician and music producer in the United States before emigrating to Israel. Familiar holiday and Messianic songs are set to be performed. Visit levhashem.org or call 869-8983.

The Insurgo Theater's original tragicomic clown production "Nutcracker" is set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. today through Dec. 30 and Jan. 4 through 7 inside the Insurgo Theater at the Plaza, 1 S. Main St. Shows also are planned at 10:30 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Friday. Tickets to the all-ages production are $15. Visit insurgotheater.org.

The Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., plans midnight shows of "Santa Claus vs. the Martians" Friday through Saturday for $10 per ticket. Visit onyxtheatre.com or call 732-7225.

The Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada plans its 17th annual Bagel Ball from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Beso Ultra Lounge at Crystals in CityCenter, 3720 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Attendees will receive a complimentary cocktail and hors d'ouevres from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $40 at the door. Visit jccsn.org or call 794-0090.

The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host Jewish Community Night from 9 to 11 p.m. Thursday in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, JewEl and Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada. The cost is $36 and includes two hours of ice skating, gondola rides, live music, beverages and kosher-style hors d'ouevres. Guests must be at least 21. Call 414-4334 or email Carrie Giverson at carrie.giverson@venetian.com.

The city of Las Vegas plans to present "Mama's Fabric," an exhibit by John Broussard, set to be on display through May 5 at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. The exhibit is focused on community organizer Beatrice Dixon, Broussard's mother, who had a passion for sewing fabrics given to her as gifts. The exhibit includes Broussard's photographs of diverse Americans and Dixon's fabrics to tell her story. A meet-the-artist reception is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 27. Visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-4800.

The Marjorie Barrick Museum at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, plans to exhibit "Lost Places in the Mojave: Photographs by Julian Kilker" through Jan. 22. Visit barrickmuseum.unlv.edu or call 895-3381.

City of Las Vegas staffers are set to say goodbye to the Bridge Gallery on the second floor of Las Vegas City Hall, 400 Stewart Ave., with "A Walk on the Wild Side," an exhibit featuring city and Zappos staff shoes transformed into art. The gallery's final show is scheduled to be on display through Jan. 26. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-1012.

Jest Serendipity Improv is set to perform at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Alexis Park Resort, 375 E. Harmon Ave. The show is limited to adults 21 or older and tickets are $29.95. Visit jestserendipity.com.

The city of Las Vegas plans a Kwanzaa and Rites of Passage celebration at 7 p.m. Thursday at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. The free event includes a performance by the Jester Hairston Singers, a workshop that explains Kwanzaa principles and a graduation ceremony for participants in the Rites of Passage workshops. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-4800.

A free Polish Christmas party is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday at Invest America Realty, 6190 W. Charleston Blvd. The event is sponsored by the Eastern European Connection and is set to include a celebration of the Christmas story, traditional Polish music and snacks. Contact Jeremy Dollar at 280-4523 or eeconn@cox.net.

Worth a Drive

The Las Vegas Garden Railway Society's annual Christmas model train exhibit is set to be on display 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays through Dec. 31 at Jim Marsh Automotive, 8555 W. Centennial Parkway. Call 645-3009.

Circus Vargas plans shows Sunday through Jan. 1 at the Rio, 3700 W. Flamingo Road. Visit circusvargas.com.

Opportunity Village's Magical Forest is open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Dec. 31. Admission is $9.75 for adults and $7.75 for children 12 or younger. Toddlers 2 or younger are free. Attraction passports for adults and kids are available starting at $14.25, and season passes are available starting at $25. Tickets can be purchased at the event, at any Opportunity Village campus, at CVS Pharmacy locations and at magicalforest.org.

J.R. Pony Parties welcomes the public to visit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during Open Gate Tuesdays, scheduled today and Dec. 27 at 1753 Fairhaven Ave. Admission is $5, which includes pony rides, visits to the goat barn and more. Visit jrponyparties.com or call 631-4142.

"Season of Light," an exploration of the astronomical origins of many holiday traditions is scheduled at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the College of Southern Nevada Planetarium on the Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Tickets are $6 or $12 for seniors 55 or older or children younger than 12. Visit csn.edu/planetarium.

Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland at Sam's Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, offers a free 15-minute winter laser light spectacular at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. daily through Friday. Visit samstown.com or call 456-7777.

"Lonnie: Images by Heather Protz & Linda Alterwitz" is scheduled to be on display at the gallery at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, through Jan. 31. The exhibit is a photographic documentation of the home, art and mind of neurosurgeon and former Nevada Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren.

Artists Michael Monson and Tony Flanagan present photographs of stalled or abandoned construction projects in Las Vegas in "To the Neon Gods They Made," an exhibit on display through Jan. 20 in the gallery at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Visit clarkcountynv.gov.

The Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive, plans to host the exhibit "Re-Cycling Objects, Re-Purposing Ideas" through Jan. 17. The exhibit will celebrate the talents of Las Vegas-Clark County Library District staff members and showcase their recycled creations. Call 507-3710.

"Diversity in Clay" by members of the Nevada Clay Guild is scheduled for exhibition through Feb. 2 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Call 507-3630.

Plan ahead

"Evil Dead: The Musical" is slated to return to the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., at 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in January. After a successful opening run in October, the musical will return with an extended "splatter zone" for those interested in taking part of the musical's bloodiness. Tickets are $15 for locals, $20 for general admission and $30 for VIP splatter zone seats. Visit onyxtheatre.com or call 732-7225.

The Fremont Street Experience plans to host its fourth annual TributePalooza from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. New Year's Eve. The event is to feature musical acts Steel Panther and Rock Sugar and several tribute bands throughout the evening. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is set to lead a mini countdown, and a virtual fireworks show is slated. Tickets are $30 and are set to be available Dec. 29 and 30 in the box office at the Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., and Dec. 31 at the Carson Tower front desk. Visit vegasexperience.com/newyearseve or call 386-8100.

The Insert Coin(s) Videolounge Gamebar, 512 Fremont St., plans to host Downtown Countdown 2012 at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 with various drink specials and live music from Pride and the Vanities, Otherwise and Rhyme N Rhythm. A fireworks show atop the Ogden, 150 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is set to begin at midnight. The event is free and open to those 21 or older. Visit insertcoinslv.com or call 477-2525.

Tickets for KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler's 8 p.m. Feb. 4 performance, "Love Is Here to Stay," at the Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., are on sale. The concert is set to feature classic love songs written by Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and others. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-3515.

Tickets are on sale for the Turtle Island Quartet's 7 p.m. March 2 performance at the Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. The city of Las Vegas plans to host the performance celebrating the music of John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-3515.