The top 10: Catch Santa while you still can, and ‘The Nutcracker,’ too

‘The Nutcracker’ continues

1 You still have several chances to catch Texas Ballet Theater’s Christmas classic featuring the Nutcracker and the Mouse King in a most festive and elegant setting: Bass Hall. The remaining performances will be 2 and 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20-$115. Bass Hall is at 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. 877-828-9200; www.texasballettheater.org

Last chance to see Santa

2 Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus has spent the better part of December sitting near the huge Christmas tree on Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth, and he’s still there this week, taking holiday requests from kids and photographs for their parents. He will be there 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Then, he’s gone — back to the North Pole, where, hopefully, somebody’s been picking up the slack. The visit with Santa is $20 and benefits the Fort Worth Sister Cities International youth program.

‘Jane’ at Magnolia at the Modern

3 This thoughtful documentary about chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall gets a 99 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and that’s more than “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” got on its debut weekend. Director Brett Morgen focuses on Goodall’s early years in the field; her husband, cameraman Hugo van Lawick; and those fascinating chimps. Tickets are $9. The movie screens at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, with no shows Sunday, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. 817-738-9215; themodern.org

‘In Her Image: Photographs by Rania Matar’

4 With its free admission, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art makes a great place to bring visiting family and friends, or just yourself, for a brief escape from the holiday madness. This exhibition of work by Lebanese-American photographer Rania Matar captures images of girls and women in their natural element, revealing the contours of feminine identity. It opens Saturday and runs through June 17. The museum is at 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817-738-1933; www.cartermuseum.org

Martin House Social Run

5 If you kicked off the season of indulgence on Thanksgiving Day and haven’t stopped eating since, this noncompetitive, pet-friendly event might be a step in the right direction. Especially since more feasting is coming Monday. The run is free and for all skill levels, begins at 1 p.m. Saturday and usually lasts about 30 minutes, although you can run longer. Martin House Brewing Co., 220 S. Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth. 817-222-0177; martinhousebrewing.com

Billy D. Washington

6 This comedian was Aretha Franklin’s personally requested opening act for years, and really, how much more do you need to know? Washington is a regular on VH1, where he hosted “The Michael Jackson Music Video Collection and “The History of Music Video A-Z.” He will do a free show at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, and then shows at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Hyena’s Comedy Night Club in Fort Worth. Tickets are $12-$17 at https://prekindle.com/. Hyena’s is at 425 Commerce St., downtown Fort Worth; 817-877-5233.

Double feature at the Palace Theatre

7 Done shopping? Reward yourself with a double feature of two Christmas favorites usually seen on a much smaller screen — “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” — at 2 p.m Friday and Saturday at Grapevine’s Palace Theatre. That’s sure to put you in the mood to celebrate. The theater is at 300 S. Main St., Grapevine. Purchase your tickets, $6 per person, at www.Palace-Theatre.com or by calling 817-410-3100.

Pink Floyd Laser Light Spectacular

8 Now here’s a unique reason to celebrate the season, complete with an 18-foot HD video wall, a 60,000-plus watt PA system and dozens of lasers, lights and strobes, all flashing to the music of Pink Floyd. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rail Club, which is asking for an RSVP on its Facebook page. The club is at 3101 Joyce Drive, Fort Worth. Get tickets, $10-$25, at https://prekindle.com/.

Tex-Mex Holiday Fiesta at the Kessler

9 Somebody must have been very, very good this year because Santa’s bringing the Grammy Award-winning conjunto band Los Texmaniacs to the Kessler on Saturday for a show that features accordionist Flaco Jimenez, singer-guitarist Peter Rowan and country music artist Rick Trevino. Wear your dancing shoes. Tickets are $32-$48. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8. The Kessler is at 1230 W. Davis St., Dallas. Get tickets at https://prekindle.com/ .

Concerts at Billy Bob’s

10 Country music never takes a holiday. Catch Austin-based singer-songwriter Sam Riggs (“The Lucky Ones”) Friday and local favorites the Casey Donahew Band (“What Cowboys Do” and “Double-Wide Dream”) on Saturday at Billy Bob’s Texas. Friday’s concert starts at 10:30 p.m.; tickets are $16, $20 reserved. Saturday’s concert starts at 9:45 p.m.; tickets are $16, $22 reserved. Billy Bob’s is at 2520 Rodeo Plaza, in the Fort Worth Stockyards. 817-624-7117; www.billybobstexas.com

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 4:02 PM with the headline "The top 10: Catch Santa while you still can, and ‘The Nutcracker,’ too."