EVENTS

Tiempo calendar: Koz, Christmas lights

Dave Acosta

El Paso Times

Saxophonist Dave Koz is set to return to El Paso at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown.

Friday

Carlos Mencia: The stand-up comic will headline at 8 and 10:45 p.m. Dec. 11-12 at El Paso Comic Strip Comedy Club, 1201 Airway. $27.50; $52.50. 779-5233; laff2nite.com.

Winter Ball on the Border: El Paso Choral Society hosts a fundraising gala from 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Camino Real Hotel, 101 S. El Paso St., with cocktails, dinner, soloists performing arias and dancing to Paso del Norte Big Band. $100. 433-7897.

“The Last 5 Years”: UTEP Dinner Theatre’s Side Dish Productions will perform the musical that follows the lives of two New Yorkers who fall in and out of love at 8 p.m. Dec. 11-12 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the theater on the second floor of the Union Building at the University of Texas at El Paso. $10; $12; $15. 747-6060, UTEP Ticket Center, 747-5234, Ticketmaster outlets, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

“Annie: The Musical”: The Kids-N-Co. theater group will present the musical, based on “Little Orphan Annie,” Dec. 11-20 at 1301 Texas. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays. $5; $7. 351-1455.

“Picasso at the Lapin Agile”: The El Paso Playhouse will present the play, directed by Mario Rodriguez-Alvarado, at 8 p.m. Dec. 11-12 at the playhouse, 2501 Montana. $10; $8 for seniors; $7 for students and military. 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com.

Saturday

Lights on the Lake: The traditional light structures return to Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta, and can be viewed nightly from sundown to 10 p.m. through Jan. 4. The inauguration is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the park and will feature a lighting ceremony, Christmas carols, entertainment and a MINI Cooper parade with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves. Lawn chairs are welcome. Free. 546-2215.

Christmas tree event: Nine Christmas trees, decorated with traditional Christmas decorations of nine different countries, will be on display from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at the International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana. Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and will be available for photos, and a Christmas movie also will be shown. Free. 543-6747, internationalmuseumofart.net.

Kids-N-Co. Christmas Spectacular: The next installment of the El Paso Community Foundation Jewel Box Series is a performance by the Kids-N-Co. theater group at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Philanthropy Theatre at the Plaza Theatre, Downtown. $16. The series continues through May. Plaza Theatre Box Office, 231-1100, elpasolive.com, Ticketmaster outlets, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

Handel’s “Messiah”: El Paso Choral Society presents a 100-plus voice choir, soloists and orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Abraham Chavez Theatre, Downtown. $10; $20; $30; $40. Plaza Theatre Box Office, 231-1100, elpasolive.com, Ticketmaster outlets, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

Chorale concert: The El Paso Chorale Ensemble will perform at 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Richard Burges Regional Library, 9600 Dyer, and 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Alban’s Espiscopal Church, 1810 Elm. Free. 261-3965.

Magoffin Holiday Open House: The annual holiday event at the Magoffin Home State Historic Site, 1120 Magoffin, is 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12. There will be an art show, music, dancing, food and a visit from Santa. Dress warm for outside activities. $2. 533-5147.

“Virgen Santísima!”: The Centennial Museum and Juntos Art Association will host a lecture and mini-posada from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Centennial Museum on the UTEP campus. There will be matachines and live entertainment. Free. 747-6669.

Santa Paws Pictures: Santa and his elves will be take pictures with pets and their families from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and 19-20 at Animal Rescue League of El Paso, 7256 La Junta, Canutillo. There will be treats for pets and family. $10. arlep.org.

Ghost tours: The Paso del Norte Paranormal Society will sponsor a ghost tour of Concordia Cemetery, 3700 E. Yandell, from 9 to 11 p.m. Dec. 12. Participants should meet at 8:30 p.m. $15. Proceeds go toward restoration and preservation of the cemetery. 274-9531.

"Gifts are Memories by It's Not Over": The third annual event features a 1,000 toy giveaway for children, pony rides, free books, face painting, games and activities from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 12 at Books are Gems, 7744 N. Loop. Free. 497-9501.

Facts Behind the Films: Local film historian Jay Duncan will screen and discuss “The Night They Saved Christmas” at 2 p.m. Saturday at the International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana. Free. sunsetfilmsociety.org.

Farmers market: The market will feature a variety of locally grown produce, arts and entertainment from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, Sunland Park, N.M. Free. 575-589-0653, ext. 3.

Downtown market: The Downtown Artist & Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Union Plaza, off Anthony and San Francisco streets. It features artists, crafts, fresh produce, food trucks, entertainment and more. Free. elpasoartsandculture.org, 212-1780.

Feliz Navidad! Christmas in Song and Dance: The program, which will feature mariachis, folklorico dancers and more, is set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main, Las Cruces. $30. RioGrandeTheatre.com, 575-523-6403.

Winter Concert: The New Horizons Band will perform its final concert of the season at 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at New Mexico State University’s Atkinson Recital Hall on campus. Free. 575-649-1465.

Carlos Mencia: See Friday.

“The Last 5 Years”: See Friday.

“Annie: The Musical”: See Friday.

“Picasso at the Lapin Agile”: See Friday.

Sunday

Chorale concert: The Choral Ensemble El Paso will sing holiday songs at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Alban’s Espiscopal Church Parish Hall, 1810 Elm. Free, donations accepted. 261-3963.

“A Christmas Carol”: The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Theatre and Dance will perform “A Christmas Carol” at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18-19 at the Fox Fine Arts Center on campus. $9; $14. 747-5118, Ticketmaster outlets, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

La Viña Market: Local, handmade jams, jellies, jewelry, soaps, artwork, crafts, wine, food trucks and live music will be featured from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays at La Viña Winery, 4201 S. N.M. Highway 28 in La Union, N.M. Free. 575-502-4074, lavinawinery.com.

“Home for the Holidays”: The Australian group, The Ten Tenors, will perform its first holiday program in the United States at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts, 108 Spencer Road, Alto, N.M., about two hours and 29 minutes from El Paso. $39; $79. 575-336-4800, spencertheater.com.

“On Golden Pond”: The No Strings Theatre Company will perform the Ernest Thompson play, which will be directed by Larry Chandler, at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall, Las Cruces. $12; $10 for students and seniors. 575-523-1223.

Social Sundays: The weekly event will feature live music, refreshments and art from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays at the International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana. Free. 543-6474.

“The Last 5 Years”: See Friday.

“Annie: The Musical”: See Friday.

Kids-N-Co. Christmas Spectacular: See Saturday.