Saturday 16 [CHANUKAH]
Silver City/Grant County
Edie and Friends–Twisted Vine, 108 E. Broadway, 388-2828.
Melodrama Theatre–8 p.m. Pinos Altos Opera House, 388-3848, www.pinosaltos.org/melodrama.
Triple Jack–From Las Cruces, playing rock and roll and blues. 8-12 p.m. Isaac's, Bullard and Broadway, 313-1700.
Las Cruces/Mesilla
Christmas in the Clouds–Ray has just returned from college to run a Native-American ski lodge. A laid-back place where employees' children play in the lobby and the handyman has a habit of teasing guests, the lodge isn't exactly four-star travel guide material. So when Ray learns that a travel-guide representative is coming to make an inspection, he makes an executive decision to make the lodge a professional place of business. In addition to keeping his father, who happens to be the hotel's former manager, out of his way, he also has to contend with his somewhat eccentric staff, which includes an emotional vegetarian chef who takes a certain pleasure in informing his diners of the names he has given the animals they're eating. $3, free for Mesilla Valley Film Society members. 1:30 and 4 p.m., Fountain Theater, 2469 Calle de Guadalupe, 524-8287, www.fountaintheatre.org.
Ancient Agriculture–Talk by Estevan Arellano. 7 p.m. Cultural Center de Mesilla, 523-3988, bbf@zianet.com, borderbookfestival.org.
Holiday Extravaganza–Food, prizes and lots of games for the whole family. Meerscheidt Recreation Center, 1600 E. Hadley Ave., 541-2563.
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol–Through Dec. 17. See Dec. 1. 8 p.m., $8, $7 students, $5 children under 6. Las Cruces Community Theater, 313 N. Downtown Mall, 523-1200, www.lcctnm.org.
NMSU Graduation–Pan American Center, University Ave., 646-4796, www.nmsu.edu.
Sierra Club Hike–Aden Crater. 9 a.m. Meet at the Bean. 526-7116 / 636-8323.
Sun Country Striders Christmas Lights Guided Night Walk–Wear light-colored clothing and bring a flashlight. Trail is level and easy along canal banks and residential streets. Because of darkness, not suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Hot cider and other refreshments provided at finish line. Registration 5 p.m., walk at 5:30 p.m. Trails West Senior Community Clubhouse, 1450 Avenida de Mesilla, 521-7430, lizjohn@zianet.com, www.zianet.com/dpiland/SunCountry.
The Christmas Gift–Through Dec. 17. See Dec. 15. $10, $5 under 12. 7 p.m., St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Alameda and Mountain. 571-1000 / 523-7714, www.lascrucesfriendsofchambermusic.org.
Walk Dona Ana Walk–A good morning jaunt through nature to relieve that holiday stress. 10 a.m., Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, off Jornada Road, 524-3334, cdnp_rink@zianet.com, www.cdnp.org.
Alamogordo
The Nutcracker–7:30 p.m., $10, children $6. Flickinger Center for Performing Arts, 1110 New York Ave., 437-2202.
Deming
Christmas Light Parade–Downtown. 544-2855.
Stars-n-Parks–An astronomy program to educate and orient attendees to the night sky as seen from a dark-sky site and provide telescopes for deep sky observation. Sunset 4:57 p.m., night 6:10 p.m. Neptune and Uranus visible, fall sky becoming prominent, Orion rises by program's end. City of Rocks State Park.
Radium Springs
8th Annual Children's Workshop and Luminaria Tour–Experience a New Mexico tradition under the stars. Candlelit trails and ruins offer a unique view of this historic site. Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies and caroling while taking this evening stroll. 3-4 p.m.–1870s tree-ornament making class for children, $5. 5-9 p.m. Fort Selden State Monument, 526-8911, www.nmmonuments.org.
Sunday 17
Silver City/Grant County
Annual Christmas Program–Twisted Vine, 108 E. Broadway, 388-2828.
Las Cruces/Mesilla
A Messiah Sing-Along–Sunday afternoons concert series focuses on professional-level performances. 7 p.m., St. Paul's, 255 West Griggs Ave., 526-6689.
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol– See Dec. 1. 2 p.m., $8, $7 students, $5 children under 6. Las Cruces Community Theater, 313 N. Downtown Mall, 523-1200, www.lcctnm.org.
The Christmas Gift–See Dec. 15. $10, $5 under 12. 2:30 p.m., St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Alameda and Mountain. 571–1000 / 523-7714, www.lascrucesfriendsofchambermusic.org.
The Value and Care of Out of Print Books–Workshop with John Randall. $25, reservations required. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Followed by holiday book sale, 3 p.m. Cultural Center de Mesilla, 523-3988, bbf@zianet.com, borderbookfestival.org.
Truth or Consequences
Sierra Club Hike–Mud Mountain. 9 a.m. Meet at US Forest Service office parking lot, 744-5860.
Monday 18
Silver City/Grant County
Open Mic–Twisted Vine, 108 E. Broadway, 388-2828.
Tuesday 19
Las Cruces/Mesilla
Cooking with Class–Irene Newlon is the chef for "A Crepe Affair," featuring Red Thai Curry Crepes, Spinach and Swiss Crepes, Creamed Taco Crepes and several desserts. Pre-registration required, $30.11 a.m. New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, 522-4100.
Every Other Tuesday–Free Concert. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall, 523-6403, info@daarts.org.
Alamogordo
High School Choir–7:30 p.m., Flickinger Center for Performing Arts, 1110 New York Ave., 437-2202.
Wednesday 20
Silver City/Grant County
Trivia Night–Twisted Vine, 108 E. Broadway, 388-2828.
Las Cruces/Mesilla
Border Jazz Quartet–Ages 21 and up. 8-11 p.m. El Patio, 2171 Calle de Parian, 526-9943.
Thursday 21
Las Cruces/Mesilla
The Nutcracker Ballet–Through Dec. 23. Las Cruces Chamber Ballet. 7 p.m., NMSU Music Center Recital Hall, 527-1893 / 640–1420.
Friday 22
Silver City/Grant County
Joe Lara–8-12 p.m. Isaac's, Bullard and Broadway, 313-1700.
Melodrama Theatre–8 p.m. Pinos Altos Opera House, 388–3848, www.pinosaltos.org/melodrama.
Wally Lawder–Twisted Vine, 108 E. Broadway, 388-2828.
Las Cruces/Mesilla
Boynton Beach Bereavement Club/Boynton Beach Club–Through Dec. 28. When major characters are introduced, a photo flashes on the screen of them four decades earlier. It's a poignant reminder that they once were young and had varied, vibrant lives before retiring to the adult communities that dot the Florida shore. Boynton Beach residents make the best of this phase of their lives. They hold social gatherings that resemble high-school hops, take up roller skating and determinedly jog around the neighborhood. But death is a persistent if unwelcome visitor to their cheery, sun-drenched enclave. One jogger is accidentally run over. The attempts of his widow, Marilyn (Brenda Vaccaro), to pick herself up and start all over again form the crux of the movie. She reluctantly agrees to share her feelings at the Boynton Beach Bereavement Club. The way Boynton Beach residents reach out to one another is enough to make you consider relocating to one of these communities. Nightly 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinee 2:30 p.m. $6, members $4, students and seniors $5, matinees $5, Wednesdays $4. Fountain Theater, 2469 Calle de Guadalupe, 524-8287, www.fountaintheatre.org.
The Nutcracker Ballet–Through Dec. 23. 7 p.m., NMSU Music Center Recital Hall, 527-1893/640-1420.