FAMILY

Thru Dec 21
Walking with Dinosaurs
Need a dino fix and can’t wait until next summer’s release of Jurassic World? Walking with Dinosaurs has you covered. The arena show brings animatronic recreations of the massive beasts—including the stegosaur, tyrannosaur, and brachiosaur—to life to wow all the kids dreaming of being paleontologists (and their parents too). Tacoma Dome, $30–$105.

FILM

Thru Jan 1
It's a Wonderful Life
The final few weeks of December mean late season football, last minute shopping, and finding which theater is screening It's a Wonderful Life. The holiday classic is pretty much a must-watch for families, spouses, even ambitious first dates. Jimmy Stewart is never more Jimmy Stewart-y (at times melancholy, other times joyous, always fatherly) than in his role as George Bailey, the down-on-his-luck businessman shown what life would look like without him around. Grand Illusion Cinema, $9.

Dec 19–21
Hoop Dreams
Before 1994, no one had ever seen a sports documentary like Hoop Dreams. The detailed, multiyear chronicle of the high school basketball careers of Chicagoans William Gates and Arthur Agee took an in-depth look at race, education, and the fleeting aspirations of high-level prep ballers. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film that the International Documentary Association named the greatest documentary of all time with a new digital restoration. Northwest Film Forum, $11.

THE SPORTING LIFE

Sat, Dec 20
Gonzaga's Battle in Seattle
Without the Sonics occupying KeyArena, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have taken a firm grasp on the title of Washington’s Best Basketball Team, and this year’s squad might be the best GU team ever. Led by senior guard Kevin Pangos, Polish big man Przemek Karnowski, and Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer, the Zags look to stomp Cal Poly in their lone Seattle appearance (at least until a potential return trip in March for the NCAA Tournament). KeyArena, $15–$195.

CONCERTS

Dec 18–20
The Moodoggies and the Madives
Maybe this isn't the year for Christmas hymns. Maybe eggnog feels just a little fussy and what you really want is a shot and a beer and some holiday songs accompanied by flannel, beards, and slide guitar. Maybe Santa's a little blue right now and can only express himself through the tortured sounds of the harmonica. If this sounds like your speed, definitely head over to Tractor Tavern for the three-day Maldoggies holiday special featuring local alt-country heroes the Moondoggies and the Maldives. Tractor Tavern, $15.

Sat, Dec 20
KEXP Yule Benefit
Jingle bell rock with a purpose as KEXP hosts a holiday show at Neumos to raise money for its new Seattle Center home. Strand of Oaks headlines the night with its folky rock. Filling out the bill is Cymbol Eat Guiatars (one of the loudest, noisiest rock bands around), Seattle Met Album of the Month honoree S (Seattle's queen of sorrowful songwriting), and local indie rock quartet Cabana. Neumos, $20.

Sun, Dec 21
David Bazan
Considering a good portion of his lyrics question Christianity, it's safe to say David Bazan won't be a veritable beacon of holiday cheer during this intimate set at Barboza. (For more proof, see his less than chipper version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.") Still, after putting on quite the show last month at the Neptune Theatre with the Passenger String Quartet, it should be good to see Bazan strip things down to play tunes with Yuuki Matthews and James McCallister in a substantially smaller space. Barboza, $20.

COMEDY

Thru Dec 27
A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol
December is stuffed full A Christmas Carol productions, from high school drama classes to major theater companies. Everyone loves a good holiday story featuring resonant themes of community, redemption and selflessness. But throw some improv comedy and audience participation into the mix, and you've got yourself a real Christmas miracle. Unexpected Productions troupe of improvisers roll with audience suggestions in this recasting of the Charles Dickens classic. What if Scrooge worked at Amazon? What if Tiny Tim was suffering from a basketball-related injury? Does Scrooge really have to be redeemed at the end? These are the sort of flippant questions that will be answered. Market Theatre, $15.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Thur, Dec 18
SAM Lights
Seattle Art Museum combines a night of visual art, music, food, and hands on activities, wraps it all in decorative paper, and calls it SAM Lights. Hundreds of candles light the way through a dreamy version of the Olympic Sculpture park. Decorate shadow puppets and cut paper lanterns with local artists, enjoy baklava from the food cart Bikelava, be serenaded singer-songwriter Lydia Seamons and the D20 Brass Band. Olympic Sculpture Park, free.

Thru Jan 4
Seattle Center Winterfest
Winterfest at Seattle Center offers everything you could want from a quaint, snow-drenched holiday village (including an actual mini village with a working train) and only requires a trek to lower Queen Anne. There's ice skating (the only activity at the fest that costs actual money - $7), as well as ice sculpting, and special art installations to get patrons in a festive spirit. Seattle Center, free.