Things to do in Paradise/Downtown

First Friday Highlights

First Friday returns to the 18b Arts District from 6 p.m. to midnight. Local food vendors and live music will be featured in the Arts District and along Fremont Street East. The December event is set to include a fresh Christmas tree lot, a toy drive and a visit from Santa in the Kids Zone. Visit firstfriday-lasvegas.org or call 229-6551. Many galleries also are open from 6 to 9 p.m. during Preview Thursday. Galleries participating in First Friday include:

Blackbird Studios, 1551 S. Commerce St., is set to open “We Love Pee Wee,” a group show paying homage to Pee-wee Herman.

Trifecta Gallery inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is slated to open its annual “minUMENTAL Invitational,” a large show of small works. Also planned is the carnivor-friendly “MEATumental Invitational.” Visit trifectagallery.com.

Brett Wesley Gallery, 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd., plans to continue the exhibit “Stream of Consciousness,” with works from Dutch artist and designer Johnny Detiger through Dec. 30. Visit brettwesleygallery.com.

The Contemporary Arts Center inside The Arts Factory plans to recycle the wall pieces from Scott Carter’s “Affect/Effect” into a group show to be curated by Brian Paco Alvarez and sold Friday and at a holiday party from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Visit lasvegascac.org.

Sin City Gallery inside The Arts Factory plans to present “The Small of the Back,” with works by Scott Sansdoval, Francois Dubeau and Lincoln Maynard. Visit sincitygallery.com.

The Statement Art Gallery inside The Arts Factory plans to show “Evolution and Elevation,” works by Teresa Maharaj.

Friday will be the last chance to see “10×10: A creative exchange between visual artists and writers” in The Rotunda Gallery in the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.

A juried group show on the topic of joy is in the main gallery at the City of the World, 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd. Visit cityoftheworld.org.

Barbara Gomez, Lisa Fields Clark, Theresa Lucero, Nicholas Walsh, Sarah Flake and Jenny Valdez plan to show art and holiday ornaments at the Jenny Valdez Inc. gallery inside The Arts Factory.

Theatre7 plans outdoor cinema and a classic car show along Third Street from Colorado to Utah avenues.

In your neighborhood

The Community Counseling Center’s gala Bite at the Museum 2: Back for Seconds is scheduled from 7 to
9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Nevada State Museum at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Tickets are $50. Visit wix.com/cccbite/bite-at-the-museum or call 369-8700.

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” is set for Friday through Dec. 18 at the Judy Bayley Theatre, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets start at $20. Visit pac.unlv.edu or call 895-2787.

A skating rink is set to join the Springs Preserve’s Holiday Spectacular festivities, which include music, lights, crafts and pony rides. The attraction is open 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 10-11 and 17-23. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 12 and free for children 4 or younger. Members save half-off admission. Ice skating is $5 per 20-minute session. Visit springspreserve.org.

Neil Berg’s “Broadway Holiday” is set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets start at $35. Visit pac.unlv.edu or call 895-2787.

Fremont Street Experience’s Downtown Hoedown is scheduled at 6:10 p.m. Wednesday on the Main, First and Third street stages. The event marks the beginning of the 12 Days of Country, set to last through Dec. 11 and feature free nightly concerts. Visit vegasexperience.com or call 678-5777.

Flightlinez plans a fundraiser for HELP of Southern Nevada from noon to midnight today at 425 Fremont St. Visit fremontstreetflightline.com or call 410-7999.

Danny Wright Foundation’s benefit show “Soulful Christmas” is slated at 7:15 p.m. Friday at Binion’s, 128 E. Fremont St. The event features concert pianist David Wright, magician Jan Rouven and cast members from “The Lion King.” Tickets are $35 to $85. Visit
dw-foundation.org or call 818-1142.

Las Vegas Youth Orchestras’ winter concert, “A Season of Dances” is scheduled at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $16 for adults and $9 for students, seniors and people with disabilities. Visit lvyo.org or call 385-2838.

The Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., plans to present David Sedaris’ “Santaland Diaries,” directed by Christopher Kenney and starring Jamie Morris, at 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 11. Tickets are $20. A portion of the first weekend’s proceeds will be dontated to Golden Rainbow.

Aid for AIDS of Nevada, 701 Shadow Lane, plans to host a Holiday Mingle & Jingle Benefit from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 600. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Visit afanlv.org or call 383-8085.

Cirque Week is scheduled Thursday through Dec. 10. Many packages include behind-the-scenes perks. Visit cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueweek.

Worth a Drive

The College of Southern Nevada Dance Ensemble and the Concert Dance Company plan to team with the Nevada Repertory Dance Theater to present “MahlerFest,” a performance of Kelly Roth’s choreography to Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 9.” The culmination of two years of work is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Visit csn.edu or call 651-5483.

The Guitar Society of Las Vegas plans to team with Las Vegas Academy students for a free holiday guitar concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.Visit lvccld.org or call 507-3964.

An arts and vintage clothing fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Stephen Jackson Architect, 241 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 107.

n Sarah Ruhl’s “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” is set to open Friday and run through Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Visit lvlt.org.

In honor of World AIDS Day, “Fallen Guardian Angels,” by Las Vegas playwright Edward D. Padilla, is scheduled to be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Visit goldenrainbow.org, lvccld.org or call 507-3964.

The Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda plans to perform a concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Grace in the Desert Episcopal Church, 2004 Spring Gate Lane. All the children are orphans as a result of either war or the AIDS epidemic. A free-will offering will be taken. Call 838-7444.

Signature Productions plans to present “A Signature Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at the Summerlin Library Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. Tickets are $20 and $15 for children 3 to 12. Visit signatureproductions.net or call 878-7529.

The Santa Train is set to depart the Nevada State Railroad Museum, 600 Yucca St. in Boulder City. Tickets are $5. Departures are scheduled on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18. Visit nevadasouthern.com.

Cowboy Christmas is scheduled from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road. Admission is free. To volunteer, call 229-6154.