*Friday, Dec. 7, MAM After Dark will be held at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr. in Milwaukee, from 5 p.m. to midnight. Presented by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the event will feature the theme “Pajama Jam” with karaoke, a dance party led by “Darrin’s Dance Grooves,” board games, treats for Classy Girl Cupcakes and more. Attendees can also donate a new, unwrapped toy at the event for a chance to win a prize package from the Museum Store. Admission is free for museum members, free for guests who join at the door and a friend, $13 at the door for nonmembers, and $8 in advance. For more information or to purchase advance tickets online, visit www.mam.org/afterdark.
*Saturday, Dec. 8, the Midwest Vocal Express Male A Cappella Chorus will present the show “Christmas is in the Air!” The choir will perform two shows, one at 2 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m. at Alverno College’s Pitman Theater, 3431 S. 39th St. in Milwaukee. The Alleluia Ringers Bell Choir will also take part in the concerts. Tickets start at $18. Senior and group rates are available, and students will be admitted for $5 with an ID. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 888-240-4426 or visit www.MVE.org.
*Saturday, Dec. 8, the Holiday Train will visit Milwaukee at the Amtrak Intermodal Station, 433 W. Saint Paul Ave. in Milwaukee. The train, a holiday-themed Canadian Pacific train, travels across the U.S. to collect food and make stops for holiday festivities. Milwaukee’s holiday event will feature activities for kids, Santa’s Workshop inside the train station, food for sale from Saz’s Catering, free coffee and hot chocolate from Starbucks and more. The event will begin at 6 p.m., and the Holiday Train will arrive at 7:45 p.m. Admission requires attendees to bring two or more nonperishable food items to be donated to the Hunger Task Force. For more information, visit www.hungertaskforce.org.
*Saturday, Dec. 8, through Wednesday, Dec. 26, the Milwaukee Ballet will present its annual holiday performances of “The Nutcracker,” choreographed by Artistic Director Michael Pink. The performances run about two hours long with both matinees and evening shows at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. in Milwaukee. Tickets start at $30.62. For more information about show times and ticket prices, visit www.milwaukeeballet.org.
*Sunday, Dec. 9, the City of Glendale and Bayshore Town Center will celebrate the first evening of Chanukah with a menorah lighting ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Bayshore Rotunda. Rabbi Yisroel Lein will open the ceremony, and the lighting will be held at 6:20 p.m. The event will also include food by Duo, a raffle, performances by Chai Notes Hand Chime Group, and a performance by Hillel & Jewish Beginnings children’s choir. Bayshore Town Center is located at 5800 North Bayshore Dr. A256 in Glendale. For more information about the lighting ceremony, visit http://www.bayshoretowncenter.com.
