'Nutcracker' Ballets, Winter Wonderland, Chefs Compete, Menorah Lighting: Bethesda Weekend Events

Here are some of the theater productions, live music performances and other weekend activities happening Dec. 4-6, courtesy of theMyMCMedia.org calendar:

Friday, December 4

• Glen Echo’s Holiday Art Show & Sale is open today from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
• The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents The Nutcracker for the 27th year. Families will enjoy this Washington tradition in Glen Echo Park. Performance at 10:30 a.m.
• The Visual Arts Center Program at Einstein High’s “VAC Revealed” exhibit is on display at Bethesda’s Gallery B from noon to 6 p.m. 22 seniors display samples from the portfolio.
• Brookside Garden of Lights features a walk through the gardens lit up with more than one million lights. Opens at 5:30 p.m.
• Enjoy holiday shopping and artist demonstrations at Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn Artisan Sale this weekend. Open from 6 to 9:30 p.m. tonight.
• Gaithersburg Winter Lights display features a 3.5 mile drive through Seneca Creek Park open nightly at 6 p.m.
• The Festival of Lights opened this week in Kensington. Enjoy the grounds of the Temple aglow with 600,000 lights, nightly performances in the indoor theater, christmas trees decorated in international themes, live-sized outdoor nativity and more. Grounds are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lights illuminated at dusk.
• The Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker opens tonight and is an area tradition in its 27th year. Tonight’s performance at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center starts at 7:30 p.m.
• Paul Morella returns to Olney Theatre for his one man adaptation of A Christmas Carol at 7:30 p.m.
• The Steel Wheels band returns to BlackRock tonight with a performance at 7:30 p.m.
• Sandy Spring Theatre Group’s production of A Charlie Brown Christmas opens tonight at Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn at 8 p.m.
• Leonard, Coleman and Blunt perform classic R&B and Motown sounds at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club tonight.
• Olney Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls continues this week. Tonight’s show is at 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 5

• Enjoy holiday shopping and artist demonstrations at Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn Artisan Sale this weekend. Open today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
• Enjoy this friendly cooking competition with the annual “Chefs Can Cook Competition” at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring at 10:30 a.m. Manna Food’s Jenna Umbriac and AG Kitchen’s Alex Garcia face off.
• Glen Echo’s Holiday Art Show & Sale is open today from 11 a.m to 6 p.m.
• The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents The Nutcracker for the 27th year. Families will enjoy this Washington tradition in Glen Echo Park. Performances at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• The Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker performances are at noon and 4 p.m. today in Rockville.
• The Visual Arts Center Program at Einstein High’s “VAC Revealed” exhibit is on display at Bethesda’s Gallery B from noon to 6 p.m. 22 seniors display samples from their portfolio.
• Santa is visiting the National Capital Trolley Museum for Holly Trolley Fest this month. Take a ride with Santa on one of the streetcars. Open weekends noon to 5 p.m. in Colesville.
• It’s Bethesda’s annual Winter Wonderland at Veterans Park from 1 to 4 p.m. Observe live ice sculpting and a visit from Santa Claus.
• Adventure Theatre presents A Lump of Coal for Christmas at 2 p.m. at their theater in Glen Echo Park.
• Olney Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls has two performances at 2 and 8 p.m.
• Brookside’s Garden of Lights show opens at 5:30 p.m.
• Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights display opens at 6 p.m. at Seneca Creek State Park.
  
• The Festival of Lights opened this week in Kensington. Enjoy the grounds of the Temple aglow with 600,000 lights, nightly performances in the indoor theater, christmas trees decorated in international themes, live-sized outdoor nativity and more. Grounds are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lights illuminated at dusk.
• Time for some laughter with an evening of comedy at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club. Two shows at 7 and 10 p.m.
• Enjoy an evening of improvised music at the Takoma Park Community Center at 7:30 p.m.
• Olney Theatre presents A Christmas Carol with Paul Morella with two performances at 3 and 7:30 p.m.
• The Rusted Root return to BlackRock with one performance at 7:30 p.m.
• Sandy Spring Theatre Group’s production of A Charlie Brown Christmas is at Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn tonight at 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 6

• Today is your last opportunity to enjoy holiday shopping and artist demonstrations at Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn Artisan Sale. Open today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Glen Echo’s Holiday Art Show & Sale is open today from 11 a.m to 6 p.m.
• BlackRock presents two performances of Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas for children of all ages at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Last we checked, the performances were almost sold out.)
• The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents The Nutcracker for the 27th year. Families will enjoy this Washington tradition in Glen Echo Park. Performances at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Santa is visiting the National Capital Trolley Museum this month. Take a ride with Santa on one of the streetcars. Open weekends noon to 5 p.m. in Colesville.
• The Glenview Mansion in Rockville is having an open house today with live music and the Rockville Art League exhibit from 1 to 5 p.m.
• The Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker performances are at 1 and 5 p.m. today in Rokville.
• The Virginia Music Adventures Annual Holiday Show features classic big band holiday hits at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club at 1:30 p.m.
• Adventure Theatre presents A Lump of Coal for Christmas at 2 p.m. at their theater in Glen Echo Park.
• Sandy Spring Theatre Group’s production of A Charlie Brown Christmas has a performance at Gaithersburg’s Arts Barn today at 2 p.m.
• Olney Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls has a performance at 2 p.m. today.
• Celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah at Rockville Town Square Plaza for the menorah lighting followed by a family Hanukkah Party at VisArts. Begins at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Chabad Israeli Center of Rockville.
• Brookside’s Garden of Lights show opens at 5:30 p.m.
• Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights display at Seneca Creek State Park opens at 6 p.m.
• The Klezmatics return to BlackRock in Germantown for a performance at 6 p.m.
• The Festival of Lights opened this week in Kensington. Enjoy the grounds of the Temple aglow with 600,000 lights, nightly performances in the indoor theater, Christmas trees decorated in international themes, live-sized outdoor nativity and more. Grounds are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lights illuminated at dusk.
• Olney Theatre presents A Christmas Carol at 3 p.m.
• The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club present the Chris Grasso Trio with Sharon Clark and Paul Carr at 7:30 p.m.

»Photo of Brookside Gardens of Light, courtesy of Montgomery Parks