SantaCon is here, as the Claus-clad masses gather for bar crawls in Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale to celebrate in public displays of, um, holiday spirit? Not to sound like your mom or Father Christmas, but can we remember that when you don the red-and-white you are repping a cherished brand and an image. Nobody wants to see stumbling drunk Santa, especially when there are kids around. Be jolly, not Blitzened.
THURSDAY
Don’t Miz out: This is opening weekend for the Broadway touring production of epic Tony-winning musical “Les Misérables” at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, with performances through Dec. 28. Weekend shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $54.58 at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.
Booting up: Charismatic country star Jon Pardi (“Head Over Boots,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “Last Night Lonely”) brings The Christmas Show to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood at 8 p.m. Thursday. Along with seasonal themes, he’ll also have music from new album “Honkytonk Hollywood.” Tickets start at $39.80 at Ticketmaster.com.
Cool sounds: Electro-pop musician Helado Negro (known as Roberto Carlos Lange when he was growing up in South Florida with his Ecuadorian parents) brings music from his new album, “The Last Sound on Earth,” to buzzy Miami music venue ZeyZey on Thursday at 7 p.m. The evening also will include a DJ set by singer-artist Devendra Banhart. General-admission tickets start at $42. Visit ZeyZeyMiami.com.
Delray Santas: SantaCon returns to downtown Delray Beach on Thursday beginning at nightclub Honey at 10 p.m., with the costumed bar crawl scheduled to hit hotspots Good Night John Boy, Wine & Spirits Kitchen, Throw Social, Coco Sushi and The Office. Registration begins at 7 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $19.10, with VIP access available. Proceeds from the event provide toys for local kids, and organizers also ask participants to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. VIsit SantaCon.info.
Twain shall meet: Emmy-winning actor Richard Thomas (yes, the “The Waltons” star, of “Good night, John Boy” fame) returns to the role of writer, humorist and social critic Mark Twain in the one-man show “Mark Twain Tonight!” at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach on Thursday at 2 p.m. Tickets for the show start at $40.25 at Kravis.org.
A “Wonderful” old time: Local theater ensemble New City Players will create a nostalgic radio-play version of the classic Frank Capra film “It’s a Wonderful Life” at General Provision Downtown in Fort Lauderdale. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday (sold out), 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, with tickets starting at $30. There will be a fun menu of casual food and drink, including the Bailey’s Building & Loan Latte. You get the drift. Visit NewCityPlayers.org.
Jolly jaunt: The third annual Jolly Jog 5K Fun Run & Toy Drive returns to The Wharf in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 7 p.m. to benefit local nonprofit HANDY. Basic registration is sold out, but premium registration is available for $24.36, and includes a race bib, Santa hat, Christmas lights necklace, finisher medal and complimentary cocktail at the after-party. New, unwrapped toy donations for HANDY will be accepted. Visit TheJollyJog.com.
Ticket window: The powerful pairing of singer-actors Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson is coming to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on June 20, with tickets available in a series of presales, including a venue presale at 10 a.m. Thursday. The general on-sale begins at 10 a.m. Friday. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
FRIDAY
Night of Wonder: The intrepid Nu Deco Ensemble returns to the Arsht Center in Miami on Friday, joined by Grammy Award winner PJ Morton (Maroon 5) and others for an evening of music that will include a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the monumental Stevie Wonder album “Songs in the Key of Life.” Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert start at $35.10 at ArshtCenter.org.
Merry Creed-mas: Scott Stapp and Grammy-winning rock outfit Creed will play two weekend shows at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, joined by Sevendust. The Tallahassee-spawned band, with hits including “With Arms Wide Open,” “My Own Prison,” “What’s This Life For” and “Higher,” will perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets start at $102.35 (more availability on Friday). Visit MyHRL.com.
Rock band Creed will play a pair of weekend shows at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. (Chuck Brueckmann/Courtesy)
Sweet sip: James Beard-winner Michelle Bernstein’s revered Calle Ocho cocktail space Cafe La Trova (this year named one of the 50 best bars in North America) is pouring some holiday spirit with a limited-time-only Cuban Coquito. Served through year’s end, the festive drink is a mix of Bacardí Ocho Rum, Cardenal Mendoza Angelus, pandan syrup, condensed milk, coconut milk, cream of coconut, orange blossom water, cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of salt. Cost: $13. You also can take home a 500 ml bottle for $25. Visit CafeLaTrova.com.
Friday night live: Brock Butler and Perpetual Groove bring their sprawling, genre-defying sound to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $30.55 at Ticketmaster.com. … Local funkateers The Heavy Pets will celebrate their first 20 years with a show at the historic Miami Beach Bandshell (great venue for them) on Friday at 7 p.m., with an opening set by Guavatron. Tickets start at $35.43. Visit MiamiBeachBandshell.com. … Colombian rockers Aterciopelados will be at ZeyZey in Miami on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $60. Visit ZeyZeyMiami.com.
SATURDAY
Matisyahu’s light: South Florida favorite Matisyahu will celebrate Hanukkah at the Miami Beach Bandshell on Saturday and Sunday. Each of his Festival of Light performances will include two sets, beginning with a 20th anniversary return to his career-changing album “Live at Stubb’s,” followed by a closing mix of other hits, fan favorites and new material. Tickets cost $59.23. Visit MiamiBeachBandshell.com.
Matisyahu will revisit his iconic album “Live at Stubb’s” at the Miami Beach Bandshell. (Jared Polin/Courtesy)
Local shopping: Some people (ahem) are not quite done with their holiday shopping. Good news: The Rust Market is back on Saturday in the Lake Park Arts District. Running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and hosted by Kelsey Vintage Goods and its discerning owner, Jesse Furman, the market will include 115 booths set up in the alley and streets around the shop, along with live music and food vendors. Visit Instagram.com/therustmarket.
Saturday laughs: Comedian and master storyteller Ali Siddiq, who recently published a new book, “Applied Advice,” brings his In the Shadows tour to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $40.26 at Kravis.org.
Las Olas Santas: SantaCon comes to Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m. at a festively designed YOLO and continuing at O Lounge Las Olas, Rooftop @1WLO and The Wharf. It’s free, with drink specials for registered participants dressed in holiday attire. For registration, visit Eventbrite.com.
Stocker, Mike / Sun Sentinel
Scene from a SantaCon past on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
Taylor made: Sing along to some of the most singiest songs of the past decade when the Taylor Swift celebration The Taylor Party takes over Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. Tickets for the 18-and-older show cost $29. Doors open at 8 p.m. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
Balling out: The Y100.7 Jingle Ball returns to Miami‘s Kaseya Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a lineup that includes Nelly, Kehlani, BigXthaPlug, mgk, Feid, Monsta X and Zara Larsson. Tickets are available, starting at $47.35, at Ticketmaster.com.
Christmas picnic: New World Symphony will offer its “Sounds of the Season” concert with a range of holiday music, including familiar melodies from “The Nutcracker,” “The Polar Express, ”Greensleeves” and traditional carol “Sleigh Ride” at the New World Center on Miami Beach at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The concert is sold out, but it can be enjoyed for free during a WALLCAST screening, with picnic-style viewing on the side of New World Center at wired-for-audio SoundScape Park. For WALLCAST information, visit NWS.edu.
SUNDAY
Bowlful of Bocelli: Poperatic singing star Andrea Bocelli will express the joy of the season as only he can during a concert at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Seats are available, starting at $111.10, at Ticketmaster.com.
Drew Gurian/Drew Gurian/Invision/AP
Andrea Bocelli brings a voice for all seasons to the Kaseya Center in Miami. (Drew Gurian/Invision/AP file)
Sister brother: The buzz for solo shows by Drew Copeland (Sister Hazel) is very good, so catch him at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center on Sunday at 7 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $43.60 at Ticketmaster.com.
Green day: Local entertainment royalty TP Lords will host the Grinch Drag Brunch at the Fort Lauderdale Improv in Dania Beach at noon Sunday. Tickets start at $24.90 at ImprovFTL.com.
LOOKING AHEAD
Holiday sweat: The Holiday Ugly Sweater Run will take place at Tarpon River Brewing in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Like it sounds, most of the fun is dressing the part for this free, 2-mile run. And there’s beer at the end. Visit TarponRiverBrewing.com.
A pair of Matzoballs: The energetic Jewish singles mixer on Christmas Eve known as the Matzoball will take place in two South Florida locations on Wednesday. There’s a Matzoball planned at Boca Luna Luxe Lounge in Boca Raton at 9 p.m. (tickets start at $55) and at LIV nightclub at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach at 10 p.m. (tickets start at $65). Visit Matzoball.org.
Three nights with Shakira: You can still get tickets to see Colombian pop star Shakira when she plays three consecutive nights at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, beginning on Dec. 27. Tickets start at $169 on Dec. 29, $215.10 for the other shows. Visit MyHRL.com.
Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on IG: @BenCrandell.