This raucous event is basically a Santa-themed flash mob and bar crawl. Starts at noon and ends at last call, I suppose! Start at Faneuil Hall (Purple Shamrock) Boston, MA, Sat 12/8.more

This is a charity event where you race naked except for sneakers, speedos and santa beards & caps. 1pm run, check in starts at 10am. Starts and ends at Lir. And there’s a post-run celebration. They run east on Boylston and then west on Newbury St. Lir Boston, MA, Sat 12/8.more

Or perhaps you’d prefer to ride a bicycle than run in a speedo. This is a 22 mile ride from Arlington to Boston and back, while caroling, with a holiday party afterwards. 11am-2:30pm. RSVP. Rain date 7 days later. From Jam N’ Java Arlington, MA, Tue 12/11.more

If you’re going to attend one of these merchant-driven Holiday Strolls, this is a nice place to do it. Charles Street has a lot to offer: Old-Boston charm, legendary art and antiques dealers, cool architecture, and fanciest convenience store I’ve ever seen. 6-9pm. Boston, MA, Sat 12/8.more

Oldies 103, hot cocoa, cookies, participatory caroling, tree lighting, and Santa on a fire truck. 6pm. Brighton Center Boston, MA, Mon 12/10.more

Non-denominational Christmas, um, Holiday tree lighting. Sing-along caroling, and Dah Mayor. 4:00pm. City Hall Newton, MA, Thu 12/6.more

We’re about to get bowled over by Xmas, but let’s acknowledge this free latkes event in Harvard Square. A latke is a potato pancake, from Jewish Eastern Europe. Last year they had dancing to klezmer music, too. 1-3pm. Crema Cafe Cambridge, MA, Sat 12/8.more

They’re going to build a giant, Lego menora at this Chanukkah kids event. Sounds really cool! And it’s free. (I don’t see any Christians building Lego crucifixes, do you?). Boston, MA, Sun 12/9.more

This Chanukkah party has got bowling and cocktails, and is aimed at the twenty-something crowd. 7:30pm. Jillian’s Boston Boston, MA, Mon 12/10.more

Meanwhile, this one is for kiddies and has lots of food and crafts. 3pm-5pm. Temple Sinai Brookline, MA, Tue 12/11.more

I worked hard to find some Hanukkah events as well. This menorah lighting on Boston Common occurs nightly from today through the 15th at 4:30pm. Boston Common near Park St. Subway Boston, MA, Sat 12/8–Sat 12/15.more

This is an annual holiday lightshow in the Greenway accompanied by two art works by Boston CyberArts! It opens at 6 and then there’s an after party at 7pm at the Long Wharf Hotel. Rain date: 12/12/. Rose Kennedy Greenway Boston, MA, Thu 12/6.more

This looks awesome! To celebrate their latest exhibition of ’80s art, the ICA is hosting an ’80s dance night! Institute for Contemporary Art Boston, MA, Fri 12/7.more

This is part of Coolidge Corner’s ‘Science on Screen’ series. A bit overlooked when it came out, The Prestige is a stylish period flick about two rival turn-of-the-century magicians, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. Before the film, an MIT physicist will tell you about Nikola Tesla, whose experiments in electricity were groundbreaking and who is played in the film by DAVID BOWIE! Bowie as Tesla? Epic win. 7pm. The Coolidge Corner Theatre Brookline, MA, Mon 12/10.more

Student art sales are a great way to find a creative holiday bargain. This one’s at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. At least there’s no merchant mark-up and you’re benefiting the students directly. Who knows?— You might land a piece by the next Kiki Smith or Damien Hirst! Tower Building Lobby Boston, MA, Sun 12/2–Sat 12/8.more

Yes, more holiday-themed food and shopping. But it’s all lovely French things. Worth going. 10am-3pm. The Boston French Cultural Center Boston, MA, Sat 12/8.more

This country fusion act is another great-looking show at Club Passim this week. Club Passim Cambridge, MA, Tue 12/11.more

The awesome guy who illustrated Go the F*ck to Sleep has a new book, and it looks just as cool. Don’t miss the chance to meet him this week. Brookline Booksmith Brookline, MA, Thu 12/6.more

She originated the role of Glinda in Wicked, won an Emmy for Pushing Daisies, and will be in our backyard this week to answer questions about her career. 2pm, free, first-come, first-served. Farkass Hall Cambridge, MA, Fri 12/7.more

Native American imagery has been really popular this year. But if I see one more photo of a hipster wearing a war bonnet, I am going to scream. If you love Native American arts, please skip the cultural appropriation and buy something meaningful directly from Native artists and artisans. The event is free, so even if you can’t buy anything, it’s a great opportunity to learn about various Native cultures. Sheraton Commander Hotel Cambridge, MA, Sat 12/8.more

An evening of community discourse with two HUGE intellectual heavyweights. I’m surprised this isn’t getting more press! Berklee Performance Center Boston, MA, Sat 12/8.more

This event may go into the ‘so what’ category, but apparently it’s a CandyLand tournament! It’s based on the board game that any 2 year old can play because it involves no skill whatsoever. And meant to get you to come shop at Faneuil Hall, of course. 10am-12pm. Faneuil Hall Boston, MA, Sat 12/8.more

I don’t usually feature stuff like this and encourage you to shop, but I do support great local businesses like The Garment District! While you’re there from 12-3pm, look into their Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest! The Garment District Cambridge, MA, Sat 12/8.more

When I first looked at this I definitely thought this was Iron Chef-related. Oops. Nope, this guy is a champion cyclist! And he’s talking about and signing his new book today from 4-7:30pm. W Hotel Boston, MA, Sun 12/9.more

Jan vankmajer is a Czech surrealist film maker who is known for his brilliant stop-motion animation. The HFA is screening some of his films this weekend. If you’re new to vankmajer, his take on Alice in Wonderland is the one to see. It combines live action with stop-motion and is AMAZING! Harvard Film Archive Cambridge, MA, Sat 12/8–Sun 12/9.more

Now this is 3D modeling! Check out these technology-based art projects. 7:30pm. MassArt’s Trustee’s Room Boston, MA, Tue 12/11.more

This is an ‘experimental, interactive play that explores the Russian-Jewish immigrant experience.’ Looks like a really invigorating evening of theatre. Highly recommended! Shapiro Campus Center Waltham, MA, Sat 12/8.more

Why is the story of angels and demons always told from the angels’ point of view? Read our review about this show centered on demons. Cutler Majestic Theatre Boston, MA, Fri 11/30–Sat 12/1.more

What sets apart this particular Messiah concert is its pedigree: Boston Baroque is one of New England’s finest groups, certainly for early music, and Jordan Hall is one of its most beautiful and accoustically perfect venues! Tickets are priced accordingly, though. Jordan Hall Boston, MA, Fri 12/7–Sat 12/8.more

This one starts at 3pm. Tix range from $5-$45. Trinity Church Boston, MA, Sun 12/9.more

We’ve featured A Far Cry before, and that’s because they’re awesome and unusual. They’re playing a John Cage- heavy program tonight at the ISG, where they are the chamber orchestra in residence. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Boston, MA, Thu 12/6.more

Interesting subject for a rock opera! Julia Pastrana, known as the Victorian Ape Woman, was born with a condition called hypertrichosis that caused her face and body to be covered in hair. She was married to her sideshow manager, who continued to make money off of her stuffed remains when she died in childbirth. Whelp. Sounds like this musical could get hairy. (Yeah, yeah, you see what I did there.). Club Passim Cambridge, MA, Fri 12/7.more

Klezmer is an amalgam of various Eastern European and Russian Jewish folk music, and it is VERY hard not to tap your toes to it. Good stuff. If you dig Gogol Bordello or the Luminescent Orchestrii, this concert by Shirim will appeal. Club Passim Cambridge, MA, Sun 12/9.more