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The NJ Ballet along with the NJ Symphony present the famed ballet "The Nutcracker" at the Mayo PAC in Morristown this weekend.

(Photo Courtesy Mayo PAC)

THE NUTCRACKER AT THE MAYO PAC: There will be plenty of renditions of "The Nutcracker" happening around the state this holiday season, but only one will feature the tag team of New Jersey's top ballet and symphony outfits. The New Jersey Ballet Company will team with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra to bring the famed Christmas show about sugar plum fairies, candy flutes, and the Nutcracker Prince to life at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown December 16-24. The show will feature select matinees at 1 p.m. $29-$69. Friday Dec 16 (7:30 p.m.), Saturday Dec 17 (1:00 p.m., 6 p.m.), Sunday Dec 18 (1 p.m., 6 p.m.), Thursday Dec 22 (7 p.m.), Friday Dec 23 (3 p.m., 7 p.m.), Saturday Dec 24 (1 p.m). 100 South Street, Morristown, 973-539-0008.

BLACK NATIVITY AT CROSSROADS THEATRE: Langston Hughes' take on the classic Nativity story closes out this weekend at the Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick. The show, written in 1961 by the famed author, infuses African dance, storytelling and music, to tell the legendary story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The show is directed by Lee Truesdale, and choreographed by Obediah Wright. $45. Thursday 7:00 p.m., Friday 7:00 p.m., Saturday 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., Sunday 3:00 p.m. 7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. 732-545-8100.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR AND DECK THE HALL IN GRAND ARCADE: The Grand Arcade at Convention Hall in Asbury Park has another jam-packed Saturday on its hands. This marks the final weekend of the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar. The arcade will teem with merchants, artisans, and local businesses selling their finest. Music will be provided throughout the afternoon, and all the bars and restaurants in the Arcade are open. The fourth annual "Deck the Hall" concert takes after the bazaar. Four bands -- Ba Babes, The Tide Bends, Dead Leaf Echo, and Psychiatric Metaphors -- will perform on the stage in front of the massive Christmas tree in the arcade. This is a free show, but attendees must be 21 and over. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a new/unwrapped toy, a new or gently worn coat, or canned, non-perishable food to the show to help local charities. Free. Bazaar 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Deck the All 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. 1300 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park.

KINGS OF CHAOS AT WELLMONT: This is a seriously awesome lineup. The Kings of Chaos, "rock's ultimate supergroup" is made up of (get ready for this): Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Billy Duffy of The Cult, Steve Stevens from Billy Idol's band, Robert DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots, and Matt Sorum of Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses. Now that is a line-up. Franky Perez, whose music was featured heavily on "Sons of Anarchy" and has jammed with a number of supergroups in his time, will open the show up. $20-$160. Saturday, 8 p.m. 5 Seymour Street, Montclair. 973-783-9500.

CHRISTMAS SHOWS AT ADVENTURE AQUARIUM: We knew about Santa Claus' ability to delivery presents around the world in one night, but who knew he was also an accomplished diver? "Scuba Santa" dives are happening this weekend (11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.) at Camden's Adventure Aquarium. Santa will swim with a hammerhead shark, sea turtles and sting rays. He is also the star of the live show, narrated by the aquarium's elves, which tells his entire life story (10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.). The rest of the aquarium will be conducting business as usual with all their jaw-dropping displays of the ocean's wonderful creatures. $18.95-$29.95 (day pass). Saturday & Sunday. 1 Riverside Drive, Camden. 856-365-3300.

BRIAN KIRK & THE JIRKS ANNUAL COUNT BASIE CHARITY SHOW: Beloved Jersey Shore cover band frontman Brian Kirk (of Brian Kirk & The Jirks) presents his annual "Santa For..." charity show this Saturday at The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. The show will benefit Lunch Break, a Red Bank-based charity that helps combat hunger in the local area. Kirk's vision of a charity event is radically different than the usual "here's a bunch of bands playing one show" type of deal. Instead, he's put together a "risque Ed Sullivan-style variety show" featuring musical guests, skits, and of course Kirk's trademark sense of humor. The show will feature performances from special guest musicians, and naturally from Brian Kirk and his band, The Jirks. $25-$75. Saturday, 8:00 p.m. 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, 732-842-9000.

A DICKENS OF A MURDER: This is one of those unique holiday events you'll have to see to believe. The Palm Restaurant, at The Tropicana in Atlantic City, will present their annual production of "A Dickens of a Murder" as a part of their dinner-theater series. The plot of the show is as follows: Ebenezer Scrooge attends his nephew Fred's Christmas party, and is murdered. Who will solve the case? Why Sherlock Holmes, of course. And like any good dinner-theater show, Sherlock will be looking to members of the audience to help him find the killer. $85 (includes three-course dinner and show), Sunday, 6 p.m. The Tropicana Casino and Resort, 2801 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City, 609-344-7256.

Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.