Your free time is precious, so how to spend it? Here are five ideas for Birmingham, Dec. 13-20, 2019.

Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

TELEVISION

Keep your fingers crossed for Tiara Pennington. She's Miss Alabama 2019, competing for the title of Miss America 2020. Pennington, a student at the University of Alabama, is one of 51 women in this year's pageant, set for Thursday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Tune in to NBC to see how she fares, starting at 7 p.m. CT.

Miss America 2020, finals Dec. 19, 7 p.m. on NBC.

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Joan Marcus

THEATER

See the 2018 Tony winner for Best Revival of a Musical. We're talking about "Once on This Island," set for four performances this weekend at the BJCC Concert Hall. The show tells the story of a peasant girl who's befriended by four gods who oversee a tropical island. With their help, she manages to bring together people of different social classes, using the power of love as a unifier. The national touring production arrives this weekend, courtesy of the American Theatre Guild and its Broadway in Birmingham series.

"Once on This Island," Dec. 13-15, BJCC Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, $35-$95 via Ticketmaster. Show times 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Visit Santa's Underground Workshop. You'll find it at Rickwood Caverns State Park, which has been transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland. An abundance of Christmas lights can be seen during self-guided tours of the caverns. The park also offers holiday movies, crafts, letters to Santa and more, through Dec. 30.

Santa's Underground Workshop, through Dec. 30, 2 p.m.-8 p.m., Rickwood Caverns State Park, 370 Rickwood Park Road, Warrior, $10, free for kids age 2 and younger.

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MOVIES

Ready for snow, Santa and the Christmas spirit? You'll find all three on the big screen of the Alabama Theatre. Holiday movies are on the agenda through Dec. 22, including "A Christmas Story," "Home Alone," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Elf" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." As a bonus, each screening begins with music performed on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

Holiday movie screenings, through Dec. 22, Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. North, $9 via Ticketmaster or at box office. See the full schedule on the venue's website.

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AL.com file photo/Michelle Campbell

DANCE

Feel merry and bright. That's the usual reaction from audiences who watch the Alabama Ballet's version of "The Nutcracker." The company is allowed to perform George Balanchine's choreography for the classic tale, which focuses on a girl who embarks on an adventure filled with fantasy. It's an elegant production, set to Tchaikovsky's enchanting score. Performances are scheduled Fridays-Sundays, today through Dec. 22 at Samford University's Wright Center.

George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker," Dec. 13-15, 20-22, Wright Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, $40-$65 via Ticketmaster.

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Image via Pixabay

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