Your free time is precious, so how to spend it? Here are five ideas for Birmingham, Jan. 17-24, 2020.

Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

CONCERTS

Cheer for Miranda Lambert. The country star returns to Birmingham on Saturday, kicking off her "Wildcard" tour, and the show promises to be a high-energy twangfest. Lambert is a dynamo on stage, and her setlist is bound to be packed with hits — "Kerosene," "Little Red Wagon," "The House That Built Me" and more. Cody Johnson and LANCO open, starting at 7 p.m. at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC.

Miranda Lambert, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., Legacy Arena at the BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, $23-$239 via Ticketmaster.

Don't Edit

Image by annca from Pixabay

BENEFITS

Support two downtown treasures — and celebrate the Mardi Gras season — at the Lyric Masquerade Ball. Saturday's event will raise money for the Lyric and Alabama theaters, via music, dancing, a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, a bourbon tasting, an open bar and lots of socializing. Black tie and masks are encouraged for revelers at the Lyric, starting at 7 p.m.

Lyric Masquerade Ball, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., Lyric Theatre, 1800 Third Ave. North, $50, $75 VIP via Ticketmaster.

Don't Edit

Courtesy photo

BOOKS

Take a selfie with Charlaine Harris, author of the fantasy novels that inspired the "True Blood" TV series. She's back with a new character, Gunnie Rose, a gunslinging mercenary who's living in a magical, splintered version of America after the Great Depression. Harris will sign copies of "A Longer Fall," the latest installment in the Gunnie Rose series, on Tuesday at Books-A-Million in Homewood. Look for her there at 7 p.m.

Charlaine Harris, signing copies of "A Longer Fall," Jan. 21 at 7 p.m., Books-A-Million, 757 Brookwood Village, 205-870-0213.

Don't Edit

Image by Parox Dark from Pixabay

THEATER

Ready for some divine decadence? Sally Bowles, the heroine of "Cabaret," certainly would approve. If you've never seen this award-winning musical, it's time to rectify that. The Virginia Samford Theatre launches its production on Thursday with Chelsea Reynolds as flawed and fabulous main character. The story takes place in a Berlin nightclub in the early 1930s, as the Nazis are rising to power. Sally's there, performing nightly and trying to become a star. That's all you need to know right now — except that the show is filled with unforgettable tunes, political tension and wicked dance moves.

"Cabaret," Jan. 23-Feb. 9, Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th St. South, $100 patron party Jan. 23, otherwise $35-$50, 205-251-1206.

Don't Edit

Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Build, build, build. LEGO fans in Birmingham will have their hands full this weekend when BrickFair comes to the BJCC Exhibition Halls. The annual LEGO extravaganza features millions of colorful bricks, displays, games and family-friendly activities. It's all happening on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. daily.

BrickFair LEGO Fan Expo, Jan. 18-19, BJCC Exhibition Halls, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, $8.25-$13 daily in advance, $14 at door. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Image via Pixabay

More on entertainment in Alabama:

100 must-see concerts coming to Alabama in 2020

The hottest new restaurants in Birmingham in 2019

Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Chili Peppers top 2020 Hangout Music fest lineup

Grammy Awards 2020: 5 acts with Alabama ties among nominees

Alabama’s first cat cafe, Gatos and Beans, aims to make animal lovers purr

There’s new life at Bessemer’s historic Lincoln Theatre