Ben Allan Smith l The Ann Arbor News

A festive time of year

ANN ARBOR, MI - With the holiday season getting into full-swing, there are plenty of events to keep you busy in between visits with family and friends over the next couple of weeks.

From performances of "The Nutcracker" to building gingerbread houses, take a look at some events in Washtenaw County that are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

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Brianne Bowen | The Ann Arbor News

The Nutcracker

The sights and sounds of "The Nutcracker" are a holiday tradition in Ann Arbor, and a number of performances of the classical ballet are scheduled throughout the coming week.

The University of Michigan's Power Center for the Performing Arts is hosting "The Nutcracker" Friday, Dec. 21 through Sunday, Dec. 23. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children under 12 and $25 for seniors. You can purchase tickets online.

The Michigan Theater, on the other hand, is hosting a special screening of "Bolshoi Ballet Live in HD: The Nutcracker," at 2 p.m. on Dec. 23. Tickets can be purchased online.

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Holiday Harmonies by Counterpoint

Local musicians from the band Counterpoint will perform holiday season favorites at noon on Thursday, Dec. 20, in the first floor lobby of University Hospital, 1500 Medical Center Drive.

The group's blended vocal harmonies and refreshing arrangements of seasonal music are a Michigan Medicine tradition, with Debbie Colesa, Deborah McKenzie, and Laurie Williams on vocals, Peter Tchoryk on trumpet and vocals, guitarist Dave Karl, and bass player Daniel McConnell,

The performance is free.

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Melanie Maxwell l The Ann Arbor News

Holiday blooms at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens

The Matthaei Botanical Gardens is hosting Beautiful Bugs, a holiday conservatory exhibit, featuring large-scale graphic representations of butterflies, moths, beetles and other multi-legged creatures that inhabit the world's ecosystems.

Along with the exhibit the gardens are displaying works by local artists and their take on insects. The annual winter/holiday event also features seasonal flowers, decorated trees and family activities.

For a listing of hours of operation, visit the botanical gardens' website.

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(Ann Arbor News photo/Lisa Allmendinger)

Build gingerbread houses at The Creamery in Dexter

Looking to build something beautiful and tasty to get you into the holiday spirit?

The Creamery in Dexter is once again hosting gingerbread house building workshops through Dec. 23.

Partcipants can choose between four pre-built gingerbread house kits, one cup of toppings and three colors of unlimited icing. Cost is $25 per house or $35 for mega houses. To schedule a time slot, visit the Dexter Creamery's website.

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Hunter Dyke | The Ann Arbor News

Plan a visit to see Santa

There should be no shortage of opportunities for children to get their lists in to Santa leading up to Christmas.

Santa is scheduled to be on hand daily at the Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor.

You can also catch Santa on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 22 at the Kerrytown Market. He's also expected to arrive via helicopter at 11 a.m. Dec. 22 at the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport.

If you're planning to catch the Michigan basketball team in action, Santa will be on the concourse from 2:30 to 4 p.m. prior to tip-off on Dec. 22.

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Hunter Dyke | The Ann Arbor News

Fun at the Ann Arbor District Library

The Ann Arbor District Library is hosting a number of events through the holidays, providing numerous opportunities for you and your loved ones to enjoy parties and story time events. Here's a look at a few of the events the AADL is hosting:

Friday, Dec. 21

Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Unity and Pride

Elizabeth James from the University of Michigan Afroamerican and African Studies Department will present an interactive discussion on the history and current celebration of Kwanzaa.

Saturday, Dec. 22

Winter Ballet Storytime

A celebration of art and ballet in our amazing storytime setting!

Sunday, Dec. 30

Thank You Card Party

Children of all ages are encouraged to attend and write thank-you notes to family and friends.

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Matt Weigand | The Ann Arbor News

Fun at the Creature Conservancy

The Creature Conservancy is getting festive for the holidays, decorating its facility with thousands of holiday lights.

The conservancy is hosting a special evening from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 21 with cookies, hot cocoa and viewing displays of animals like alligators, a cougar and porcupines.

The evening ends with a visit from some of its larger animals, including a special presentation on Sven, the reindeer.

The Creature Conservancy is located at 4950 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, and the cost to attend is $15.

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Patrick Record | The Ann Arbor News

Ann Arbor Art Center

The Ann Arbor Art Center also is hosting a number of holiday-related activities, including

From 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 22, the art center is hosting a special holiday gnome painting activity. No experience is necessary and all materials are provided.

While all ages are welcome, children younger than 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants can expect to pick up their gnomes approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the workshop. Cost is $30 and you can register online.

The art center also is hosting its holiday art gift shop in its gallery shop. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and is closed at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

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Katy Kildee | The Ann Arbor New

Mittenfest

After celebrating the holidays, take in a few nights of local music during the annual Mittenfest in downtown Ypsilanti.

The event features three nights of live music featuring local artists from Dec. 28 through Dec. 30 at Bona Sera, 200 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti.

Proceeds benefit 826michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Admission is $10 per evening for people 21 and older. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. each evening, with music beginning at 8 p.m.

For a complete lineup, visit the Mittenfest website.

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