SPECIAL EVENT: Watch the hilarious comedy of the creative mind behind “Hairspray.” ImageOut will present “A John Waters Christmas” on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at the Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 Plymouth Ave. $35. imagout.org.
SPECIAL EVENT: Anxiously awaiting a return to the English countryside with the premiere of “Downton Abbey” Season 3? Join WXXI and The Little for a preview screening on Sunday at 2 p.m. Free. Reservations required. Call 258-0200. 240 East Ave. wxxi.org/communitycinema.
MUSIC: ‘Tis the season for holiday music, and what better way to help ring in the coming holidays than with this year’s Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus (thergmc.org)concert: Joyful and Triumphant. The concert kicks off the group’s 30th anniversary with a second performance Saturday at 8 p.m. at Hochstein Performance Hall (50 Plymouth Ave. North), tickets running $6-$15.
KIDS: Santa’s taking a break from the workshop to have breakfast with children all over Rochester. Bryant & Stratton College will host the jolly elf on Saturday, December 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Holiday crafts and gift wrapping. Free. Henrietta Campus, 1225 Jefferson Rd. (292-5627) and Greece Campus, 150 Bellwood Dr. (720-0660). On Sunday, visit Santa at Mooseberry Café (2555 Baird Rd., Penfield) 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Ecumenical Food Shelter in Penfield. $10, kids under 10 eat free. RSVP at 348-9022.
MUSIC: Act Live is back in town this week, wrapping up the northeast-spanning Break Out Tour 2012. All manner of MCs, DJs, rappers and what-have-you will bring the party. A large delegation from Boston includes the headliner Du-KaRan as well as Ediquette and Kinetik Dialekt. There’s even “our boy” from Philly, DJ Games. Also look for a large smattering of our local talent, including Rigz, the intriguingly named Fresh Fingaz, and The CREEPS featuring Reece Q. There should be quite the entertaining variety of styles, and it will be good to see if everybody’s skill stacks up, or if some homies be trippin’. The concert takes place Sunday, 9:30 p.m. at Dubland Underground, 315 Alexander St. $5. Show is 21+. 232-7550.
MUSIC: Indoors and outdoors this party goes/Just hope there’s not that much snow that sticks between your toes/ Reggae DJ’s RAS Courtney & Freak-A-Nature and The Andrew and Noah Band/Will make sure your night tonight is anything but bland/Fett Svin BBQ will be good to you too/Just bring some cash ($6-$8) or get a discount if you donate clothes and food/Abilene (153 Liberty Pole Way, abilenebarandlounge.com, 7 p.m.) Saturday night is the place to be/to deck the decks with good times and glee.
RECREATION: Although there’s a chill in the air, it’s still a great time to go for festive run. Help benefit The Strong Museum at the Reindeer Run 5K & Kids Race on Saturday. 5K at 8:30 a.m., ½ mile Kids Race at 9:20 a.m. 1 Manhattan Sq. yellowjacketracing.com.
MUSIC: Joining together for a worldly holiday concert is the Rochester Oratorio Society ensemble, Resonanz, with guest soloists from the Rochester Lyric Opera (Susan Cotroneo, soprano; Matthew Swensen, tenor). Founded in 1945, the Rochester Oratorio Society numbers approximately 145 voices, and their smaller ensemble, “Resonanz,” is a subset of approximately 40 singers. Diverse carol selections will be presented, including African-American composer William Grant Still. WXXI classical radio personality Julia Figueras will offer nostalgic readings. Maestro Eric Townell will conduct. ROS presents “Garland of Carols” Saturday, December 15, 7:30 p.m. at Linehan Chapel, Golisano Academic Center, Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave. $10-$25. 473-2234, ROSSings.org.
MUSIC: Saturday night Rochester, it’s time to come out and show some love to a band from our neighbor to the west: Buffalo’s own The Tins will be in town at the Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave., bugjar.com) bringing its pop rock listening along for the (not really that long) ride. Rochester’s own Poetry for Thieves, The Branch Davidians, and The Red Lion open up, music starts at 9 p.m., cover runs $6-$8.
MUSIC: ’Tis the season, or you might say the a-cajun, for the Rochester Cajun Zydeco Network’s annual Christmas party, this year with C’est Bon. The band is made up of five gals — all stars from other area zydeco outfits — and one lone dude on the drums set to rock the dancehall. They call it hard-rockin’, foot stompin’, girl-powered Cajun dancehall music. Call it whatever you like, but no one will hear you over the happy feet on the hardwood. Wheee! Cest Bon performs Saturday, December 15, 8 p.m. at Harmony House, 58 E. Main St., Webster. $12. rochesterzydeco.com.
MUSIC: Well, you just can’t beat this tale: Sunday afternoon The Irondequoit Chorale will be presenting The Wondrous Story at the Irondequoit United Church of Christ (644 Titus Ave., 266-5018, TheIrondequoitChorale.org), featuring work by local composers Nancy Price and Don Besig. Music starts at 3 p.m., tickets run $8-$12.
MUSIC: Looking for a holiday piano concert that gives back? On Sunday you can head to the Christian Reformed Church (2750 Atlantic Ave., 465-0219) Scott's Piano Studio Sounds of the Season Benefit Concert. Music starts at 2 p.m., tickets run $5-$10.
RECREATION: Observe the beautiful wildlife Letchworth State Park has to offer at the 38th Annual Letchworth Silver Lake Christmas Bird Count on Saturday. Contact Douglas Bassett before 12/15 for territory assignments. 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile. 493-3625.
MUSIC: Offering comfort in the familiar, this weekend Madrigalia puts on two performances of its annual holiday concert, “Ring Out, Wild Bells!” Program selections on the “bell” theme include “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” and “Carol of the Bells.” Joining Madrigalia for the Friday evening performance will be the Third Church Ringers bell choir. Madrigalia, now in its 36th season, is a chamber ensemble, performing works across the centuries and styles. Madrigalia performs Sunday, December 16, 4 p.m. at Downtown Presbyterian Church (121 N. Fitzhugh St.). $5-$15. 230-2894, Madrigalia.org.
THEATER: Watch the chemistry evolved between a young Israeli woman with little understanding of English and a young American man with little understanding of romance in “Handle With Care.” 8 p.m. Hart Theatre Jewish Community Center (1200 Edgewood Ave.). $18-$26. Continues Sunday, December 16. 461-2000. jccrochester.org.