Sunday picks: Try your hand at an instrument at Metropolis

Give it a try!

Guests are invited to try playing a variety of musical instruments as the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts hosts a Musical Instrument Petting Zoo at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Metropolis faculty will demonstrate the instruments and answer questions. Free. metropolisarts.com/sopa. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

Canine convention

See canines compete for titles, get tips on training and more at the Skokie Valley Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $7; $3 kids 12 and younger. (847) 692-2220, rosemont.com or skokievalleykc.org. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

Happy shopping

Vendors from across the country will feature holiday gifts and crafts at more than 500 booths as Lambs Farm hosts the 35th Annual Holiday Lights Gift & Craft Fair at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Lambs will also sell items from the farm's bakery, country store and thrift shop. Admission is $8 per person. Parking is $7 per vehicle. A portion of the proceeds will help support Lambs Farm's programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Visit holidaylightslambsfarm.com for a coupon for $1 off admission and to enter to win free tickets. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

Skate with Santa

Families are invited to roller skate with St. Nicholas, the Minions and SpongeBob SquarePants at the Skate with Santa celebration at the Orbit Skate Center, 615 S. Consumers Ave., Palatine. Hot chocolate, candy canes and holiday music are also featured. Admission is $6 and includes skate rental. (847) 394-9199 or orbitskate.net. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 (for kids ages 12 and younger and their families)

Farewell Nutcracker

The Joffrey Ballet retires company co-founder Robert Joffrey's take on Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" this season. See it one last time this month at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $35-$136. (800) 982-2787, joffrey.org or auditoriumtheatre.org. Various dates and times through 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27

Funny business

Catch up with the season two winner of NBC's "Last Comic Standing" when comedian John Heffron returns on Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

Horns aplenty

Hear all kinds of popular and classical tunes that have been transcribed or written entirely for horns when Canadian Brass plays two Sunday shows at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $40-$50. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6

Upcoming concerts

Canadian Brass: 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Brass ensemble performs baroque and Dixieland tunes, classical and new compositions. $40-$50. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.

BG Singers Encore!: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 N. Elm St., Prospect Heights. Encore!, the traveling vocal ensemble of the Buffalo Grove Singers, performs holidays tunes, Broadway selections and more. Free. Register at (847) 259-3500, ext. 35, phpl.info or by visiting the library's information desk.

Illinois Brass Band's "Holiday Classics" Concert: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. Holiday favorites, jazzy updates of classics and more. $6-$12. Tickets available at Cutting Hall box office in advance or on the day of the performance. (847) 202-5222 or illinoisbrassband.org.

Fox Valley Men of Harmony with "Marshmallow World Holiday Concert": 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland, Elgin. Songs of the season performed in four-part harmony by Fox Valley Men of Harmony and local quartets. Show includes audience singalong. The Crystal Lake South High School Madrigal Group also performs. $10. (630) 587-6383.

The Queers, Top Shelf Lickers, The Mystery Actions, Bremer & the No Goods, The Retirement Club: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., Chicago. Punk rock. $15. (773) 537-4441 or 1stwardevents.com.

Acappellago with "Escape to A New Beginning" holiday concert: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. New music for Christmas as well as fresh arrangements of classic favorites. $15-$17. acappellago.org.

The Empty Pockets, Nate Jones, Mark Croft: 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Americana rock. $25-$35. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

"A Carpenters' Christmas": 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Vocalist Lisa Rock and her six-piece band performs holiday tunes once recorded by Karen and Richard Carpenter. $30-$35. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Michael Bolton: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Pop, rock. $48-$68. (800) 982-2787, ticketmaster.com or geneseetheatre.com.

Luke Winslow-King: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Blues, jazz guitar. $10-$12. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Rhett Miller, Nora O'Connor, Gerald Dowd: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Americana rock. $25-$32. (312) 733-9463 or citywinery.com.

David Paige, Lillie Lemon: 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Ballydoyle, 5157 Main St., Downers Grove. Alternative rock. (630) 969-0600 or ballydoylepub.com/downers/.

Glam Camp, Ocean Days: 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Indie rock. No cover. (773) 227-3530 or whistlerchicago.com.

• Information is provided by the entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.