Hot tickets

Things worth checking out this week …

Bring your pet to visit Santa on Thursday at his house on the Naperville Riverwalk, along Jackson Avenue at Webster Street, Naperville. Reservations required. Info: (630) 848-3571.

DanceWest Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" at 7 p.m. Friday, and 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. Tickets: $29 for adults, $23 for seniors and children 12 and younger. Info: (630) 637-SHOW.

Make crafts, then go on an outdoor Candy Cane Hunt from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Barn Recreation Center, West Street and Martin Avenue, Naperville. For ages 3 to 5. Register by today. Cost: $12 for Naperville Park District residents; $18 others. Info: (630) 848-5000.

Tuba and euphonium players are invited to join Naperville's 25th annual Merry Tuba Christmas performances. Sign up at 9 a.m. at the Naperville Community Concert Center in Central Park, where rehearsal starts at 9:30 a.m. Performances are at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Washington Street and Jefferson Avenue in Naperville, and at 12:30 p.m. at Westfield Fox Valley mall, Route 59 and New York Street in Aurora. Costs: $5 registration, $12 for music; $12 optional holiday hat. Bring your own music stand. Info: 630-961-0908.

Barrage, an energetic string group featuring an international cast, performs a mix of song and dance at 7 p.m. Monday in the Neuqua Valley High School auditorium, 2360 95th St., Naperville. Students from Scullen Middle School and Neuqua Valley will join in the performance. Info: barrage.org.