Things to do in Southwest/Spring Valley Dec. 11-17

Watch local skaters show off their skills during the Holiday Extravaganza on Ice scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Las Vegas Ice Center, 9295 W. Flamingo Road. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for those 12 or younger. Also, the center's Winter Wonderland public skate is available for $10 for adults and $6 for skaters 5 or younger through Jan. 6. Visit tinyurl.com/LVICICE or lasvegasice.com.

A Christmas celebration with warm beverages, music, activities and photos with Santa is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, about 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Beltway on state Route 159. The decorated Ranch House is to be lit up. Admission is $9 per vehicle. There is a $2 discount for Nevada residents. Call 702-875-4141 or visit parks.nv.gov.

A "Happy Hour Improv Holiday Show" is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Tickets start at $10. "Tape," a play by Steven Belber and directed by Jason Nino, is set for 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23 at the Las Vegas Little Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. Visit lvlt.org or 702-362-7996.

Parents can drop off kids ages 6 to 12 in the center's day care during a Holiday Shopping Escape planned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Desert Breeze Community Center, 8275 Spring Mountain Road. The cost is $20 per child and includes crafts, treats and lunch. Registration is required. Call 702-455-8335.

Country music star Travis Tritt is set to perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at The Orleans Showroom, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Tickets start at $39.95. Visit orleanscasino.com.

A holiday open house is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Music 4 Life, 2975 S. Rainbow Blvd. Attendees have the chance to win a drum, can enjoy happy hour drumming, the location's lounge, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Donations are to be accepted for at-risk youths served by the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and Solutions Foundation. Visit nevadahomlessyouth.org or solutions-foundation.org for donation ideas. RSVP for the event at 702-889-2881, info@music4life.us or music4life.us.

Worth a Drive

The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre plans to present the musical "Honk!" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for teens, seniors and members of the military and $3 for children 12 or younger. Call 702-229-6383 or visit artslasvegas.org.

A Shoes for Children shoe drive and benefit performance of "The Threepenny Opera" by the Ira Aldridge Theatre Company of Nevada is scheduled at 7 p.m. today and Wednesday at the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center Theatre, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. Admission is a new pair of children's athletic shoes. Call 702-507-3989.

The Gateway Arts Foundation plans to present "A Dead Guy in My Daughter's Bedroom" at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas W. Ryan Blvd. Admission is $12 for Sun City Summerlin residents and $15 for nonresidents. Visit gatewayarts foundation.org. All ticket sales are check or cash (exact change required). Credit cards are not accepted. Call the Starbright Theatre at 800-595-4849.

Junior Achievement's Suite Holidays, a benefit tour of luxury accommodations at six hotel properties mixed with appetizers, cocktails and raffles, is scheduled from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $100. Visit jalasvegas.org.

Holiday Spectacular, a celebration with lights, crafts, pony rides, entertainment and photos with Santa, is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday through Dec. 23 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Posada, a Mexican Christmas tradition with music, pinatas and a candle procession, is scheduled during this event on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 12 and free for children 4 or younger. The Springs Preserve is also set to host Night at the Museum: The Polar Express, an evening of activities to occupy children while parents have a night to themselves from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. The cost is $25 per child. Space is limited, and reservations are required by Wednesday. Visit springspreserve.org or call 702-822-7700.

Easter Seals Nevada is scheduled to host its second Stay at Home Gala benefiting the more than 7,000 Nevadans living with disabilities. Tickets cost $35. Visit stayathomegala.org.

Guests can expect treats, gingerbread cookie decorating, games and music at Communities in Schools' annual Santa Tea scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday in Simon Restaurant and Lounge at Palms Place, 4381 W. Flamingo road. Tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for children. Visit cisnevada.org.

Sandra Huntsman: Broadway and Beyond, a monthly evening of cabaret featuring local talent hosted by Huntsman, is slated to present "Christmas Rarities & Uncommon Gems" at 10 p.m. Friday at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave. Tickets are $15. Visit onyxtheatre.com or call 702-732-7225.

Families are invited to time travel to the birth of Jesus with food, arts, entertainment and tents set up to represent Bethlehem during One Starry Night, a free holiday event scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Griffith United Methodist Church, 1701 E. Oakey Blvd. Visit griffithumc.org or call 702-384-5255.

The 10 Tenors plan to perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Suncoast Showroom, 9090 Alta Drive. Tickets start at $15.95. Call 702-636-7075 or visit suncoastcasino.com.

A performance of klezmer music by Meshugginah Klezmorim is scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show. Visit clarkcountynv.gov or call 702-455-7340.

Cockroach Theatre Company's production of John Kolvenbach's comedy "Love Song" is scheduled to open at 8 p.m. Friday and run through Dec. 23 at Art Square, 1025 S. First St. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Visit cockroachtheatre.com.

Jonathan Isley presents "An Evening of Holiday and Pop Standards" a benefit for the Onyx Theatre and Off-Strip Productions at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave. Tickets are $25, which includes a champagne celebration. Visit onyxtheatre.com or call 702-732-7225.

The ice show "The Princess and the Golden Skates" is scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the SoBe Ice Arena at the Fiesta Rancho, 2400 N. Rancho Drive. Tickets are $10, but a discount of $2 is offered in exchange for a donation of at least three canned goods to benefit The Salvation Army. The show features local figure skaters of all ages and follows the story of a young girl given a special pair of golden skates to wear when she is crowned princess as she turns 21. When the skates go missing, the whole kingdom performs a search and works together to save the coronation. Call 702-638-3785 or visit sclv.com.

Ongoing Events

Actor and poet James McGuire plans to create an interactive gallery experience inviting the public to illustrate his poems in the gallery of the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd. The exhibit is scheduled to be on display through Feb. 5. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3820.

Bass Pro Shops' fifth annual Santa's Wonderland Village is scheduled to be open through Dec. 24. At the 8200 Dean Martin Drive location, patrons can get photos with Santa, do crafts and play free games. The village offers an old-time model train, remote-control trucks, a laser arcade, a soft-gun range and slot-car racing. New to this year's village is a talking caribou. Most crafts and activities are free. Visit tinyurl.com/santabasspro. 

Opportunity Village's Magical Forest is set to run from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 6 at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd. In addition to the holiday display, attendees can expect photos with Santa, nightly entertainment, a carousel, train rides, a gingerbread house display, mini-golf and more. Tickets are $9 for children, $11 for adults and free for children 3 or younger. The entry fee does not include rides. Passports, which include entry and rides are $15.50 for children 3 to 12 and $17.50 for those 13 or older. Parking is free. Call 702-259-3741 or visit magicalforest.org.

Ongoing shows at Money Plays, 4755 W. Flamingo Road, include live local music at 9 p.m. Saturdays and a live open mic night at 9 p.m. Thursdays. Visit moneyplayslv.com.

Ricardo Griego is slated to play Spanish guitar from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturdays at Barcelona Tapas & Bar, 10690 Southern Highlands Parkway, No. 100. Visit ricardogriego.com.

"Line, Rhythm, Stroke: Portraits and Life" a show of artwork by Cristina Natsuko Paulos is scheduled to be on display through Jan. 6 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6030.

Music 4 Life offers drum circle sessions at Dinosaurs & Roses, 6029 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit music4life.us or call 702-889-2881.

Plan Ahead

Upcoming events at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, include the Armenchik Live in Las Vegas Christmas Concert, set for 8 p.m. Dec. 22. The show features Armenian singer Armen Gondrachyan. Tickets start at $54. Also set to perform is rapper Pitbull at 8 p.m. Dec. 28 and 29 as part of the New Year's Eve weekend. Tickets start at $85. Visit palms.com.

Comedic duo brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans are set to perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 29 and 30 at The Orleans Showroom, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Tickets start at $39.95. Visit Orleanscasino.com.