The Weekender: 5 Things to Do Dec. 3-5

Light Up Lakewood
Lakewood’s daylong holiday fest is one of the city’s greatest examples of its vibrant character. From ice carvings to hot chocolate, the family-friendly event invites participants to get lunch with Santa, catch pop-punk five-piece the Sellouts, and ogle at the float decor during the cheerful Holiday Parade. Make sure to stick around for the spectacular lighting ceremony and a winter fireworks show to close. Yes, even Santa can roll out to a fireworks backdrop. Free, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., downtown Lakewood, lakewoodalive.org

Wintertide
What better way to stave off winter depression than with art? Gordon Square understands, and hosts their annual art-infused holiday experience with plenty of pop-up galleries, music and theater. Come see A Christmas Story at the Capitol for only a buck, among other special stagings of Light the Lights, Ol’ Moses CLE at Cleveland Public Theatre and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Near West Theatre. And feel like traveling in authentic Yuletide style? Ride to each of the 11 new businesses in the square via a free horse and carriage ride. Free, Dec. 3, 1-7 p.m. Gordon Square Arts District, 6516 Detroit Ave., gordonsquare.org

Collective Upcycle Grand Opening
What better time to get crafty than the beginning of December? With a totally new look and tons of new materials, the St. Clair boutique transforms into a holiday-themed craft supplier this weekend for its Grand Opening Party, finalizing the transition to Collective Upcycle, a boutique fashioned from reused items created by local artisans. Need an extra stocking stuffer or two? Crafters, this may be it. Free, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 6419 St. Clair Ave., upcyclepartsshop.org

Holiday CircleFest
Winter has come to the Circle. This Sunday, Wade Oval turns into a holiday wonderland, complete with ice skating, Christmas toy displays and the city’s best gingerbread house competition. All day, many of Wade Oval’s institutions are joining in on the festivities, from carol sing at the Church of the Covenant — where 150 musicians from nearby Case Western perform holiday faves — to a not-to-be-missed lantern procession at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Free, Dec. 4,1-5:30 p.m., Wade Oval, 10820 East Boulevard, universitycircle.org

Alan Cumming
From his politico stint on CBS’s The Good Wife to his goofy cartoon-characterization on The Smurfs, Cumming is a theatrical chameleon. Yet, this time around Cumming turns his talent to so-called “sappy songs” — to the romantic ballads found in Stephen Sondheim to the poppy heartbreakers of Miley Cyrus and Adele. $10-$75, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., Playhouse Square, State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., playhousesquare.org