Things to Do This Weekend In Cleveland: Dec. 25-28

Thursday, Dec. 25

Annual X-Mas Night Latke Party at Beachland Tavern
Blue Lunch's annual Christmas show at the Beachland Tavern feature guest singer Evelyn Wright. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with festivities kicking off with DJ Pete London spinning blues, soul and R&B vinyl. The band takes the stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. As usual, the usual array of food and beverages, along with homemade latkes, will be available for sale. 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com

Friday, Dec. 26

14th Annual Home for the Holidays at Hilarities
Eight to 10 local comics will participate in this annual showcase that takes place on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. at Hilarities. The club promises there will be a "mix of new faces" on hand. 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com

Chill @ CMNH at Cleveland Museum of Natural History
This after-hours event at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History features flashlight tours of Perkins Wildlife Center and after-dark encounters with the museum’s animal ambassador. It takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, 216-231-4600, cmnh.org

Frost at Cleveland Botanical Garden
This annual winter celebration at the Cleveland Botanical Garden features lights, seasonal displays and family activities. There will be a gingerbread competition and local garden clubs will decorate Christmas trees that'll be on display. Check the website for hours and more information. 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org

Dave Hill at the Grog Shop
The comedian, actor, writer and musician has spent some of the year on the road with fellow comedian Bill Murray, who toured the country with his blues band. Expect a mix of music and comedy from Hill, who grew up in Northeast Ohio. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs

Jay Phillips at the Funny Bone
You may recognize foul-mouthed comic Jay Phillips from Baby Mama or Semi Pro. He has small roles in both films. Phillips, who's often compared to Richard Pryor, likes to make fun of white people who try to act cool by wearing Obama T-shirts. He performs on Friday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Saturday night at 6:30 and 9 p.m. at the Funny Bone. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com

Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Rocket Arena
The prog rock band has deep ties to Cleveland, which was one of the first cities to embrace the group and its imaginative take on holiday music. It brings its latest Christmas show, Ghosts of Christmas Eve, to Rocket Arena. The concerts take place at 3 and 7:30 p.m. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

Saturday, Dec. 27

Book Signing & Presentations with Gary Astride and Deirdre Kelly at the Rock Hall
The two authors will talk about the Beatles and their lasting influence on music during this talk and book signing. The event begins at noon at the Rock Hall. It's free with the price of admission to the Rock Hall. 1100 E. Ninth St., Cleveland, 216-781-7625, rockhall.com

Hammy New Year 3: The 3 Peat at Mahall’s 20 Lanes
Local-turned-national punk rockers Heart Attack Man return to Mahall's 20 Lanes in Lakewood for this NYE celebration that comes a few days early. Pet Symmetry, Home Safe, Save Face, Full Blown Meltdown, Light Years, Atomic Witch, Funeral Commercial and Lowspot share the bill. The show starts at 4 p.m. 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com

Red Wanting Blue at House of Blues
The alt-rock band out of the Columbus area has made appearances on Letterman and NPR and gotten praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and Esquire. On the heels of the release of its new album, Light It Up, the band performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues. 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com

The SpongeBob Musical at Beck Center for the Arts
The musical that features tunes by the likes of They Might Be Giants, David Bowie, Panic! At The Disco, John Legend, and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith arrives at Beck Center for the Arts. Saturday's show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue through Jan. 4. 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org

Sunday, Dec. 28

Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field
The Steelers soundly defeated the Browns by a score of 23-9 when the two teams played in Pittsburgh earlier this season. The Browns will undoubtedly want to avenge that loss against their rivals when the Steelers come to Huntington Bank Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a rematch. 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com

The Harlem Globetrotters' 100 Year Tour at Rocket Arena
The basketball showoffs bring their 100-year anniversary tour to Rocket Arena. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. The team famously launched in 1926 in Chicago (they’d move to New York shortly after that) and integrated basketball before it was cool to integrate basketball. One Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

Jokes on You at Hilarities
Inspired by crowd work clinicians like Dave Attell, Ian Bagg, and Big Jay Oakerson, Jokes On You makes the audience the center of the show by "pushing comics to avoid prepared material or written jokes and instead focus on organic interaction with the audience," as it's put in a press release about this event, which takes place on Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Frolic Cabaret Room at Hilarities. John Bruton and Jimmie Graham host the event. 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com

A Night of Holiday Soul with Will Downing, Leela James and Avery * Sunshine at the State Theatre
Christmas may have come and gone, but these soul singers still have that holiday spirit. They'll present a program of soulful holiday tunes at the State Theatre. The concert begins at 7 p.m. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

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