CALENDAR: Rent, Hospital Tree Light-Up

THURSDAY, NOV. 29

Rent the musical, presented by Victoria Operatic Society at McPherson Playhouse, 8 p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca or tel. 250-386-6121. Dean Brody — Dirt Road Stories Acoustic Tour at Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, 2687 James St., Duncan, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at cowichanpac.ca. Winspear Festival of Trees Decorating Party with live music, appys and spirits. 6-8 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Register at marywinspear.ca. Sheryl Bailey 3: Organ Trio with Ian Froman and Ron Oswanski at Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St., 8 p.m.; register for tickets at hermannsjazz.com. Don Wright Symphonic Winds. at University of Victoria Farquhar Auditorium, 8 p.m. Tickets: tickets.uvic.ca. Hospice Tree Light-Up and Open House. Hang a Celebrate-a-Life ornament: a chance to speak with hospice volunteers, or just enjoy some hot chocolate and at 4:45 p.m. the Hospice Garry Oak tree illuminate. 3-5 p.m. at Victoria Hospice Rooftop Garden, 4th Floor Richmond Pavilion, 1952 Bay St.; victoriahospice.org.

FRIDAY, NOV. 30

Nutcracker, performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet with the Victoria Symphony at the Royal Theatre. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca or tel. 250-386-6121. Valdy at Upstairs Lounge, Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St., 7:30 p.m. Tickets: beaconridgeproductions.com or at the door. The third Annual Christmas Craft Beer Show, with winter ales from microbreweries across Western Canada. Friday, 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, 1-5 p.m. at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Tickets at selectyourtickets. com or tel. 250-220-7777. The Heart of Christmas. Annual Sidney Merchants Open House and Kickoff to Christmas. Free horse-drawn carriage rides, carol singers, beautiful shop windows, a gingerbread house and scavenger hunt. 5-8:30 p.m. along Beacon Avenue in Sidney; sidneybia.ca.4. Annual Marina Light Kick-Off at the Causeway Marina docks in front of the Empress Hotel. Walk the docks exploring the lighted vessels while sipping on free hot chocolate. 5:30-6:30 p.m.; gvha.ca. University of Victoria Orchestra with Ya Ping Huang, piano at Farquhar Auditorium, 8 p.m. Tickets at uvic.ca/ farquhar/ticket-centre. The Penelopiad by the Canadian College of Performing Arts, 1701 Elgin Rd. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. with matinee Saturday, 2 p.m. Tickets at eventbrite.ca. Ukrainian Supper, 5-8 p.m. at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 3277 Douglas St. Details at veselkadancers. com. Little Women at The Chemainus Theatre Festival, 737 Chemainus Rd., Chemainus, to Dec. 30. Tickets and performance schedule and tickets at chemainustheatrefestival.ca. Caravan World Rhythms presents the Itamar Erez Trio at Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St., 8 p.m. Tickets at Ivy’s Bookshop, Munro’s Books, caravanbc.com or at the door; hermannsjazz. com > timescolonist.com/events