TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK
Santa Fe’s official kickoff to the holiday season takes place on Friday, Nov. 29., the day after Thanksgiving, when 10,000 lights strung among the trees and structures on the Plaza are flipped on. The event always attracts a huge crowd and is one of the best times to renew old acquaintances.
The festivities start at 3 p.m., with the Santo Niño Choir and girl scouts giving out cookies and hot chocolate. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive at about 4 p.m. on a vintage fire truck.
Volunteers will begin lighting farolitos at 4:30 p.m. to illuminate the Plaza until the lighting ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m., presided over by the mayor and city councilors.
There will be music and other entertainment on the gazebo throughout the evening before the countdown to flipping the switch.
‘CHAOS!’ AT THE CIRCUS:
In another Thanksgiving weekend tradition, the Wise Fool troupe brings its corps of acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians to The Lensic, 211 W. San Francisco, for the annual Circus Luminous.
This year’s show, to be staged Friday to Sunday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1., is called “Chaos!”
Here’s how Wise Fool describes it: “You’ll experience four competing approaches to dealing with chaos — each inspiring you to ask where chaos comes from, and how it moves, sings, laughs and flies. One approach urges you to improve your Self. Another tries to turn you against the Other. Yet another invites you to join the Resistance.
And the fourth, well, we barely understand that one ourselves. Come early and join the immersive experience! The fun begins the minute you enter the Lensic lobby, when you’ll encounter a chaos ‘trade show’ — sponsored by Wise Fool’s (fictional) Corporate Social Responsibility Program.” Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. The Sunday performance is “low sensory,” which means it is “designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to everyone, including families that have children with autism or other disabilities that may create sensory sensitivities.” Tickets are $20-$45, or $12-$27 for ages 12 and under. Go to lensic.org or call the box office at 988-1234.
THE FUNGINEERS:
Bringing a show said to be “a kids show for adults, an adult show kids love, a teenage cartoon come to life, and a grandparent’s weird and wonderful Saturday night,” The Fungineers perform Saturday, Nov. 30, at Meow Wolf. (Despite the kids show references, this is a 21-and-over event.)
The group sounds and looks like a combination of Parliament/Funkadelic, Sesame Street and an overly costumed hip-hop group (you can download their EP “Make It Up” at fungineers.com), “led by Paragon the Cyber-Unicorn-Tron, part robotmonkey, part unicorn, all-beatboxing DJ.” Other members go by Lil Dino, Doctah Aqua-Sock-taPuss, Flavatar, Baby Swagress and the Sillionaire. Guest acts kick off the show at 8 p.m., and it’s expected to run to 2 a.m.
Tickets are $22 at meowwolf.com.