Arts and Entertainment

Coming up: St. Nick skis for free, and Santacon is coming to town

Santacon featuring A-Trak

Calling all Santas! Santacon is returning to Anchorage to take over downtown Saturday. Ten bars will participate in the annual St. Nick pilgrimage: Pioneer Bar, The Avenue Bar, Bernie's Bungalow Lounge, Bootleggers, Brown Bag Sandwich Co, The Gaslight, Mad Myrna's, McKinley's Pub, Tequila 61 and Williwaw. Visit all the locations on the Christmas Crawl map for a chance to win the $1,000 grand prize, "Santa's Sack." Follow Santacon on Facebook for updates on the map and locations. (facebook.com/SantaConAlaska)

Finish the night off at Williwaw (609 F St.) at 9 p.m. Saturday with a dance party featuring Grammy-nominated producer A-Trak (Duck Sauce, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, among others) and local openers DJ Covy and DJ GRE. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day-of; $60 for reserved VIP. (williwsocial.com)

Santas ski free

Celebrate the winter solstice with a little Christmas cheer. Alyeska will again be sprinkled with Santa Clauses flying down the slopes. Dress up as old St. Nick and ski for free all day. You must have a complete costume (hat + beard + jacket + pants) in order to qualify. Stop by the Alyeska ticket office for a costume check and then pick up your free lift ticket. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, Alyeska Ski Resort, 1000 Arlberg Ave, Girdwood (alyeskaresort.com)

Santa, caroling and a 'White Christmas'

Gather your little ones for this nostalgic, family friendly event. The kids receive a special treat, you receive a commemorative photo and everyone gets to enjoy a Christmas carol sing-along with The Alex Cruver Trio. After the caroling, there will be a showing of the classic holiday film "White Christmas." $10 adult; $5 kids. Santa singalong starts at noon, "White Christmas" starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, 49th State Brewing Co, 717 W. Third Ave. (49statebrewing.com)

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'Stars We Are' talent show finale

Each of the remaining contestants in this talent show series will play with a live backing band. Then, the performers will choose a song that is personally important to them and share the story before belting it out with the competition on the line. The winner receives round-trip tickets anywhere in the United States and the opportunity to perform in front of more than 10,000 people at the KTVA Downtown New Year's Eve Celebration. Seating is limited; doors at 6:30 p.m. Free. 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, Williwaw, 609 F St. (williwawsocial.com)

Hope Social Club

Hope Social Club goes home for the holidays this weekend with two concerts at The Sitz. What started as an apartment-building jam session with Melissa Mitchell and Spiff Chambers has since become a six-piece, folk-rock band with Aaron Benolkin, Tim Haren, Tony Restivo and Rik Nielsen. Spend the day on the slopes at Alyeska and head to The Sitzmark after for a high-energy performance. $10. Doors at 9 p.m; show at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, The Sitzmark, 100 Olympic Cir. (thesitzmark.com)

Cirque De Chanukah

This year's event will feature a stunt basketball and unicycle show by Champions Forever in its Alaska debut. There will also be a giant ice menorah kindling ceremony, Israeli falafel stand (also, latkes, doughnuts and other treats) and activities for the family: a Chanukah chocolate gelt factory, a station to build your own fidget dreidel and an electric LED menorah wiring workshop. $10 for adults, $5 for children and students. Tickets at lubavitchjewishcenter.org/holidays or at the door. 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Egan Convention Center.

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