1 “The Fantasticks” Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Eastern Washington University, EWU Theatre, Cheney. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart, and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo’s words that “without a hurt, the heart is hollow.” (509) 359-2459. Admission: $10
2 Spokane Symphony Mini “Nutcracker” Performance 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and Nov. 30-Dec. 1, River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., Nordstrom corridor. Musicians from the Spokane Symphony will help usher in the holiday season with music from “The Nutcracker.” (509) 363-0304.
Admission: FREE
3 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships Saturday; gates open at 9 a.m.; women’s 6,000 meter championship races begins at 10:30 a.m., the men’s 10,000 meters at 11:30 a.m. Plantes Ferry Sports Complex, 12308 E. Upriver Drive, Spokane Valley. Nearly 500 runners, coaches, and NCAA officials, from Florida to Alaska, will congregate in Spokane to compete in the 2013 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Spokane Sports Commission will co-host the championships. (509) 990-5611. Admission: $5 for ages 2 and older.
4 Meat Puppets with Blackwater Prophet and The Colourflies 7 p.m. Saturday, The Hop!, 706 N. Monroe St., Spokane. Founding members Curt and Cris Kirkwood are still at it, 14 albums into a career that dates back to 1980. Along for the tour are drummer Shandon Sahm and guitarist Elmo Kirkwood, Curt’s son. https://holdmyticket.com/ checkout/event/154791 Admission: $10
5 SFCC Concert Band with World Drumming 7 p.m. Monday, Spokane Falls Community College, Music/Performing Arts Building Auditorium, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. Program includes Kate Soper’s “Holiday Overture,” Broadway marches, Orion Farrar’s “Bombasto March,” John Zdechlik’s “Chorale and Shaker Dance,” Vaclav Nelhybel’s “Christmas in Poland,” “The Bluebells of Scotland” by Leroy Anderson and “Seascape” by Alfred Reed. (509) 533-3720. Admission: $5 general, $2 seniors and students.
6 Michael Glatzmaier Live – Giving Thanks 10 p.m. Friday, Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. A night of stand-up comedy, improv and live original music features Glatzmaier, who is known for his amazing ability to make up a song based on a single word suggestion. This show is not rated and is not suitable for all ages. Reservations strongly recommended. (509) 747-7045. Admission: $7.
7 Gonzaga University Wind Symphony
3 p.m. Sunday, Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. The symphony presents John Mackey’s “Aurora Awakes,” Jonathan Newman’s funk-driven collage, “Blow it Up, and Start Again,” and Stephen Bryant’s powerfully progressive “Ecstatic Fanfare.” Additionally, the group will present 20th century composer Fisher Tull’s “Sketches on a Tudor Psalm” and Percy Grainger’s “Irish Tune.” Joining the Wind Symphony will be the GU Percussion Ensemble. (509) 313-6733. Admission: $7 general, free for students with ID.
8 Choreteur 4 p.m. Sunday, St. Joseph Church, 1503 W. Dean Ave. A program featuring songs from various religious traditions in Spokane, including Native American drumming and Hispanic songs. (509) 276-2605. Admission: FREE
9 “Inspecting Carol” Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., Spokane Falls Community College, Humanities Building 15, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. SFCC Revelers present the story of a struggling theater company’s attempt to pull off “A Christmas Carol” in this hilarious comedy. (509) 533-3592. Admission: $10.
!0 Custer’s Christmas Arts & Crafts Show Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St., Spokane Valley. 37th annual event brings together more than 300 artists and crafters. (509) 924-0588. Admission: $7, good all weekend; free for age 12 and younger
