Family and church events will be paramount for many this week, but entertainment options aren't completely off the calendar. The Comedy Catch, Barking Legs Theater, Barrelhouse Ballroom and WanderLinger Brewing Co. have events lined up, an Advent concert series concludes at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and legendary local entertainer James Rogers will present his annual Christmas concert.
This list also includes when some of the area's popular tourist attractions will be open this weekend. If you'll be visiting a paid attraction, know that most require ticket sales in advance online or give discounts for tickets purchased that way.
FILM
-- WanderLinger Brewing Co., 1208 King St., will show "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in what organizers say will become an annual event. Themed attire, according to the website, is "highly encouraged." wanderlinger.com
MUSIC
-- St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St., concludes its Advent Concert Series 12:05-12:30 p.m. Wednesday with the Voci Virili Men's Consort in a 10th anniversary celebration of the ensemble's 2012 debut at the church. The ensemble will perform a program of sea shanties. An optional soup lunch follows for $6. A basket in the back of the church is for donations of winter hats, gloves, scarves and socks for the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. stpaulschatt.org
-- Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., will feature Dexter Bell & Friends in the weekly installment of Jazz in the Lounge at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Thursday offers a swing dance with the Triple L Trio (Lon Eldridge, Lou Wamp and Lynn Wamp) at 7:30 p.m. Attendees may enjoy the music on the dance floor or from their seats. Tickets are $10. barkinglegs.org
-- The Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga., will host James Rogers' "Home for the Holidays" concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, which happens to be his 73rd birthday and 48th wedding anniversary with wife Debbie. Rogers' 50 years as an entertainer include a longtime gig at Dollywood. The show will include classic holiday tunes and Rogers' fan-favorite originals. Tickets are $12-$22. catoosacolonnade.com
-- Barrelhouse Ballroom, inside Five Wits Brewing, 1501 Long St., will welcome punk metal grunge rock band The Dead Deads for a Red XXMas show at 9 p.m. Friday. Red Pawn and Speakeasy will support. Tickets are $15-$20. barrelhouseballroom.com
-- WanderLinger Brewing Co., 1208 King St., has The Other Brothers booked every other Sunday, and Christmas Day is no exception. The band specializes in an eclectic mix of "grateful soul, folk and weird-grass." The free show starts at 6 p.m. The kitchen will be open until 9 p.m. wanderlinger.com
OUT & ABOUT
-- The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., has two shows this week. Open Mic Night is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with a $7 ticket. A "Home for the Holidays" show, which gathers local and national comedic talents while they're off the road, starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Andrew Ledbetter will host. Tickets are $15-$17. thecomedycatch.com
-- Sweet & Savory Classroom, 45 E. Main St., is offering professional instruction for anyone still wanting to build a gingerbread house. A class for ages 12 and older starts at at 6 p.m. Wednesday for $89 and one for ages 8 and older is at noon Thursday for $88. You can also choose a recorded option that walks you through the steps for $49. sweetandsavoryclassroom.com
-- Outshine Adventures has issued a winter hike challenge to commit to hiking 90 miles in 90 days. Complete the challenge, from Wednesday through March 20, and a native tree will be planted in your honor to help fulfill the Tennessee Tree Program's quest to plant 1 million trees by 2025. There are three levels of participation, priced at $20-$65. eventbrite.com
-- Holiday Gifts Market, a vendor emporium of handmade arts and crafts and fresh and prepared foods, will be open 3-5 p.m. Thursday, its final day of the season, at the Ooltewah Farmers Market at Ooltewah Nursery, 5829 Main St. The regular farmers market continues weekly, same day and hours. ooltewahnursery.com
VISITS WITH SANTA
Don't miss out on this tradition with the kiddos. Santa will be on duty through Dec. 24, but with shorter hours Christmas Eve.
-- Bass Pro Shops: 1000 Bass Pro Drive. Santa photo sessions by reservation. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Eve. You'll get a free 4x6 photo, with purchase options for others. basspro.com/santa
-- Bradley Square Mall: 200 Paul Huff Parkway, Cleveland, Tenn. (inside Story Land near Claire's and Hibbett Sports). Santa available 11 a.m.-7 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Eve. Walk in, or reserve a time online to receive a phone call from Santa. shopbradleysquare.com
-- Dalton Mall: 816 Walnut Square Blvd., Dalton, Ga. Santa available 11 a.m.-7 p.m. through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Eve. Walk in, or reserve a time online to receive a phone call from Santa. daltonmall.com
-- Hamilton Place: 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. (lower level at Center Court). Santa available 11 a.m.-7 p.m. through Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Christmas Eve. Walk in or reserve a time online to receive a phone call from Santa. hamiltonplace.com/store/santas_workshop
-- Northgate Mall: 271 Northgate Mall Drive, Hixson. Santa available 11 a.m.-7 p.m. through Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Christmas Eve. Walk-ins welcome, or reserve a time online to receive a phone call from Santa. visitnorthgatemall.com
TOURIST DRAWS
-- Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., will be closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Otherwise, hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily for daytime tours, 6-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday for the Asian Lantern Festival, which ends Jan. 15. Daily entry is $10-$17. Admission to the nighttime light show is $18-$21 for nonmembers. chattzoo.org
-- Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Otherwise, hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily during the winter break from school. Tickets are $13-$16. cdmfun.org
-- EPB Holiday Windows are on view at 10 W. M.L. King Blvd. At any time through Jan. 6, you can stroll around the building to see holiday scenes in the windows facing Market and Broad streets. epb.com
-- Holiday Window Treasure Hunt, a sidewalk adventure at 23 stores on the North Shore, continues through Jan. 3. The tour to find an unlikely "hidden" object in storefronts along Frazier Avenue and connector streets is self-guided, but you will need to pick up a game card to win prizes, which include three gift baskets valued at $400. You'll also be asked for a minimum $1 contribution to Northside Neighborhood House when you turn in your game card. northshorechattanooga.com
-- Ice on the Landing, a temporary outdoor ice rink set up in the Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens, 1400 Market St., is open daily through Jan. 29. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Eve, 4-10 p.m. Christmas Day. Otherwise, hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m-11 p.m. Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Cost for a 60-minute session, which includes skates, is $12 for adults, $10 for children 12 and younger. iceonthelanding.com
-- Imax Theater, 201 Chestnut St., will be closed Christmas Day. Other days, the schedule includes two feature films, "The Polar Express" and "Avatar: The Way of Water," plus two nature films, "Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker" and "Wings Over Water." Tickets are $10 for the 45-minute nature films, $10 for "The Polar Express," $15 for "Avatar." tnaqua.org/imax
-- Magic of Lights, a drive-through light show with more than 40 scenes and animated characters, is open 5:30-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1 at the Summit of Softball Complex, 4900 La Collina Way, Ooltewah. Tickets are $23 for a standard vehicle if purchased online, $30-$35 if purchased at the gate. magicoflights.com
-- NoogaLights, a drive-through holiday light show, is closed Christmas Day, but will otherwise open at 5:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. The display is set up inside Chester Frost Park, 2277 N. Gold Point Circle, and takes about 30 minutes to see. Cost is $30 per car. noogalights.com
-- Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Road, offers access to the 300-acre campus during daylight hours even when the main campus gate is closed. Parking for visitors is in the gravel lot. Members may park there or in the lot across from the mailboxes. reflectionriding.org
-- Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga., starts its last daytime tour at 3:45 p.m. Christmas Eve and will not be open daytime hours on Christmas Day. The nighttime attraction, Enchanted Garden of Lights, is closed Christmas Eve and opens at 4:30 p.m. Christmas Day. Tickets are $26-$32 for adults, $16-$22 for children 3-12, depending on the date. seerockcity.com/lights
-- Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Highway, will close early Christmas Eve, with the last tour to the namesake waterfall starting at 3:50 p.m. The attraction will be closed Christmas Day. Otherwise, hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. rubyfalls.com
-- Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St., will be closed Christmas Day. The seasonal promotion, Holidays Under the Peaks, which features festive music and the electric eel illuminating a Christmas tree, ends Dec. 31. Admission is $22-$35. tnaqua.org/holidays
-- Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 3911 Cromwell Road, will end its North Pole Limited runs Friday. This "magical excursion," the attraction's most popular annual event, takes passengers to see the heavily decorated East Chattanooga station, rebranded as the North Pole, where Santa will climb aboard for a visit. Refreshments and storytelling are included along the way. Tickets are $29-$55. Other excursions also are available. tvrail.com
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.