CALENDAR, Dec 4:+:  From holiday shows to holiday light — and more

Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings:  Shows are through Dec. 17, Cabaret Theatre, Duvall Center, 2816 Azalea Drive, North Charleston.  Midtown Productions will offer the local premier of this musical comedy of doo=wop songs of the 50s and 60s featuring veterans Ryan Ahlert and Brandon Joyner.  For tickets, times and more, go to: Midtown Productions.

A Christmas Carol.: Runs through Dec. 20, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston.    The holiday classic returns again as Charleston Stage’s musical adaption features Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, will put you in the Christmas spirit with four spectacular new musical production numbers. For tickets and more information, go to CharlestonStage.com.

Holiday Festival of Lights: Runs through Dec. 31, James Island County Park.  There’s fun every night through the end of the month for anyone who wants to see more than 2 million holiday lights in this annual spectacular event.  Learn more.  While the attraction always offers everything from marshmallow roasting to sweets to shopping, here are some special events in the days ahead:

• Dec. 9:Holiday Carolers, 6–8 p.m.
• Dec. 10: Juggling Elves, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• Dec. 11 and Dec. 13: Visit with Mrs. Claus, 6-10 p.m.
• Dec. 14: Lowcountry Power Brass performance, 7-9 p.m.Ask a Naturalist, 6 p.m.
• Dec. 15: Storytelling with Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Visit withSouth Carolina Aquarium, 6-8 p.m. Ask a Naturalist, 6 p.m.
• Dec. 20: Visit with Mrs. Claus, 6-10 p.m.

Candlelight tours:  6 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dec. 9 and 16, Nathaniel Russell House, 51 Meeting St., Charleston.  The Historic Charleston Foundation offers candlelight tours of the historic house during the holiday, allowing participants to step back in time experience what it was like in a stately house before modern lighting.  This 45-minute visit uses LED candles.  Register online historiccharleston.org. 

Charleston Gospel Choir:  7:30 p.m., Dec. 9, Burke High School auditorium, 244 President St., Charleston.  The 17^th annual Gospel Christmas will feature down-home traditional spirituals and gospel renditions including highly arranged toe-tapping compositions including Go Tell it on the Mountain, O Holy Night, Emmanuel, Silver & Gold and a special ode to the late Whitney Houston and several of her chart-topping hits from the film The Preachers Wife. Tickets: $35 adults; $30 seniors; $15 students with ID; discounted group rates for 10 or more.  More: Charleston Gospel Choir.

Magnolia holidays:  Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston.  Several events ahead for the holidays.  More details: www.magnoliaplantation.com:

• Dec. 9: “Let It Snow” with snow flurried fun and performances by Summerville Dance Academy and Kelly’s Dance Studio, holiday themed face painting, crafts and activities.
• Dec. 10: “Winter Wonderland” with snow flurried fun and an inflatable ice castle, Christmas carolers, holiday themed crafts and activities.
• Dec. 16: “Fairy Tale Christmas” featuring a visit from the Snow Queen, performances by Fort Dorchester High School Theatre department, holiday crafts and activities.  Fairy tale costume contest at 1 p.m.
• Dec. 17: “An Old Fashioned Christmas” featuring the sights and sounds of yesteryear with Christmas carolers, face painting, and old fashioned holiday crafts.

A Charleston Celtic Christmas: 7 p.m., Dec. 11, Circular Congregational Church, Meeting Street, Charleston.  Na Fidléirí and the Taylor Festival Choir will perform a program that continues to present a mixture of traditional holiday carols, instrumental jigs with a Celtic flavor and spiritual choral and instrumental segments.  Led by Mary and Robert Taylor, Na Fidleiri and the TFC will be joined by John Doyle, legendary Irish Guitarist and singer, as well as the exciting early music duo Bedlam. Tickets for the concert can be purchased at TMGCharleston.com

Early morning bird walks at Caw Caw:  8:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel.  You can learn about habitats and birds, butterflies and other organisms in this two-hour session.  Registration not required, but participants are to be 15 and up.  $10 per person or free to Gold Pass holders.  More:  http://www.CharlestonCountyParks.com.

• If you have an event to list on our calendar, please send it to editor@charlestoncurrents.com for consideration. The calendar is updated weekly on Mondays.