If you aren’t in the Christmas spirit, you will be after this weekend in the Magic City.

Holiday Soul
If you’re looking to get in the groove of the holidays, you shouldn’t miss Holiday Soul at the Alys Stephens Center at 7 p.m. on December 13. Back by popular demand, this harmonious holiday celebration features UAB artist-in-residence Eric Essix along with Atlanta supergroup 5 Men on a Stool. Essix will once again perform his hand-picked collection of soulful songs of the season with bandmates Hank Stewart, Antonio Allen, Melvin Miller, and Leonard Julien III. Tickets can be purchased online.

Movie Marathon
Want to experience Christmas at the movies? The Alabama Theatre has got you covered. From December 11–22, favorites such as It’s a Wonderful Life and The Polar Express will be shown on the big screen. Visit the Alabama Theatre website for more information.

Live Nativity
Experience the wonder of the nativity at Briarwood Presbyterian Church’s annual Walk Through Nativity December 9–11. The free event will begin at 6:45 p.m. each night and features more than 800 church members depicting the birth and life of Jesus Christ in 13 live scenes with 20 live animals. Visit Briarwood’s website for more information.

The Nutcracker
The Birmingham Ballet will present The Nutcracker on December 12–13 at the BJCC Concert Hall. Only a few tickets are still available, so act fast.

Ride-Through Winter Wonderland
Pile the kids in the car and head to the Oak Mountain Festival of Lights. Light displays featuring familiar characters, special effects and more are available as you drive through the holiday light show in the comfort of your own car. After the show, warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and cook up some s’mores at a toasty bonfire (cocoa, marshmallows, and more treats available for purchase in Bud’s Best Cookies Holiday Village). Tickets start at $20 per car.