Intown Atlanta

Don’t Miss

Dec. 20

Amy Grant and Vince Gill ring in the holidays with their The 12 Days of Christmas Tour. 7:30 p.m. $33.90-$194.70. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Live Music

Dec. 19

New Orleans legends the Preservation Hall Jazz Band kick it old school. 7 p.m. $35.80-$73.80. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Arts & Theater

Dec. 20-24, 27-31, Jan. 2

Ludwig Bemelman's book "Madeline's Christmas" transforms into a musical play about a holiday adventure. $15; $12 children. Horizon Theatre Company, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta. 404-584-7450, www.horizontheatre.com.

Kids & Family

Dec. 19

Mickey Mouse and friends perform Disney-themed illusions in "Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show." Noon and 3 p.m. $19-$77.25. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Etc.

Dec. 17

Round ball action featuring the Atlanta Hawks against the Charlotte Bobcats. 7:30 p.m. $15-$285. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

DeKalb

Don’t Miss

Through Dec. 19

Charles Dickens appears as a character in "A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas in Prose." 8 p.m. Dec. 17; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18; 7 p.m. Dec. 19. $18.04. Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, 4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. 678-250-4800, www.trp-atl.org.

Live Music

N/A

Arts & Theater

Dec. 18 and 19

"An Atlanta Christmas" by Atlanta Radio Theatre Company explores both Atlanta's past and past Christmases. 8 p.m. Dec. 18; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19. $10. Academy Theatre, 119 Center St., Avondale Estates. 404-474-8332, www.academytheatre.org.

Kids & Family

Through Dec. 28

Santa is missing in "Holiday Hunt," a special Christmas-themed planetarium show. 1:30 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m. and 1:30 Dec. 20, 21, 27 and 28. $4; $3 students and seniors. Fernbank Science Center, 156 Heaton Park Drive, Atlanta. 678-874-7102, http://fsc.fernbank.edu.

Etc.

Dec. 17 and 18

T.T. Mahony and Jeffrey Butzer play the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album and Sorry No Ferrari performs The Ventures' Christmas record in its entirety. 9 p.m. Dec. 17; 6 p.m. Dec. 18 (non-smoking). $10. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta. 404-522-3950, www.badearl.com.

Fulton & Southside

Don’t Miss

Dec. 19

The Michael O'Neal Singers and the Riverside Chamber Players perform its annual "Messiah Sing-Along." 3 p.m. $10. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell. 770-594-7974, www.mosingers.com.

Live Music

Dec. 18

The "Atlanta Vocal Project Christmas Show" serves up the sounds of the season. 2 and 7 p.m. $20-$25. Johns Creek High School, 5575 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek. 877-287-1323, www.atlantavocalproject.com.

Arts & Theater

Through Dec. 24

"A Christmas Carol" marks Kudzu Playhouse's final production. Dec. 17-19 and 21-24. $13-$19.50. Kudzu Playhouse, 10743 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell. 770-594-1020, www.kudzuplayhouse.org.

Kids & Family

Dec. 17 and 18

Hop aboard "The Winter Polar Express" as the Academy Dance Company tells the story of a North Pole bound train. 7 p.m. Dec. 17; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 18. $12; $10 students. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forest St., Roswell. 770-578-8272, www.roswellgov.com.

Etc.

Dec. 18

Take a tour of Bulloch Hall and get a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $6; free for children. Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. 770-992-1731, www.bullochhall.org.

Cobb & Cherokee

Don’t Miss

Dec. 17, 18, 20-24

Holiday Ice Spectacular features skating, music, dance and comedy in one seasonal celebration. 8 p.m. Dec. 17, 18, 20-23; 2 p.m. Dec. 18, 22-24. $34.70-$101.30. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Music

Dec. 19

Straight No Chaser, the popular a cappella group, is touring in support of its latest disc, "With a Twist." 7:30 p.m. $39.80-$43.90. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Arts & Theater

Dec. 17-19

"Home for the Holidays" presents song and dance in a family-friendly stage production. 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18; 3 p.m. Dec. 19. $15. Cobb County Civic Center, 548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta. 770-528-8490, www.cobbcountyga.gov.

Kids & Family

Dec. 18

"The Lazy Elves" tells the tale of fun loving elves who need to finish making toys. 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. $9. Towne Lake Arts Center, 6576 Commerce Parkway, Woodstock. 678-494-4251, www.tlaclive.org.

Etc.

Through Dec. 31

The Lights of Life features millions of holiday lights, train and pony rides and more. 6-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $5 per car; $10 per van; $3 train ride; $5 pony ride. Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta. 770-426-2883, www.life.edu/lightsoflife.

Gwinnett

Don’t Miss

Through Dec. 30

Magical Nights of Lights is a seven-mile drive features animated light displays and a holiday village with attractions. 5-10 p.m. $33-$60 per car. Lake Lanier Islands, 7000 Holiday Road, Buford. 770-945-8787, www.lakelanierislands.com.

Live Music

N/A

Arts & Theater

Through Dec. 19

Anthony Rodriguez performs a one-man version of "A Christmas Carol." 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19 (sold out). $15. Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222, www.auroratheatre.com.

Kids & Family

Through Dec. 19
The C.S. Lewis family classic "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" comes to life on the stage. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17; 11 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18; 2 p.m. Dec. 19. $10; ages 3 and younger free. Norcross Cultural Arts Center, 10 College St., Norcross. 770-885-0425, www.lionhearttheatre.org.

Etc.

Dec. 19

The Holiday Festival includes a free visit and picture with Santa, live music by the Oswald Brothers and others, free food and drinks, video games and more. 1-4 p.m. Free. Red Clay Theatre, 3116 Main St., Duluth. 678-957-7283, www.redclaytheatre.net.

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University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said joining neighboring states to form a new accreditation agency will “keep Georgia’s universities among the best in the nation." (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC