Try This: Horns herald holidays

The Big Horn Brass Holiday Show is part of an annual tradition that began in 1983. The concert will feature contemporary and traditional carols, performed by the 16-member band. Big Horn Brass consists of musicians from the region’s symphonies, ensembles and brass bands. The holiday show will include guest vocalist Shirley Nanette, a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, and benefit the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

When: 7 p.m. tonight.

Where: LifePoint Church, 305 N.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver.

Admission: $25, $10 for students.

Telephone: 360-735-7278

Web: http://bighornbrass.org

The holiday concert is one of many options for getting out and about this weekend.

Travel through the woods with Santa

Take a trip on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad’s Christmas Tree Train, where visitors can enjoy the ride, visit with Santa and take home a Christmas tree of their choice. The historic railroad ride travels through the forests of north Clark County on a 10-mile round-trip that includes Moulton Falls and a 330-foot rock tunnel.

When: 9:30 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. today and Sunday.

Where: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad station, 207 N. Railroad Ave., Yacolt.

Admission: $15, $14 for seniors, $10 for youth, $8 for children; trees are $20 to $40; family packages (four tickets plus a tree) are $55 to $75

Telephone: 360-686-3559.

Web: http://bycx.com

‘Belles’ offers a little fun-filled holiday chaos

Family dynamics take the stage in the contemporary production “Christmas Belles.” The Futrell Sisters are anything but festive as the church Christmas program slips into chaos, with a grumpy Santa and a reluctant Elvis impersonator. Will they be able to save the holiday show and solve their own family issues before Christmas Eve?

When: 8 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver.

Admission: $15.

Telephone: 360-834-3588

Web: http://serendipityplayers.org

Sugar plums and snowflakes

Celebrating an annual holiday tradition, Columbia Dance presents its 15th annual production of “The Nutcracker.” Audiences will be treated to the dancing Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, the Snow King and Snow Queen and others as Clara travels to the Land of Sweets with her transformed nutcracker Prince.

When: 2 and 7 p.m. today, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Royal Durst Theatre, 3101 Main St., Vancouver

Admission: $18, $10 for children 12 and younger.

Telephone: 360-737-1922

Web: http://columbiadance.org

Return to Middle Earth with ‘The Hobbit’

Set before the first “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is a simple hobbit who lives in the Shire, sheltered from the larger world. That is, until the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a group of dwarves arrive, convincing Bilbo to help them on their quest to reclaim their homeland. Bilbo and the group find their journey fraught with dangerous orcs, goblins and an encounter with Gollum and his mysterious gold ring. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is rated PG-13.

Where: Battle Ground Cinema, 1700 S.W. Ninth Ave., Battle Ground; Cinetopia Mill Plain, 11700 S.E. Seventh St.; Cinetopia Vancouver Mall 23, 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive; various Regal Cinemas.

Admission: Varies by theater.

Telephone: Battle Ground Cinema, 360-666-7200; Cinetopia, 360-213-2800 Cinetopia Vancouver Mall 23, 360-448-4100; Regal Cinemas, 800-326-3264.

Web: http://battlegroundcinema.com, http://cinetopia.com or http://regmovies.com.