Try This: Menorah lighting; Christmas performances; History of Kaiser’s Shipyards

Lots o’ lights

Chabad Jewish Center will host a Community Chanukah Celebration from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Vancouver’s Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St. This event marks the start of Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of lights. Everyone is welcome to come and watch the lighting of the Grand Menorah. The free celebration includes live music, an LED circus show, doughnuts and hot chocolate. The menorah will remain on display through Dec. 26. Learn more at jewishvancouverwa.com.

Christmas past, present

Re-Imagined Radio and Willamette Radio Workshop present “A Radio Christmas Carol,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. This live radio play showcases voice actors and professional foley artists with visual backdrops, plus carols by The Holly Jolly Choir. Concessions, beer and wine will be available to buy during the performance. Admission is $20 at kigginstheatre.com or $22 at the door. Kids’ tickets at the door are $10 with a paying adult. Bring non-perishable food donations for the Clark County Food Bank. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Shipshape

Author and maritime journalist Peter Marsh will present “Liberty Factory: The Untold Story of Henry Kaiser’s Shipyards,” featuring photos and stories from the shipyards of Portland and Vancouver during World War II. The presentation from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd., is free to attend. Learn more about the hundreds of men and women who worked in the local yards and trained in technical schools to learn welding and design. Get complete details at friendsfortvancouver.org/events.

Festive 1950s

Northwest Performing Arts Alliance and Riverside Performing Arts present “A Tale of the Nutcracker” at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver. This 1950s-themed production, inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” blends acrobatics, classical ballet and jazz dance with music by Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington. Tickets range from $20 to $30, plus fees, at northwestpaa.org/nutcracker.

Storytelling

See “Christmas Stories” at the Ridgefield Performing Arts Center, 2630 S. Hillhurst Road, at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday. The production features dancing, acting and singing with “Clara and the Nutcracker in the Land of Snow,” tap dancing reindeer at the North Pole, a reimagining of Scrooge and a Rockettes-inspired 1950s USO show. Tickets are $12 to $18 at danceticketing.com/28234 or $2 more at the door. Get details at 360-521-9973 or visit www.dancefusionnw.com or www.northwestclassicalballet.com. Some proceeds benefit Share.

… And more

For more details about these and other events — like the O’Jays’ “Last Stop on the Love Train” at ilani and “Three Nights of Holiday Cheer” at Northwood Public House — visit events.columbian.com.