It's a really busy time in the holiday celebration department. Check out the bevy of events and attractions in the next week:

• Oregon Symphony plays its annual "Comfort & Joy" concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway. It's an evening of good cheer, seasonal classics, a sing-along and more, and features the Oregon Chorale.

Details: www.orsymphony.org.

• "Light The Way Home" is the title of The Portland Gay Men's Chorus holiday concert, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 9-10, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Newmark Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway.

More: www.pdxgmc.org.

• After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Portland Baroque Orchestra, featuring Cappella Romana, adds sparkle to its annual Handel's "Messiah" with fresh young stars under the direction of Gabriel Crouch — soprano soloist Maya Kherani, as well as bass-baritone Douglas Williams, mezzo-soprano Abigail Levis and tenor Thomas Cooley. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 9-10, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at First Baptist Church, 909 S.W. 11th Ave.

Info: www.pbo.org.

• It's a fun and festive day for caroler groups at the Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Groups must have at least three members (no more than 25) to compete.

Details: www.thesquarepdx.org.

• If you haven't seen it, you should probably go see it: Oregon Ballet Theatre puts on 12 productions of "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker," Dec. 10-24 at Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay St. The production starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10.

The story: Brave toy soldiers battle mischievous mice, snowflakes dance, and you get carried away to a magical Land of Sweets, all to Tchaikovsky's unforgettable score.

More: www.obt.org.

• It's a sound to behold, and it returns at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Tuba Christmas Concert features nearly 300 tubas playing holiday favorites in unison at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Info: www.tubachristmas.com.

• ScanFair is a gathering of foods, crafts, music and Scandinavian Christmas traditions at Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.

Details: www.nordicnorthwest.org.

• At Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent Ave., Beaverton, the Oregon International Ballet Academy stages its own "The Nutcracker" for two performances, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. It'll feature choreography by Xuan Cheng (who performs "Nutcracker" for Oregon Ballet Theatre), as well as husband Ye Li, and from the original production by Marius Petipa/Lev Ivanov.

More: www.oiba.org.

• Another Oregon Symphony holiday staple, "Gospel Christmas," features Northwest Community Gospel Chorus singers, led by conductor Charles Floyd and choral director Gary Louis Hemenway, in concerts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway.

Info: www.orsymphony.org.

• The Crafty Wonderland Holiday Art & Craft Market draws shoppers to Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11. There'll be more than 250 of the best artists and makers around selling their wares.

Details: www.craftywonderland.com.

• Part of its 70th anniversary season, Lakewood Theatre Company puts on two holiday-themed shows: "The Peppermint Bear Show — Taming of the Shoe," Dec. 10-22 (show times 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.), as well as "Elf Musical Jr.," Dec. 10 and 17 (1 p.m., 4 p.m.), at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State St. in Lake Oswego.

More: www.lakewood-center.org.

• Michael Allen Harrison's "Christmas at The Old Church" features 24 shows (various times), Dec. 11-24, at The Old Church, 1422 S.W. 11th Ave. He'll be joined by singer Julianne Johnson and many others in the annual holiday show.

The show at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 will be livestreamed.

Info: www.michaelallenharrison.com/christmas-at-the-old-church.

• Portland entertainer Tony Starlight returns with his "It's A Tony Starlight Christmas," 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 N.E. Alberta St. He throws it back to holiday television specials and songs from the great Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry and Frank Sinatra, and many other seasonal favorites.

Details: www.tonystarlight.com.