Mexterminator vs. the Global Predator: Come out for a performance by spoken word artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña benefiting The Center’s Latino/a Services Center. The event will take place at 8:00 p.m. at Saint Cecilia’s Playhouse, located at 1620 Sixth Ave. Gómez-Peña explores themes of immigration, globalization, the digital divide and censorship. There will be an opening performance by Adrian Arancibia. Tickets are $25, which includes a post-show artist reception. For tickets, contact Zac Mikles at (619) 692-2077 ext. 246 or zmikles@thecentersd.org.

Thread trunk show: Featuring more than 100 emerging fashion designers, San Diego’s premiere lifestyle and fashion event offers savvy men and women the chance to flaunt truly original styles. Find original pieces for your wardrobe or home at wholesale prices. See runway shows, a curated art exhibit, DJs, a martini bar and much more. Admission is $7, or $5 with an online RSVP. The event takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the San Diego Aerospace Museum, located in Balboa Park. For more information, visit www.threadshow.com.

Holiday of Lights: Kick off your holiday season by checking out all the lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, as it hosts the largest holiday lighting display on the West Coast, with over 350 displays, accompanied by holiday tunes. The drive through the racetrack takes about 30 minutes. Tickets are $12 per car (for five people) and $17 per car for six people or more. The Holiday of Lights runs Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m., Nov. 24- Jan. 1. (858) 793-5555.

A Christmas Carol: The San Diego Repertory Theater’s production of Charles Dickens’ classic will give preview performances on Dec. 3, 4, 7 and 8, with proceeds benefiting Ebony Pride. This year’s version takes place partly in Chicago, during the time of Prohibition through the ’50s, and music includes jazz, swing and ragtime. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all shows except Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, when the show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15, and include a pre-show buffet dinner at Ebony Pride Co-Chair Ken Riley’s home. Call Riley at (619) 299-0536 to reserve tickets.

King Kong: In anticipation of the December release of Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s big-budget remake of King Kong, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego takes a fond look back at the 1933 version that started it all. The screening of the original King Kong begins at 7:00 p.m., and takes place at the Museum’s La Jolla location, 700 Prospect St. Admission is $7. (858) 454-3541, www.mcasd.org.

GSDBA Holiday Cruise: Join the Greater San Diego Business Association aboard the new “California Spirit” for their annual holiday boat cruise. This cruise boards at Broadway Pier, located at 1050 N. Harbor Dr., at 5:30 p.m., and runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets for members are $45 and $45 for the first guest; $55 for each additional guest. Reservations and pre-payment are required. Call (619) 296-4543 for reservations.

Augustana: The band’s name translates to “a small glimpse of hope.” Their debut album, All the Stars and Boulevards, fuses European rock with Americana. The album is a true rite of passage, full of airplanes and acclimation, with songs about New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston and San Diego. Operatic and Dynamite Walls will also perform. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at SOMA’s Side Stage. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. SOMA is located at 3350 Sports Arena Blvd. (619) 220-TIXS.