The Nutcracker: The California Ballet Company presents this classic at Copley Symphony Hall. See Clara, her Nutcracker, Drosselmeyer, and the Sugarplum Fairy on the stage with over 100 dancers. Members of the San Diego Symphony accompany the dancers musically. Showtimes are 2:30 and 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 23. There is a 1:00 p.m. performance on Dec. 24. Tickets range from $22-$78. The Copley Symphony Hall is located at 750 B St. (858) 560-6741.

Horton Plaza ice skating: The multi-level mall downtown is transformed into a sea of lights and a 100-by-60 outdoor ice skating rink is available in the plaza for your skating pleasure. The rink is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and costs $10 to skate. A professional skater is on the ice at all times to offer assistance or answer questions. All proceeds from the event benefit the cancer care center at Children’s Hospital. (619) 234-1031.

Christmas Eve services: Join the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito for their annual Intergenerational Service at 5:00 p.m. This free service is open to the public, and will include music, readings and a Christmas pageant featuring a cast of talented young thespians. A contemplative service will take place at 8:00 p.m., featuring a choir and a candle lighting ritual. The Fellowship is located at 1036 Solana Dr. in Solana Beach. For more information, call (858) 755-9225.

Exile on Kettner Boulevard: This annual Christmas Eve tribute to the Rolling Stones takes place at the Casbah, beginning at 8:30 p.m. San Diego punk veterans The Dragons, with lead singer Mario Escovedo, take the stage yet again. The group has teamed up for this event since the ’90s. Admission is free. The Casbah is located at 2501 Kettner Blvd. (619) 232-4355.

J*Pride singles event: J*Pride, a San Diego Jewish GLBT community group, will be participating for the first time in the biggest Jewish singles event of the year at Belo, a hot new club in town. Bracelets will be distributed for those who choose to self-identify as a member of the GLBT community. The event takes place from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Belo nightclub is located at the corner of E Street and Fourth Avenue in downtown San Diego. Dressy attire is required. Admission is $20 ($5 off with JCC membership). For more information, call Brian Schaefer at (858) 362-1347.

Garden of Lights: After the sun goes down, the Quail Botanical Gardens are transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland with over 90,000 sparkling lights illuminating the plants and trees for a magical holiday experience. Stroll the grounds on foot or climb aboard a romantic horse-drawn carriage to tour the orchid-lined, fern-draped paths. Garden of Lights is open Dec. 26-30 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Admission is $6. The Quail Botanical Gardens is located in Encinitas at 230 Quail Gardens Dr. (760) 436-3036 ext. 206.

Six Degrees open mic: Laura Jane’s Underground Open Mic on the patio at Six Degrees takes place Monday nights from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Bring your poetry, songs, comedy, and your voice. Karaoke equipment will be available as well. Six Degrees is located at 3175 India St. (619) 296-6789.

Social Distortion with Juliette and the Licks: Actress-turned-rocker Juliette Lewis takes the stage to lead her new band as an opening act for punk-rock legends Social Distortion. Tickets are $25 to $28. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. The House of Blues is located at 1055 Fifth Ave. (619) 299-2583.

Kwanzaa celebration: The WorldBeat Cultural Center presents a cultural holiday celebration of song, dance and drum. All families and races are invited to join the celebration, which features the WorldBeat Center’s African Drum & Dance Troupe, speakers on the principles of Kwanzaa, the festive lighting of the candles and African-American cuisine. The WorldBeat Cultural Center is located in Balboa Park at 2100 Park Blvd. (619) 230-1190.

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: America’s favorite holiday fable, back for its eighth year, is a wonderful, whimsical production that once again jumps right off the pages of the classic Dr. Seuss book and onto the Old Globe stage. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $59 for adults and $19 to $29 for children 17 years of age and under. The Old Globe Theatre is located in Balboa Park. Call (619) 23-GLOBE or visit www.theoldglobe.org for tickets.

Sister’s Christmas Catechism: Is it going to be one ho-ho-ho, holy night? Sister tackles the question that’s been puzzling historians through the ages: Whatever happened to Magi’s gold? “CSI” goes to Bethlehem as Sister storms into Solana Beach at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. The show plays at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. and runs until Dec. 31. Tickets are $27 to $30. The North Coast Repertory Theatre is located at 987D Lomas Santa Fe Dr. in Solana Beach. (858) 481-1055.

Too Old for the Chorus, But Not Too Old To Be a Star: Now showing at The Theatre in Old Town, the play is a brand new musical revue that takes a funny and sometimes poignant look at getting older in our youth-obsessed society. Award-winning writers Mark Winkler, Marie Cain and Shelly Markham, part of the writing team of the off-Broadway hit Naked Boys Singing!, created the show. Tickets are $16 to $19. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. The Theatre in Old Town is located at 4040 Twiggs St. in the Old Town State Park. (619) 688-2494.