The Historic Paramount Theatre will host two events this weekend to help kick-off the beginning of December.

The annual Merry TubaChristmas concert will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Paramount.

Featuring tubas, sousaphones, euphoniums and baritones, this concert, now in its ninth year, will feature live performances of holiday classics and favorites. Audience members are encouraged to sing along.

TubaChristmas has a special flavor, sound and look, created and nurtured by musicians who not only love tubas, but also enjoy the event’s camaraderie, the season — and then there is that visual display, too.

You won’t find many venues in which musicians dress in Santa hats and reindeer ears — or outfit their instruments with everything from tinsel and garland, to strings of lights and Christmas bows.

The performance is free and open to the public.

Rhythmic Circus will be presenting Holiday Shuffle at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Paramount.

Described as a “wildly-imaginative, ‘not-so-silent night’ the whole family can celebrate together,” the Rhythmic Circus Holiday Shuffle is a perfectly un-traditional holiday experience for the entire family — four world-renowned hoofers and a swingin’ seven-piece band inject the signature Rhythmic Circus style of rapid-fire tap into upbeat holiday classics.

The show is presented with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arts Touring Grant, and sponsored by Marlene R. Schlicter.

Tickets are available for $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show. Tickets can be purchased at austinareaarts.org or by calling 507-434-0934.

For more information on either event, visit austinareaarts.org or call 507-434-0934.

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Schedule of Events

Friday

• Nativity House Tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. Take a walk through this private home and discover over 950 different Nativity Sets collected from across the world. Small donation requested, which goes to the Salvation Army. For groups of 10 or more, please call 507-437-4563; for individual visitors, call 507-433-2643.

• Defensive Driving Refresher Class, noon to 4 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. Four hour refresher course that earns seniors a 10 percent discount on their driver’s insurance premium. Cost for members is $16, for non-members is $19. For more information or to sign up, stop by the Senior Center front desk or call 507-433-2370.

• Author Visit – Gwen Nolan, 3-5 p.m. at Sweet Reads. Meet local Christian author Gwen Nolan. For more information, call 507-396-8660.

• Festival of the Nativities, 4-8 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Celebrate the Christmas holiday through music, scripture, fellowship, and lighted displays of nativity sets. There will also be a children’s craft area, a scavenger hunt for unique nativity scenes, and holiday refreshments. Help with set-up, music, loan of nativity sets, or as a greeter greatly appreciated. For more information or to volunteer your help, call 507-433-3258.

• Austin Bruins vs. Minot Minotauros, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go Bruins! Tickets available at the door or at Hy-Vee, Games People Play, Holiday Inn, or Jim’s Market Place. For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Saturday

• Austin Masonic Lodge All You Can Eat Pancake Feed, 9 a.m. to noon at the Austin Masonic Lodge. Enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat pancake feed complete with bacon, sausage, juice, milk and coffee, while helping raise funds for local organizations. Proceeds for December benefit Austin Figure Skating.

• Nativity House Tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. Take a walk through this private home and discover over 950 different Nativity Sets collected from across the world. Small donation requested, which goes to the Salvation Army. For groups of 10 or more, please call 507-437-4563; for individual visitors, call 507-433-2643.

• Kids Studio – Portraits, 10:30 a.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. For kids ages 4 to 14; cost $5. For more information or to sign up, call 507-434-0934 or go to www.austinareaarts.org.

• Festival of the Nativities, 4-8 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Celebrate the Christmas holiday through music, scripture, fellowship, and lighted displays of nativity sets. There will also be a children’s craft area, a scavenger hunt for unique nativity scenes, and holiday refreshments. Help with set-up, music, loan of nativity sets, or as a greeter greatly appreciated. For more information or to volunteer your help, call 507-433-3258.

• Austin Bruins vs. Minot Minotauros, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go Bruins! Tickets available at the door or at Hy-Vee, Games People Play, Holiday Inn, or Jim’s Market Place. For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Sunday

• Nativity House Tours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. Take a walk through this private home and discover over 950 different Nativity Sets collected from across the world. Small donation requested, which goes to the Salvation Army. For groups of 10 or more, please call 507-437-4563; for individual visitors, call 507-433-2643.

• Bowling With Santa, 1-4 p.m. at Echo Lanes. Fundraiser held by JCI (Jaycees) to help purchase Christmas gifts for children and families in Austin through Christmas for Kids. Cost will be $12 for a group of 4 and $3 for each additional person. Shoes available for rent. Photos with Santa by Hannah Rosholt Photography also available. All proceeds go towards Christmas for Kids. For more information, email austinmnjaycees@gmail.com or go to https://www.facebook.com/JCIAustin/.