See also: 14 Things to Do on New Year's Eve in Metro Phoenix
The circus is kicking off its 2014-15 tour at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue, on Friday, December 26 at 7 p.m. For tickets, starting at $22, and more information, visit chandlercenter.org or call 480-782-2680. Evie Carpenter
Scottsdale's award-winning story sharing slam Lit Lounge rounds out a year of high-energy true tale telling with a post-holiday performance. The monthly series gathers writers and artists -- both local and national talent -- to open up about life, love, and everything in between. Featured performers include Ali Liebegott, a writer for the Amazon-distributed comedy series Transparent, Joy Young, a Phoenix-based poet who can often be caught onstage at Lawn Gnome, and Jimmy Doyle, who has cracked up audiences from Chicago's Second City to cable's Comedy Central. Showtime starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 26, at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's SMoCA Lounge, 7374 East Second Street. Tickets are $10 ($8 for museum members) and tend to sell out fast. Get yours at www.smoca.org or call 480-874-4666. Janessa Hilliard