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We're so ready for the weekend. This weekend, you can step into the apocalypse at Fallout
Full Moon Hike
The full moon has long inspired folklore connecting its occurrence with everything from fertility to madness. But sometimes seeing a full moon is simply a refreshing reminder of nature’s vast expanse beyond the digital realm that saturates daily life. If you’ve got some hiking experience, and you’re up for a guided night hike, check out REI’s Full Moon Hike, happening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 21, at the Pima Canyon Trailhead at South Mountain Park, 10919 South Central Avenue. Hikers need to be at least 14 years old, and the event costs $30 ($20 for REI members). Visit rei.com. Lynn Trimble
Mesa Christmas Market
Inspired by Christmas markets around the world, Mesa is presenting a Mesa Christmas Market that brings together local artisans, live performance, traditional and nontraditional food fare, and plenty of Christmas decorations. It’s happening street fair-style, on the north side of Main Street and MacDonald in Mesa, along a street lined with white lights that’s also home to a long stretch of light rail. Check it out between 5 and 9 p.m. on Friday, December 21. The market is free, but don’t forget money for eats and last-minute shopping. While you’re in the area, enjoy all the sculptures and light rail art along Main Street. Visit mesachristmasmarket.com. Lynn Trimble
7 Minutes Under the Mistletoe
It only takes a second to enjoy a kiss beneath the mistletoe. But where’s the fun in that, when you can spend your late-night hours watching

Fallout.Shelter
As it turns out, Bible ]-thumpers aren’t the only ones fetishizing Armageddon. The folks behind the annual Wasteland Weekend and similar post-apocalyptic-themed celebrations, for instance, have turned “end of the world” schtick into a cottage industry. And then there’s the Fallout
The latest Fallout
MusicaNova's Brass Quintet
It’s the most wonderful time of the
Fifth Annual Luminaria Ride
Imagine you and your Willo neighborhood homies dressed in holiday attire, bicycles adorned with colorful lights, rolling at what an organizer calls a “leisurely pace” past lines of luminarias. And yes, there will be hot chocolate. Enjoy two days of fun: The Fifth Annual Luminaria Ride on Saturday meets at Amp Island in Encanto park at 5:30 pm. for a 7 p.m. departure. (BYOB for an exchange at the end). The Sunday ride, new this year, meets at Walton Park at Third Avenue and Holly for a 6:30 p.m. rollout. A coffee truck will be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. See phoenixspokespeople.org for more details. Ray Stern
The Most Offensive Christmas Concert Ever
If you’re bored by the usual Christmas specials on TV and their hackneyed messages of “peace and love,” head out to The Listening Room, 4614 North 7th Street, for a dose of yuletide disaster. The Most Offensive Christmas Concert Ever returns for
South Mountain Aglow
Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, will soon be upon us. It’s the perfect time to head outdoors, to explore lights in the night sky and luminaria-lit pathways. The South Mountain Environmental Education Center is presenting South Mountain Aglow, a luminaria walk along a festive sidewalk trail, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 22. The free event starts at the center, 10409 South Central Avenue, and also includes entertainment, youth artworks, food trucks, and a holiday market for last-minute types who like to shop
“Awkward Family Photo”
“My outfit and

6th Street Market
Walk away from the television, and all that talk of politicos “taking the fifth.” There’s a delightful bit of escapism over in Tempe, where the 6th Street Market can help you refocus on priorities like family and friends. They’ve got plenty of gift options created by local artisans and makers, along with
Music Box Christmas Skanker
If you think that this town’s nightlife scene goes completely dark on Christmas Eve, DJ Petty Things would like to have a word with you. While the rest of the Valley is decking the halls on Monday, December 24, he’ll be filling the Rose Room at Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue, with an
Beatles Laser Show
In a perfect world, we could all go underseas aboard a yellow submarine. That’s not likely, but there’s a fun alternative at the Arizona Science Center, 600 East Washington Street, where you can see a Beatles Laser Show complete with yellow submarine and other Beatles-inspired imagery at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, December 24. Tickets to the planetarium show, which is set to Beatles tunes, are $9 for adults. You’ll need a general admission ticket ($18 for adults) as well, so leave extra time to explore other offerings at the Arizona Science Center, including the gift shop where you can pick up a few more holiday goodies. Visit azscience.org. Lynn Trimble
It's A Wonderful Life
Even after all these years, people still gather
It’s a Wonderful Life will screen at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, at Alamo Drafthouse Tempe, 1140 East Baseline Road, Tempe. Tickets are $7. Visit drafthouse.com/phoenix. Douglas Markowitz
Crescent Christmas Tamale + Trivia Party
Ah, Christmas. The presents beneath the tree, the stockings hung with care over the yule log, and on the table, a plate of piping hot tamales. Yes, you read that right, tamales. Not everyone carves a roast beast on December 25, so be a little
Trail Running
Trail running is one of those things your mother would probably warn you not to do. Yeah, it’s
Orpheum Theatre Tour
Perhaps you’ve looked up at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 West Adams Street, and wondered about all its architectural detail. It’s a feast for the eyes, both inside and out. And it’s filled with stories. Learn all about the Orpheum Theatre, which opened in 1929, during a free tour happening at noon and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26. Just show up under the marquee, then follow along as a docent shares details about its history, including renovations undertaken during the mid-1990s. You’ll marvel at the venue’s architectural elements, while you explore decades of Phoenix history that will help you appreciate the value of historic buildings during a day and age consumed by all things fresh and new. Visit phoenixconventioncenter.com. Lynn Trimble
Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Ever strolled through winding pathways at the Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway, and been blown away by the sheer number of cactus and succulents you encountered? They’ve got even more plants, and other intriguing
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