The onslaught of cheer has begun. The message is inescapable: Slap on those smiles, those Santa hats and those goofy sweaters because it’s holiday happy time, whether you like it or not.
But if it’s already getting to be too much, take comfort: There are fun things to do out there that feel a little offbeat. A little irreverent. Perhaps, even, educational.
Here are a few suggestions for holiday hangouts that tone down the sugar-plum sweetness for some off-the-beaten path excitement. Some may have a Christmas bent, but they’re still a way to take a break from the mainstream madness.
The rats make a king
In the classic “Nutcracker” tale, the Mouse King is a villain who attacks a militia of toys and treats with his vermin army. Take another look at the Mouse King in “The Ratcracker,” presented by Frequent Flyers Productions. Dec. 9-18. The aerial dance troupe takes the audience into “Rat World,” tumbling above and around the stage on a variety of aerial apparatus, and accompanied by music inspired by Tchaikovsky’s ballet. Maybe the Mouse King’s not so bad, after all—despite that whole eating-gingerbread-men thing. Tonight through Dec. 18. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; 303-440-7826. Tickets are $20-$25, available by phone or at .
Where noise is golden
Christmastime gets bold and brassy with a pair of holiday concerts. Saturday, the Denver Brass hosts “Holiday Brass Fest,” a community concert where anyone can toot their own horn. That’s right — all it takes to join the show is your own brass instrument and a will to perform. After a couple of hours of rehearsal, the new ensemble will play a public concert in the outdoor Galleria of the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Onsite registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday; rehearsal 11 a.m.; concert 1 p.m. Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets. Admission is $10 per player — buy advance tickets at .
Sunday, a huge gathering of tuba and euphonium players will assemble in Skyline Park for the 37th annual TubaChristmas concert. The 300-or-so musicians give holiday tunes the low-end treatment in a quirky, free show. Holiday Brass Fest: TubaChristmas: 1 p.m. Sunday. Skyline Park, 17th and Arapahoe streets. Free.
A small crawl after all
Bugs, spiders and other arthropods tend to get lumped in with Halloween, but who says they can’t be part of the holiday spirit, too? The Butterfly Pavilion’s “Living Lights” display shows off its invertebrate life with twinkling indoor and outdoor light displays. Look for giant, sparkly butterflies, lit-up ladybugs and cool ice sculptures. Learn, too, about fireflies and other insects that glow, and find out how bugs survive the winter. Remember to layer up: Parts of “Living Lights” are outdoors, and the display runs rain, snow, or shine. 5:30-9 p.m. nightly, Dec. 10-23. The Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster; 303-469-5441. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for Westminster residents and seniors age 65 and older, $6 for kids ages 2 to 12. Pavilion members receive a discount.
Furred, feathered, fab
The Wildlife Experience in Parker shines, starting tonight, during “Winter WonderLights.” The annual display features a trail of lights decorated with wildlife-themed light sculptures, Santa and his reindeer, and holiday treats. Inside the museum, guests can tour the “Globeology” exhibit and snuggle up for showings of the original animated “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” This year, December brings another treat to the Experience: A brand-new digital-3D movie theater. Opened Dec. 2, the theater is currently screening educational films like “Sharks 3D” and the undersea adventure “Turtle Vision 3D.” WonderLights: 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly through Dec. 23. (Last ticket sold at 8 p.m.) Admission $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for kids ages 3 to 12. The Wildlife Experience, 10035 Peoria St., Parker; 720-488-3300. Movie times and ticket prices vary; for more information, visit .
Have a blast in the past
Catch a glimpse of pioneer life with programs at Plains Conservation Center. Tonight, “Soddies by Lamplight” shows how early settlers kept themselves warm and occupied during frigid winter nights. Guests will grab a hot baked potato for warmth and then head out to the Center’s historic homestead. Once there, it’s time to settle in with some hot cider and learn about the ways people stayed entertained in the season’s long nights. Saturday, take a guided “Full Moon Walk” and learn about games and crafts from pioneer days. (“Soddies,” by the way, is a slang term for the sod houses settlers built on the plains during the move westward.) “Soddies by Lamplight”: 7-8:30 tonight. $5 for Conservation Center members, $7 for nonmembers. “Full Moon Walk”: 7:30-9 p.m. Saturday. Free for members, $5 for nonmembers. Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora; 303-693-3621. Reservations are required; call or visit .
