Today

UA School of Theatre Arts Presents Encore! Marroney Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Up-and-coming theatre arts freshmen make their debuts. $6. 621-1116.

FREE- Opening Reception for the UA School of Art and Photography senior exhibition. 20 students will display work from their senior portfolios. 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. 621-8983. Centennial Hall.

Open Mic- Read a poem or tell a joke you read on a Popsicle stick. It's all up to you. The Café, 121 E. Broadway. 7 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. 882-5544.

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament- Big Dogs need only apply. With a performance from local act The Deludes. Plush, 340 E. Sixth Street. 798-1298.

Thursday

Student Ceramic Art and Pottery Sale- Ceramics Lab and Studio. 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Friday 12 p.m.-9 p.m. 621-3136.

FREE "Zingers"- Discussion on some of the UA Art Museum's most impressive modern art pieces. 621-7567. 2 p.m.

Dick Dale- Surf guitar legend performs with Del Castillo. City Limits, 6350 E. Tanque Verde. 733-6262. 8 p.m. $15.

Royal Trux- The Chicago indie veterans have re-formed to rock you harder than ever. Plush, 340 E. Sixth Street. 11:30 p.m. $9.798-1298.

Friday

FREE Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair- Opening Day of the weekend-long street fair. Music, food, and lots of strange things on sale. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 624-5004

The Wheelies- Not those freaky-ass things from Return to Oz, it's the Tucson Roller Derby Awards Party. With music from The Knockout Pills, Shark Pants and more. $4. 9 p.m. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress. 622-8848.

Saturday

Art Exhibit- Opening day of UA Museum of Art's exhibit on artist James G. Davis' works: Paintings and Works of Paper 1988-2004. UA Museum of Art. 10 a.m. 621-7567.

FREE UA Faculty and Staff Choir Holiday Concert- Holsclaw Hall. 626-8304.

Volumen Cero- Spanish rock straight from Miami and very un-Menudo. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress. 622-8848, $8. 9:30 p.m.

2004 Downtown Parade of Lights- Floats, marching bands and fry bread. Armory Park, Two streets south of Broadway on Sixth Avenue. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., parade at 6 p.m. .547-3347.

Reveille Gay Men's Chorus presents- "Tidings of Comfort and Joy." Carols and holiday classics preformed live as part of the Chorus' annual holiday concert, $12/advance, $15 door. 903-1815.

Sunday

Ballet Tucson's "The Nutcracker"- Centennial Hall. 2 p.m. $27-$47. 621-3341.

"Greatest Hanukkah on Earth! VI"- Music, theatre, traditional dance and a festival of lights. FREE. 4:30 p.m. Dinner requires RSVP and is $22. Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club. 327-4501.

If You'Re Still In Town Over Break.....

December 14

Ozomatli- Mariachi/hip hop/ska and they're in that one Drew Barrymore movie. City Limits, 6350 E. Tanque Verde. 733-6262. 8 p.m. $25

December 17

CaleXmas Christmas Show- Tucson's favorites Calexico perform with fellow local acts Nick Luca Trio, Gene Ruley, Jeff Grubic, and Tom Walbank. $10. 9 p.m.

December 18

The Santaland Diaries- Artist Theatre Project from Phoenix will read aloud from the David Sedaris book. $6 advance, $8 door. Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress. 622-8848.

December 30

The Violent Femmes- This band is older than most of us, but still tres tres awesome. With Misfortune Cookie. City Limits, 6350 E. Tanque Verde. 733-6262.