ONGOING
Holiday: The Atlanta Botanical Garden sparkles during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, which continues through Jan. 5. For more places to experience holiday light shows, check out this list.

Holiday: Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s Magical Nights of Lights continues 5-10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31 in Buford.

Holiday: More than 1 million lights fill Hampton’s Atlanta Motor Speedway in Gift of Lights, a 1.5-mile drive-through experience. The display continues through Jan. 6.

Family: Synchronicity Theatre brings back its family-friendly holiday hit “A Year With Frog and Toad,” which continues through Dec. 30 at 14th Street Playhouse.

Holiday, stage: A mysterious stranger fascinates the girls in Horizon Theatre Company’s production of the musical “Madeline’s Christmas.” It runs through Dec. 31.

Holiday, festival: The holidays start early at Stone Mountain Park, as it gets dressed in festive garb for Stone Mountain Christmas, which continues through Dec. 31.

Recreation: Hit the slopes at Snow Mountain, where it’s always a winter wonderland. The annual attraction at Stone Mountain Park continues through Feb. 18.

Stage:Cirque du Soleil’s Totem sets up the big tent in Atlanta, with shows continuing through Dec. 30  near Atlantic Station at 20th and Market streets. Read our review of the show.

Stage: Horizon Theatre Company’s production of “The Santaland Diaries,” based on the work of David Sedaris, has become an Atlanta holiday tradition. It runs through Dec. 30.

Holiday, dance:“Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker” is one of the city’s most beloved and venerable holiday traditions. It continues through Dec. 26 at the Fox Theatre.

Stage: The beloved Rankin-Bass cartoon  “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” comes to life in a puppet-tastic version from Jon Ludwig. The show continues through Jan. 6 at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Holiday: The Pink Pig, one of Atlanta’s most beloved holiday traditions, is back. Ride Priscilla the Pink Pig on train tracks through a life-sized storybook featuring Priscilla and her friends. Daily through Jan. 1 at Macy’s Lenox Square.

FRIDAY, DEC 28
Stage: Next Stage Theatre Company provides an alternative to the holiday offerings with  “Cabaret,” the award-winning musical set in Berlin at the dawn of the Nazi era. It continues through Dec. 31 on the Alley Stage at the former home of Theatre in the Square in Marietta.

Music:The Kinchafoonee Cowboys will play a free concert to raise awareness and support the World Wildlife Fund at 8 p.m. Dec. 28 at Buckhead Theatre.

SATURDAY, DEC 29
Music: Have a post-Christmas Highland fling with Jamie Laval’s Scottish Solstice Celebration, which begins at 8 p.m. Dec. 29. it’s part of the Eddie Owen Presents series at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth.

MONDAY, DEC 31
Comedy: Spend New Year’s Eve with comedian Bridgett Everett And Friends. Shows are at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Punchline in Sandy Springs.

Comedy: For Shaq’s All Star Comedy Jam, host Gary Owen will be joined by Tony Roberts, Finesse Mitchell and Capone. Spinderella is the featured DJ. It starts at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Holiday: For a family-friendly way to celebrate the new year, check out Radio Disney’s “Noon Year’s Eve,” which begins at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at the Smyrna Community Center.

Holiday: Underground Atlanta is the place to be for the annual Peach Drop. This year’s musical headliner is Abbey Road Live. The day begins at 11 a.m. Dec. 31 and will continue until the big peach drops at midnight.

Holiday, music:Atlanta Symphony New Year’s Eve will feature an evening of standards with pianist and vocalist Tony DeSare and his trio. the concert begins at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Atlanta Symphony Hall.

Holiday, music: Spend New Year’s Eve with the retro-rock stylings of Yacht Rock Revue. The show starts at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Park Tavern at the edge of Piedmont Park.

For more New Year’s Eve events, check out our list of events both in town and outside the Perimeter. If you’re looking for dining options, see our list of New Year’s Day brunch spots.

This is just a selective list of events happening around town, so if there’s something going on this weekend that you’re excited about and you don’t see it here, please feel free to share the info in the comments. Follow me on Twitter at@ajchottix and @ajcatlevents for info on tickets going on sale and more upcoming events.