5 things to do this weekend, including 'Urban Nutcracker' and a Cultural Survival Bazaar

There’s something magical in the air — it could be the holiday season or the sparkling arts and culture events lighting up the city. This weekend, Boston’s very own “Urban Nutcracker” enters its 25th season, gifting spectators contemporary dance, while a concert comes to Cambridge from a local podcast host and producer. Take in performances and a winter solstice market with one-of-a-kind gifts. These recommendations and more are included in our roundup, below.

Founded in Boston in 2007, the Grammy-nominated Lorelei Ensemble is a women’s vocal group that produces new works that showcase female voices and the ways in which they “challenge our world.” On Thursday, they’ll bring “Frost and Fire” to the Memorial Church of Harvard University, featuring Scott Ordway’s “North Woods,” written for the ensemble, as well as world premiere arrangements by Laura Jobin-Acosta, Greg Brown and Jocelyn Hagen and others. Expect to hear medieval chants, American folk tunes and other stirring sounds at the concert. Hailed by the Boston Globe for its “precision,” Lorelei Ensemble aims to create bold music that feels culturally relevant and empowering of women’s perspectives. General admission tickets cost $35.

A Boston tradition for 25 years, Anthony Williams’ “Urban Nutcracker” reinterprets “The Nutcracker,” bringing multicultural diversity to the familiar tale. The production blends dance styles that include flamenco, hip-hop, breakdance, tap and more. The show will feature the City Ballet of Boston as well as returning artists, such as flamenco dancer Nino de los Reyes and tap dancer Khalid Hill, and newcomers. Looking ahead to Dec. 19, “Urban Nutcracker” will regale audiences with its LGBTQ+ performance starring Boston drag artist Patty Bourrée. Tickets start at $29. [Find more holiday events in our roundup here.]

Before becoming the host and producer of GBH’s “The Big Dig” podcast, Ian Coss started what would become an annual tradition of recording an album of holiday music. Coss has kept this tradition alive for 20 years. On Saturday, he’ll honor the milestone with a concert, “The Twelve Songs of Christmas,” held at The Lilypad in Cambridge. Together with a band, he’ll perform songs “from the vast Cossmas classics catalogue,” while throwing in a few surprises. The tunes aren’t all mirth and merriment — according to the event’s website, we’ll hear a healthy dose of “alienation, disillusionment, and loss.” Tickets cost $10.

Dance enthusiasts interested in boundary-pushing spectacles might like to visit the ICA for a staging of “Myokine” from Canadian contemporary dance company Anne Plamondon Productions. What exactly is a myokine? These “molecules of hope” are released by muscles when the body is actively in motion, and they help contribute to our “sense of well-being and optimism.” To the artists, they play an important part in healing their bodies during times of stress or tension. Presented by Global Arts Live, this show promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking look at the body’s resilience. Tickets for nonmembers are $58.

Held at Boston Center for the Arts’ Cyclorama, the Cultural Survival Bazaar brings Indigenous artists and artisans, cooperatives, and staff from around the world to share their work, including clothing, jewelry, provisions for the home and other coveted goods. Expect to see woolen items from Northern Indian’s Himalayan Naari, glassware from Palestine’s Hebron Glass, and artisanal items from SUMAK Essentials, which uplifts Ecuadorian makers. Mashpee-based caterer Sly Fox Den will serve Indigenous cuisine of the Northeast. (Owner Sherry Pocknett won a James Beard Award in 2023.) There will also be live performances and a book swap. Suggested admission is $10. The bazaar will also take place Dec. 20-21 in Providence, Rhode Island.