The Indianapolis Children's Museum's Jolly Days exhibit. (Adriane Jaeckle for The Star)

eighth blackbird (submitted photo)

1. 'A Very Phoenix Xmas'

7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 22 through Dec. 23, $25, $15 age 24 and younger, Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Ave. (317) 635-7529, www.phoenixtheatre.org.

At the Phoenix Theatre, everything calls for a celebration -- Christmas, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, New Year's, Kwanzaa -- and audience members (that means you) can be a part of the fun. Expect sketches, audience participation games, music and more (written by "very wacky playwrights," the Web site reports) at the annual alternative holiday celebration the Phoenix calls "A Very Phoenix Xmas."

2. eighth blackbird

7:30 p.m., Nov. 28, $30 adults, $10 students, free kids under 18, Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., www.indianahistory.org.

Since its founding in 1996, eighth blackbird has gained fans across the nation and around the world, including one New Yorker writer who said the group is "friendly, unpretentious, idealistic and highly skilled." Presented by Ensemble Music Society of Indianapolis, the sextet brings its skillful instrumentation (with violins, cello and flutes in tow) to the Indiana History Center on Nov. 28 to perform. A preconcert lecture takes place at 6:45 p.m. For more information on the band, head to www.eighthblackbird.com.

3. Eiteljorg Thanksgiving Programming

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 23-24, $8 adults, $7 seniors, $5 ages 5-17, free age 4 and younger and members, Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., www.eiteljorg.org.

If the actual Thanksgiving holiday isn't enough to sate your need to celebrate, head to the Eiteljorg Museum on Nov. 23 and 24. Visitors to the museum can listen to and act out parts in "The Story of the Three Sisters," which will be told from the top of the totem pole in the Eagle Commons Hallway. Other family-friendly holiday activities include the "Make Your Own Gourd Rattle" sessions, during which guests can paint and lacquer gourds after they've crafted them into instruments.

4. Kroger Christmas at the Zoo and Indiana Rail Road's Holiday Trainland

Noon to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 30, $13.50 adults, $8.50 seniors and children 2-12, free for members, Indianapolis Zoo/White River Gardens, 1200 W. Washington St., www.indyzoo.com.

There's a lot going on at the Indianapolis Zoo for the holidays, including performances by local school choirs, nightly animal activities, visits from the big guy in red, and more. Take the family to check out the holiday lights and sculptures throughout the grounds, then shuffle over to the Schaefer Rotunda for a Holiday Trainland Art Show, which features vintage artwork depicting the evolution of trains over the decades.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland

11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 23 through Jan. 6, $12.50 adults, $7.50 ages 2-17, $11.50 seniors, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., www.childrensmuseum.org.

With Santa and a Yule Slide on hand, an Ice Castle, ice fishing, a Cookie Café, magicians, music performances, holiday face painting and prizes, you don't even need to have kids to want to visit The Children's Museum this year. But if you do, head to the Winter Wonderland, then grab some holiday gifts at the store on the way out.and, if you do have a little one, register him or her for a chance to be the first child down the slide with Santa.