SOLSTICE

It only gets lighter from here

In the consumerist rush to fill low self-esteem with material objects, people tend to forget what Christmas is really about – aliens!

The annual Longest Night concert is bringing Christmas back to its roots by exploring the possible existence of extraterrestrial life through music, theatre and puppets.

The solstice show features Mary Margaret O’Hara, still a cult figure for her 1988 indie album Miss America.

Vancouver cellist Peggy Lee, one of the best on the Canadian classical scene, will play in the Longest Night Ensemble.

To emphasize the otherworldly character of the show, Longest Night is going heavy on the puppets this year.

Three separate puppet segments – led by Brian Fidler, Celia McBride and Moira Sauer – will grace the stage.

The show, entitled We Are Not Alone, plays Monday and Tuesday at the Yukon Arts Centre, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children, youth and seniors. They’re available at Arts Underground and the Yukon Arts Centre.

SOUND ADVICE

Loud and Proud

Prepare to die in the mosh pit at Foxy’s metal night this upcoming Wednesday.

Slated to play is nothing short of Yukon’s finest in the art of head-banging, neuron-damaging metal music.

JJS3, known to his friends as Jonas Smith, is a one man musical death squad who sings about man’s unrelenting love for war.

He’ll be joined by the band Bushwhacker, formerly known as Minotaur.

A longtime staple on the Yukon metal scene, Bushwhacker is prepared to release an onslaught.

And be sure not to miss Carnal Romance, an ear-rupturing all-female metal band.

The woman of Carnal Romance write songs from lines pinched from harlequin novels, so be prepared for cheese delivered at uncomfortably high decibels.

The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $5 a the door.

So nice, they came twice

If you missed singer-songwriters Gordie Tentrees and Sarah Macdougall the first time around, he’s your chance to see them.

The twang-heavy, guitar-strumming duo have been driving through the Northwest over the last month on their first tour together.

Joined by Ken Hermanson, who plays banjo, telecaster and lap steel, and Matt King on upright bass, the pair are a melodic reinvention of oldtime country sounds.

They play Tipplers in Whitehorse on December 17 at 9 p.m.

The next night they head down to the Atlin Inn, a fundraiser for the Atlin Music Festival.

Tickets for that show are $15 and contact Jonathon at atlininn@gmail.com or 250-651-7546 for more details.

CAROLS

Caroling and Art

Carollers are hard to come by in the Yukon, so come to the Copper Moon Gallery this Sunday to get your fill.

The Yukon Women in Music present another show in their Moonsong series, this time in carol form.

People are invited to bring their best Christmas baking and should bring donations for the Whitehorse Food Bank.

The gallery, house in the Rosati Arts Centre in McCrae, is holding a 10 per cent off sale during the entire month of December.

The carolling runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

TOURS

Illumination by megawatt

Whitehorse is hosting its annual City Lights Festival on Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at the Canada Games Centre.

The lights festival is popular with families and features numerous light-related games and activities over the course of the evening.

Games run from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and again from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

There will also be a public skate from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Whitehorse Transit will start its annual Christmas Lights Tour from the games centre with buses leaving at 5:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m.

SLEDDING

Mush

One of the first dog races of the year is taking place Sunday near Icy Waters Ltd.

Oscar’s Electric Race Day, part of the Twister’s series of races, is a 10.5-mile Twister for sleds with two to five dogs.

Skijorers can use two to three dogs.

There’s also a five-kilometre pet dog race too, and another five-kilometre race for kids.

It starts at 10 a.m. about 4.2 kilometres up Fish Lake Road.

There are prizes for the winners from Oscar’s Electric, Yukon Grain Farm and Yukon Honda, to name a few.

If you would like your even listed in Get Out, please e-mail details to friis@yukon-news.com.