Wausau events worth checking out the weekend before Christmas

Looney Lutherans: I’m Dreaming of a Looney Christmas 

Friday 12/20 | Campanile Center for the Arts, Minocqua 

Readers of this publication are not unfamiliar with the Looney Lutherans - imagine if your mom got together with your friends’ moms and they put together a comedy show. For that picture to work though, you have to imagine that your moms are outrageously funny! The Looney Lutherans are back, and this time they’re bringing their hijinx with a Christmas theme. If Christmas cookie and casserole comedy is your thing, you won’t want to miss this looney holiday party. 7 pm. See website for ticket info. campanilecenter.org

Symphony on the Rocks 

Sunday 12/22 | Grand Theater, Wausau 

This is a special treat for the holidays, dear readers - The Symphony on the Rocks features 17 uber-talented musicians, including three multiple-WAMI-award winning members of the Vic Ferrari band. This supergroup will bring to life classics from The Beatles to ELO to Imagine Dragons, plus a smattering of holiday tunes to get your ready for the season. 7 pm. $32-$58. grandtheater.org.

Rotary Winter Wonderland 

DAILY THROUGH DEC. 31 | WILDWOOD PARK, MARSHFIELD

Let’s be honest. Holiday decorating is a lot of work. So why not enjoy a display put up by other people instead? Rotary’s Winter Wonderland is one spectacular display of Christmas lights and has been around for 18 years now! It’s a display so large that you really have to see it to believe it. We’re talking something like 1.5 million lights for displays set up by more than 1,000 volunteers, all to bring you a visual overload of Christmas cheer. 

If you go: The display is open 5-9 pm every day through Dec. 31. Admission is free, but food and/or monetary donations are highly encouraged. Dress warm: it’s an outdoor display in winter in the middle of Wisconsin. You can drive too, but you’ll miss a lot. 

Candlelight: Holiday Special ft. The Nutcracker and more

Saturday 12/21 | St Stephen Lutheran Church

There’s something about The Nutcracker Suite that just gets me in the Christmas mood. I’ll take Tchaikovsky over Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer anyday. So this event holds some appeal. Held at the St. Stephen Lutheran Church in downtown Wausau, this promises not only a night of classical Christmas music, but includes a full candlelight experience. Enjoy the atmosphere as the Lisetto String Quartet performs everything from classic carols to Debussy and Tchaikovsky. (There is also a Friday show but it has already sold out.) 8:30 pm. Starting at $25. sslcwausau.com

Mia Brown w/ Jordan Miles

Friday 12/20 | Uncommon Pints, Rothschild 

Mia Brown is a Wausau native, and she’s a local girl done good story. She’s currently signed with Big Timber Entertainment and has released a number of singles including “Just Maybe” in November. Inspired by Amy Winehouse, her voice is pretty incredible - she hits the high ranges while retaining a depth few are capable of, whether its country or pop. Brown is joined by Jordan Miles, who many might remember from Wausau band Substyle. The bass player and keyboardist also made an appearance this summer when Billy Bronsted played the Rib Mountain Amphitheater and your jaw will drop at his skills. 7 pm.