Johnston and Metro Weekend Events: Community Christmas, Carrie Underwood, ‘War Horse’, Tonic Sol Fa, Plus Cirque de Soleil, Mannheim Steamroller, Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift

Show Choir - The Johnston Middle School ninth grade show choir hosts a performance at 11:30 a.m. at the school.

Community Christmas - Johnston River of Life hosts a Community Christmas event for Johnston. Residents are invited to enjoy carols, live nativity, a visit from Santa, cooks and fellowship. The event is free and begins at 4 p.m. at Simpson Barn.

JHS Boys Swimming - The Johnston boys swim team heads to Iowa City for an invitational at 11 a.m.

Carrie Underwood: In concert with a stop in Des Moines.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14
Cost: $43.50-$63.50  Tickets on sale

“War Horse”: As World War One begins, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France, where he's soon caught up in enemy fire. But Albert cannot forget Joey and he embarks on a treacherous mission to bring him home.
Civic Center of Des Moines, 221 Walnut St.
Today through Dec. 17
Cost: $40-$60  Tickets.

Tonic Sol-Fa: The Minneapolis a cappella group’s annual holiday show.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14-15.
Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave.
Cost: $27-$32 through Ticketmaster.

The Blenders: Holiday soul with the vocal group from Minneapolis.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 18.
Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Cost: $39 through Ticketmaster.

The Last Sketch Comedy Show- Too Many Cats is Central Iowa's funniest sketch comedy troupe. Join us for an evening of laughs featuring short sketches that poke fun at some end-of-the-world possibilities. Recommended Age: 17+
8 p.m. Dec. 15
Stoner Theater at the Civic Center, Des Moines
Cost: $10 Find Tickets

“Triple Espresso - A Highly Caffeinated Comedy”: Tells the rags-to-rags story of Hugh Butternut, Buzz Maxwell and Bobby Bean, an aspiring comedy trio whose bid for showbiz fame and fortune ended in four minutes of magnificent failure on national television.
Temple Theater, Des Moines
7:30 pm. Tuesdays through Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays Nov. 27 through Jan. 6
Tickets

The Wizard of Oz: On a farm in Kansas, Dorothy Gale feels out of place and misunderstood. She wants to escape to somewhere "Over the Rainbow." Ages 5 and up.
Des Moines Community Playhouse, Des Moines
Dec. 7 to Dec. 30, Wednesday-Friday 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 1pm and 5pm
Cost: $35 ($20 Hot Tickets available 2 hours prior to curtain, limited to available tickets, at the ticket office only.)

Max Wellman: “Home for the Holidays” concerts with late-night shows featuring Chris Ford and others.
7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16
The Des Moines Social Club’s Kirkwood Theatre, 400 Walnut St.
Cost: $20-$125 through midwestix.com.

Cirque du Soleil - Quidam- Young Zoé is bored; her parents, distant and apathetic, ignore her. Her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to fill the void of her existence, she slides into an imaginary world—the world of Quidam—where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul.Dec. 22 3:30pm and 7:30pm, Dec. 23 1pm and 5pm
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Cost: $35-$97 Buy Tickets

Jim Brickman: “On a Winter’s Night” Christmas concert by the new age Grammy winner.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 20
Stephens Auditorium, Ames.
Cost: $32-$62 through Ticketmaster.

Euforquestra: Originally from Iowa, now based out of Colorado, this jam band offers its third annual “Home for the Holidays” concert.
7 p.m. Dec. 21.
Wooly’s, 504 E. Locust St.
Cost: $10 in advance through ticketfly.com.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: New takes on Christmas favorites.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22.
Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
Cost: $35-$83 through Ticketmaster.

GuideOne ImaginEve!- GuideOne ImaginEve! is Des Moines' premier free, non-alcoholic family New Year’s Eve celebration. The event features awesome inflatable rides and bounce houses, a caravan of clowns, balloon artist, carnival games and prizes, toddler zone, mini golf, dancers and a fireworks finale. This one-of-a-kind family event encourages family members of all ages to participate in a wide variety of activities. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dec. 31, 4pm
Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines
Cost: Free

Iowa Energy Basketball- The Iowa Energy play the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Dec. 29, 7:00pm
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
Cost:  $8-$20 Buy Tickets

New Year's Eve Pops-Des Moines’ signature New Year’s Eve celebration is the Des Moines Symphony’s annual POPS spectacular at the Civic Center.So plan early and ring in 2013 with The Classic Hits of The Beatles, performed by the award-winning Classical Mystery Tour—a tribute to the boys from Liverpool like no other.
Dec. 31, 8:00pm
Civic Center, 221 Walnut St. Des Moines
Cost: $15-$75 Find Tickets

Miranda Lambert: Locked and Re-Loaded tour stops in Ames with Dierks Bentley and Lee Brice.
Hilton Coliseum in Ames
7:30 p.m.  Feb. 21
Tickets on sale

Jon Bon Jovi: The New Jersey rocker and his band will return to Des Moines on April 14 on the "Because We Can" Tour. Ticket prices start at $19.50.
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines
April 14; tickets on sale through dahlstickets.com.

Taylor Swift: Country star Taylor Swift returns to Wells Fargo Arena on May 6. No word yet on ticket prices or an on-sale date.