Planner: It’s the season for helping others and helping yourself to entertainment

Get into the holiday spirit at the Downtown for the Holidays gala and community celebration starting at noon Sunday. It’s a day full of family activities including free trolley and horse-drawn wagon rides, concerts, a holiday parade and culminates with the three lighting ceremony. Head downtown for a day of fun. Go to downtownolympia.com/about/downtownfortheholidays for more information.

Help support a good cause and spread the holiday spirit at the annual SideWalk Gingerbread Social and Village this weekend. Community-built gingerbread houses will be on display from noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Washington Center for Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Vote for your favorite and join the 21-and-over social at 7 p.m. Saturday. Get more information at walkthurston.org/events.

Join in the annual holiday singalong at The Washington Center for Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE., Olympia. This year it will be celebrating all things ABBA with the selection of “Mamma Mia” the movie. Don your finest 1970s garb for the costume contest, go through a fun warm-up and chime in during the movie. The fun begins at 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $11-$22, plus a $3 service charge, and are available at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.org.

Bringing their American, roots and soul sound to the stage, Gypsy Soul will perform during a CD release tour for “True.” With a mission to create music that moves the heart, the duo of Roman Morykit and Cilette Swann is based in Hollywood, California. Come out to hear them perform in an 8 p.m. show Saturday at Traditions World Café, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. Tickets are $20, $15 students and low income. Call 360-705-2819 for more information.

Meet the child actress, author and cook, Karolyn Grimes Wilkerson — Zuzu Bailey from the iconic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” — when she comes to Bayview School of Cooking. She will share memories and family recipes from her books “Zuzu’s Recipe for It’s a Wonderful Life Cookbook” and “Celebrating It’s a Wonderful Life ... How the Movie’s Message of Hope Lives On.” Joining her is Leanne Willard, director of Bayview School of Cooking, making Wilkerson’s favorite recipes including The Falls Smoked Salmon Spread, Spinach Salad and The Best Meat Loaf. There also will be a special treat to take home. It’s all happening 6-8:30 p.m. Monday at the school, 516 W. Fourth Ave., Olympia. Admission is $65, for more information go to tinyurl.com/p6bn84c.

He has two Grammy Award nominations; gold- and platinum-selling albums; and collaborations with artists like Lady Antebellum, Johnny Mathis, Michael W. Smith, Martina McBride, Megan Hilty, Donny Osmond, Delta Goodrem and Olivia Newton-John, and now, Jim Brickman is coming to Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia, to share his new album “Comfort & Joy.” Come see him at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Tickets are $40, $35 Olympia Film Society members. Go to olympiafilmsociety.org for more information.

You may know Chris Mann as a finalist on “The Voice,” or as one of the original Warblers from “Glee.” Just off a tour as the Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera,” he will sing holiday favorites in a 7:30 p.m. show Thursday at The Washington Center for Performing, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $11-$42, plus a $3 service fee, and are available at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.com.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Planner: It’s the season for helping others and helping yourself to entertainment."