The 8 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

Probably the band that has played First Ave more than any other act, Dave Pirner and his ever-active crew still return there around the holidays no matter how they spent the rest of the year. In 2025, they toured with Bush and played festival and U.K. dates still touting last year’s classic-sounding album “Slowly But Shirley,” produced by Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan. They also issued a 30th anniversary edition of “Let Your Dim Light Shine,” the follow-up LP to the “Runaway Train”-led breakout album “Grave Dancers Union.” Bringing an extra shine to this year’s homecoming gig is opener Tommy Stinson, a 2000s-era Soul Asylum member who played in some other purportedly famous Minneapolis band. (8 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $45, axs.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

The December tradition, which dates to 2001, continues, starting on Christmas night once again. The Twin Cities-launched modern-jazz standard-bearers have settled in with the lineup of cofounders Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (percussion) along with Ben Monder (guitar) and Chris Speed (saxophone), both of whom joined in 2021 and appear on two TBP albums, including last year’s “Complex Emotions.” On any given gig, the work of Monder or Speed might dominate as the Bad Plus explores its expansive repertoire of fusion, avant-jazz, pop and ballads, anchored by the progressive notions and occasional whimsy of its superb rhythm section. (6 & 8 p.m. Thu. and 7 & 9 p.m. Fri.-Sun., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $30-$50, dakotacooks.com)

JON BREAM

When Twin Cities rap titan Matt “Nur-D” Allen promises a party, you know it’s going to be just that. The high-energy, high-concept, highly lyrical hip-hop star released a playful and at times personal new album near the start of 2025, “Chunkadelic,” and now he is wrapping up the year with a celebration he’s billing as the New Years Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Party. He’ll have his own band with him and sexy-grooving R&B/funk troupe Orlando & the Rumors for openers, plus a few unannounced guests. (8 p.m. Sat., Hook & Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., $20-$25, thehookmpls.com)

C.R.

For most of the year, this choir and its accompanying vocal soloists and orchestra spend each Sunday morning performing an orchestral Mass, usually written by such classical-era masters as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Yet, in keeping with Catholic tradition, the Advent season has been string- and brass-less, the soundtrack for the Masses restricted to a cappella Gregorian chant. But as Christmas approaches at midnight, the ensemble will be in full voice again, Marc Jaros conducting them in Mozart’s “Coronation” Mass, in which you can hear echoes of music from the composer’s greatest operas. (11:15 p.m. Wed., Church of St. Agnes, 548 Lafond Av., St. Paul, free, catholicchorale.org)

It’s last call for an outré show that’s become a bawdy tradition at Open Eye Theatre. Crafted by Ricky Graham, Yvette Hargis and Jeffery Roberson, “Scrooge in Rouge” uses drag to send up “A Christmas Carol.” The show is suffused with double entendres and naughty wordplay and doubles as a kind of tribute to the British humor of Benny Hill and Monty Python. Joel Sass directs, amping up the camp. (7:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat., and 2 p.m. Sun., Open Eye Theatre, 506 E. 24th St., Mpls., $32, 612-874-6338 or openeyetheatre.org)

ROHAN PRESTON

Local photojournalist Mike Kieger snapped pictures of the Hmong community in the early 1980s, just years after their arrival to Minnesota. Kieger recently donated these pictures to the Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota, where they’ll be on display in a special short-term exhibition. Ends May 30. (9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., 375 University Av. W., St. Paul, $7, hmongculturalcentermuseum.org or 651-917-9937 ext. 17)

ALICIA ELER

In Progress hosts a closing reception for an exhibition about Indigenous storytelling across generations through photography, video and audio. Experience stories from Nett Lake Village, Bois Forte Nation and the Leech Lake Reservation. The exhibition is titled “Anooj izhitigweyaa i’iw ziibi,” Ojibwe for “the river flows in various directions.” (Closing reception 5-7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 27, In Progress, 213 Front Av., St. Paul, In-progress.org or 612-805-0514)

The annual holiday tradition continues as the Twin City Model Railroad Museum transforms into a Christmas-themed wonderland. The lights are dimmed, allowing the buildings and streetlights adorning the make-believe towns to glow. The trains and surrounding cityscape are covered with snow and holiday decorations. Trains are specially decorated for the season and will run on the layouts along with holiday-only layouts. (3-7 p.m. Saturdays through Feb. 28, with bonus nights on Fri., Mon. and Jan. 2, $15, advance timed tickets, 668 Transfer Road, St. Paul, tcmrm.org)