The local arts scene takes on a holiday air in the month of December, with several events on the Mazatlán Cultural Festival program directly related to Christmas. Festival events take place in and around the Angela Peralta Theater, always starting at 8:00 p.m. Other times and places are duly noted. Here´s the December lineup released to the Pacific Pearl at press time. You can clip this calendar out and affix it to your refrigerator door, or any other handy place where you´ll be sure to check as the month progresses: Dec. 1: Homage to Maestro Enrique Patron de Rueda, with the famed opera conductor coming home to direct the Sinaloa Symphony of the Arts in a free concert in the Plazuela Republica (front of City Hall). 8:00 p.m. Dec. 3: Afectuosamente, su comadre

(play in Spanish) tickets: 40 pesos Dec. 4: Art exhibition opens in theater´s upstairs gallery, works by Elaine Kemp Dec. 7: Carlos Prieto Trio in concert, Cello, violin and piano, Tickets: 100 pesos Dec. 8: Pastorela Mexicana, Mexican Christmas pageant with traditional Christmas carols, 6:00 p.m.; tickets: 40 pesos Dec. 11: Tu me vuelves loco (play in Spanish), tickets: 50 pesos Dec. 13: Florencia Tinoco, soprano, Antonio Gonzalez, piano, tickets: 100 pesos Dec. 16 & 17: New production of “Nutcracker” Christmas ballet, tickets: 100 pesos Dec. 19: Christmas Concert, Mazatlan Youth Orchestra and Chorus 6:00 p.m.; tickets: 50 pesos Dec. 20: Annual Christmas Posada and Fiesta 6:00 p.m., Plazuela Machado; free jackie@pacificpearl.com