We’re only a few days away from officially opening of the Valley’s Christmas season. So, this week’s list of the top local activities includes a handful of special events during the season, including the Phoenix Zoo’s renowned ZooLights attraction. Other notable shows include the mysterious Blue Man Group, a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Psycho and the newest installment in the Suns/Lakers rivalry.

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group, the mysterious trio of body-painted performance artists, will make a return visit to the Valley this week as part of the current leg of their tour. For those who aren’t familiar, Blue Man Group put on a spectacular show that combines controlled chaos, sensory assault by using specially-designed percussive instruments humorous moments, vibrant comedy, and original interaction with the audience to delight the crowds. Blue Man Group has been in existence since 1987 (but it doesn’t have Tobias Funke in its cast) and will perform at the Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center 1, East Main Street, for two nights on November 21st, Monday and Tuesday on November 22. The shows begin at 7 p.m. every evening, and Tickets range from in the range of $38-$78. Benjamin Leatherman

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

It is believed that the Phoenix Suns’ ongoing rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers goes back many decades prior to the Showtime period of the latter half of the ’80s, in which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as well as Magic Johnson ran roughshod over the orange and purple gang. The Suns have offered a lot of back-pay in the past to L.A. over the years and even thwarted LeBron James and company in 2021 to earn their first NBA Finals appearance in 18 years. This week will be the latest chapter in the rivalry will begin as Phoenix plays L.A. on Tuesday, November 22 on the Footprint Center, 201 East Jefferson Street. Phoenix Suns (10-6) have at the top of their division Pacific Division while the Lakers (5-10) are in the basement. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $64. Benjamin Leatherman

Jana Bommersbach and Bob Boze Bell

Writers Jana Bommersbach and Bob Boze Bel They are both certified specialists of Arizona history. It is no surprise that both were regarded as authors of Phoenix New Times There was a time when. The pair also were involved in Hellraisers, and Trailblazers They are the Real Women of the Wild West The book is 126 pages long and chronicles women who “held the whole thing together by spitting and grit” in the western past. Bommersbach and Bell will Read about their experiences in the book at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, at Changing Hands, 300 West Camelback Road. The admission is free, but Masks must be worn. Benjamin Leatherman

Psycho

Here’s some locally-sourced Alfred Hitchcock trivia for y’all Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film classic Psycho (widely thought to be among the first slasher movies ever) starts with a stunning panorama that shows the city’s Phoenix skyline, with views of the Hotel San Carlos, Heard Building and it ends with the Westward Ho. The audience at this week’s screening of Psycho in the Orpheum Theatre, 203 West Adams Street on November 22 will enjoy some old-fashioned perspectives of our city before being caught in the dark story about Norman Bates, the ultimate mother’s boy. The Orpheum is an ideal venue to watch Psycho in the way it first presented the film in local theaters following it’s release some 62 decades back (back in the days when it was called Paramount Theatre). Paramount Theatre). The screening begins with a start time of 6:30 p.m. Tickets Adults pay $16 and children $11 for children aged 12 and under. Benjamin Leatherman

ZooLights on display at Phoenix Zoo

The lights are everywhere throughout the Valley during the holiday season including local landmarks and businesses to the thousands of homes in the neighborhood. It’s not just the Phoenix Zoo. Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway will also get involved in the fun of illuminations by hosting the annual ZooLights spectacle, which has the attraction decorated with 3 million LED lights and three-dimensional sculptures and a variety of illuminations. The 2018 edition of ZooLights will officially open on November 23rd is an “wildlife lighting safari” as well as a 50-foot-tall electronic tree that will be floating in the lake of the zoo. The hours for nighttime are 5:30 until 10:10 p.m. ZooLights will be on display through January 15 , and tickets be sold out quickly. General admission costs $30 online and $35 at the Zoo. Children under 2 are admitted for free. Tickets and other information are accessible via the Phoenix Zoo website . Benjamin Leatherman

Phoenix Turkey Trot

Burning calories from your Thanksgiving dinner after eating it is so old-fashioned. Be ahead of the curve by participating in this year’s Phoenix Turkey Trot on Thursday on November 24, at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, located at 1700 West Washington Street. This is a family-friendly event with picturesque 5K and 10K runs that wind through downtown Phoenix for adults and anyone who is 17 or younger. There’s also a 1-mile “gobbler sprint” for those who prefer short runs and the “tot trot” for children aged 6 and under, as well as an annual costume contest that awards prizes in categories such as “best-dressed turkey” and “most innovative.” The cost of registration ranges between $8 and $50 based on the race you’re interested in and when you sign up. Time of the race varies. Participants receive a t-shirt and a medal for the finisher, as well as other benefits. All details about costs, timings and other details are available. Available here . Lynn Trimble