Special event: Electric Circus

Sat., Nov. 21

After a brief hiatus, Fringe Factory returns with a new location and a bigger, badder psychedelic dance party, dubbed the ELECTRIC CIRCUS. The party is a mixed-media gala spread throughout multiple rooms with live music, DJs, cabaret performances, art and vintage films. Quintron and Miss Pussycat headline a show of heavy, high-energy, organ-driven swamp punk and puppetry while local psych rockers the Electric Cycles open. Hosts Vikki V and Suzy Q, along with several other performers, including Spencer Garn's Psychedelic Organ and DJs Kurt Wood and Chris Devoe, will also be on hand to create an evening of hallucinogenic debauchery. $10. 9 p.m. Spring4th Center, 728 Spring St. www.myspace.com/fringefactory.

Music: Mountain Goats

Sat., Nov. 21

The MOUNTAIN GOATS' principle songwriter, singer/guitarist John Darnielle, has come a long way since his days of cranking out homemade and willfully obscure lo-fi cassettes. The ramshackle and Muppet-voiced troubadour has leveled off a bit and upped the indie/folkie ante with his 4AD releases of recent years. Darnielle and Co. play songs from their latest biblically themed offering, The Life of the World to Come. Georgia native turned New Yorker Larkin Grimm plays a rare local show of her spectral, avant-garde folk numbers that are at once sinister, angelic and uncomfortably alluring. Canadian composer/violinist Owen Pallett, aka Final Fantasy, also performs. $17.50. 9 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.

Music: Sarah Borges and Eileen Jewell

Sun., Nov. 22

The ladies are gonna show y'all how to twang tonight. EILEN JEWELL is a songcrafter whose gentle demeanor underscores her sharp lyrics. SARAH BORGES is a country rocker, with a ton of energy and a slew of great songs. $10-$50. 7:30 p.m. Eddie's Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com.

Music: Themselves

Mon., Nov. 23

The dynamic duo of Left Coast indie hip-hop luminaries and longtime Anticon cohorts Doseone and Jel, better known as THEMSELVES, come through town in support of their latest collection of futuristic beats, rhymes and art, CrownsDown. St. Paul, Minn.'s one rapper/one DJ duo Eyedea & Abilities, née Mike Larson and Gregory "Max" Keltgen, also perform a set of smooth and stylistic cuts from their latest offering, By the Throat. Like-minded locals Contraverse open the show. $10. 9 p.m. 529, 529 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-228-6769. www.529atl.com.

Holiday: Fantasy in Lights

Tues., Nov. 24

Think you've got something special with the Christmas lights on your front porch and that giant inflatable snowman in the yard? You've got nothing on FANTASY IN LIGHTS. The light show, now in its 18th year, spans five miles and uses more than 8 million lights as it winds through Callaway Gardens. The show includes holiday scenes set to Christmas music issued by some 400 speakers. Feeling Scroogey? The year-round floral displays, Butterfly Center and Birds of Prey show are still on hand to entertain. Through Dec. 30. $8-$16. Mon.-Sun., 6 p.m. 17800 U.S. 27, Pine Mountain. 800-225-5292. www.callawaygardens.com.

Music: Coco Robicheaux

Wed., Nov. 25

Even though he never got the national recognition of his peers, LARRY JON WILSON is a master songwriter whose tales of Deep Southern gothic characters never fail to fascinate the listener. COCO ROBICHEAUX brings a Cajun twist. $15-$75. 7:30 p.m. Eddie's Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com.

Holiday: Thanksgiving

Thurs., Nov. 26

Need an alternative to those THANKSGIVING staples like canned cranberry sauce, mysterious cheese-laden casserole, and languid post-meal napping? Atlanta has a lot to offer, from restaurants serving feasts of plenty to time-honored holiday events. Here are a few you'll be thankful that you knew about.

• Vegetarians delight! No turkeys were harmed in the making of Dynamic Dish's Thanksgiving dinner. Featuring such options as golden beet-and-ruby red grapefruit soup and wines from Avant Partir, owner David Sweeney has ensured that the bird will not be missed. $75. Reservations from 1-4 p.m. 427 Edgewood Ave. 404-688-4344. www.dynamicdish.net.

• Cozy Rosebud in Virginia-Highland will serve a family-style meal with a chef's take on traditional foods, including classics like turkey, glazed ham and herb stuffing. $20-$42. Noon-7 p.m. 1397 N. Highland Ave. 404-347-9747. www.rosebudatlanta.com.

• No Atlanta Thanksgiving would be complete without gathering at dusk for the annual Macy's Great Tree Lighting. Dress warmly, catch a ride on the Pink Pig and enjoy live entertainment to start the winter season. Free. 6:15 p.m. Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road. 404-233-6767. www.simon.com.

See more Atlanta Thanksgiving events.

Music: Holly Golightly

Thurs., Nov. 26

Celebrate Turkey Day with former Thee Headcoatees frontlady and recent Georgia transplant HOLLY GOLIGHTLY AND THE BROKEOFFS as they perform a set of songs from their latest offer, dubbed the Devil Do EP, along with some older numbers. With longtime cohort Lawyer Dave, the group lays down a twisted British take on proto American rock 'n' roll and devil-may-care blues/punk/folk stomp. Coyote Bones plays a set of lush, songwriter-turned-full band fodder that falls in league with the more brooding side of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young and the countrified rock of the early Grateful Dead. $10. 8:30 p.m. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com.

Special event: Pretty Things Peepshow

Thurs., Nov. 26

Ever imagine yourself nestled in a 1930s cabaret watching the likes of Gypsy Rose Lee taunt and tease the audience from the stage? If you dream of vintage pin-up girls, then the PRETTY THINGS PEEPSHOW has just what you're looking for. The traveling burlesque troop, adorned with olden hairstyles and period-inspired costumes, will leave you blushing. Known not only for their stage show, these tattooed, sexy ladies are also known for fire-eating and a contortionist performance known as the Chinese Execution Blade Box. $10-$12. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave. 404-875-1522. www.prettythingsprodctions.com.

Special event: Cirque de la Symphonie

Fri.-Sat., Nov. 27-28

In a combination of aerial and auditory acrobatics, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra presents CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE. To get this unique performance off the ground, Cirque du Soleil veterans partner with Grammy-winning musicians to create an exquisite spectacle for the ears and the eyes. SuperPOPS conductor Michael Krajewski leads as violinists bend notes and contortionists bend their bodies in equally baffling feats of dexterity. Acrobats, dancers and jugglers showcase their talents to the tunes of the South's most talented classical musicians. $18-$48. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m. Woodruff Arts Center, Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org.

Visual art: Emotional Management

Sat., Nov. 28

Trying to suppress your inner serial killer or those embarrassing adolescent childhood memories? Let Georgia native Sarah Hobbs' psychological-based photography be your therapist's couch. Exploring various self-therapeutic efforts and coping mechanisms, EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT aims to manage distress and painful experiences. The images confront spectators with a questionable but humane attempt at resolving those inner demons and neuroses while also reminding viewers of the weakness of the human condition. Through Jan. 9. Free. Thurs.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; additional hours by appointment. Solomon Projects, 1037 Monroe Drive. 404-875-7100. www.solomonprojects.com.

Theater: A Christmas Carol

Sun., Nov. 29

The Thanksgiving holiday marks the opening of Scrooge-haunting season at Atlanta theaters with the premieres of multiple versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The Alliance Theatre's 20th anniversary production of the Dickens classic features Chris Kayser's 17th appearance as Ebenezer Scrooge. Dad's Garage Theatre brings back last year's improv-oriented Invasion: Christmas Carol, which features a different "invader," unknown to the rest of the cast, each night. The New American Shakespeare Tavern and Kudzu Playhouse also open Carols Nov. 27, while later in December Aurora Theatre presents Anthony Rodriguez's one-man Carol, and 14th Street Playhouse offers a female variant on the show, Scrooge in Rouge. Alliance Theatre: Through Dec. 24. $25-$60. Thurs., 7 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-5000. www.alliancetheatre.org. Dad's Garage Theatre: Through Dec. 23. $15-$22. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m. 280 Elizabeth St. 404-523-3141. www.dadsgarage.com. New American Shakespeare Tavern: Through Dec. 23. $12-$32. Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 6:30 p.m. 404-874-5299. www.shakespearetavern.com. Kudzu Playhouse: Through Dec. 24. $13-$19.50. Thurs.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. 10743 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell. 770-594-1020. www.kudzuplayhouse.org.

Holiday: Ice skating rink

Mon., Nov. 30

So what if you haven't perfected that triple axel jump or camel spin? Brave the elements and lace up your rental skates for Atlanta's only outdoor ICE SKATING RINK at Centennial Olympic Park. Celebrating its 13th season, the outdoor rink offers covered observation seating, theatrical lighting and real ice, as well as festive holiday music to inspire the perfect routine or to simply help guide newbies safely around the edge. This year the rink has teamed with the Georgia Aquarium to offer the Ice Fishing Pass, a joint ticket to the aquarium and rink, allowing visitors to get a little more bang for their buck. Sounds like a perfect score. Through Jan. 31. $6-$7 admission, $2 skate rental; Ice Fishing Pass, $24.50-$29.99. Mon.-Sun., hours vary. 200 Centennial Olympic Park Drive. 404-223-4412. www.centennialpark.com.

Film: They Live

Tues., Dec. 1

Greet the oncoming holiday season with gratitude rather than dread, considering that you haven't stumbled upon a secret group of aliens posing as wealthy, powerful members of society. Director John Carpenter's 1988 film They Live, starring former wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as hero John Nada, blends humor, horror and social commentary – and holds status for coining the phrase "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass ... and I'm all out of bubble gum." ART OPENING & A MOVIE also includes a conspiracy-themed art show at 8 p.m. You'll leave with a newfound mistrust for everyone you meet. $8. 9:30 p.m. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com.