This week’s top entertainment – Theater, ballet & 120 years of ministry

The holiday season kicks off with “A Christmas Carol,” one of many events taking place in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Here are seven things you won’t want to miss this week.

Ballet Hispánico – The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance is based in New York City and aims to bring people together by celebrating and exploring Latino cultures through dance. The group, led by Eduardo Vilaro, is made up of 15 highly trained professionals performing the works of Latino choreographers from around the world and features classical ballet, Spanish and contemporary dance forms. Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Saroyan Theatre. $32-$65. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0052CD9CF540C0.

‘A Christmas Carol’ – Christmas Past, Present and Future hit the stage during the opening weekend for Charles Dickens’ classic and beloved fable. Scrooge, Cratchit and Tiny Tim come to life in this Good Company Players family holiday tradition with performances continuing through Dec. 23. Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Thursday. 2nd Space Theatre. $17-$20. 559-266-0660, www.2ndspacetheatre.com.

Phillip Phillips – The singer and songwriter rose to fame as the winner of the 11th season of “American Idol.” He released the song “Home” after his win and it became the all-time best-selling song from the show’s performers. He will play with special guest Landry Cantrell in this Adventist Health-exclusive event that benefits the Central Valley Health Foundation. Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Hanford Fox Theatre. $63-$153. 559-584-7823, www.foxhanford.com.

Old Town Flea Market – If you love all things vintage then this is your weekend. The two-day market features several vendors who have hand-selected goods, including repurposed art and furniture, urban and antique treasures, jewelry and clothing and more. Get a sneak peak at the goods during the early bird admission from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Clovis Rodeo Grounds. $5-$10. www.oldtownflea.com.

Merchants Lunch and Country Store – California’s oldest Armenian church celebrates 120 years of ministry at its annual harvest season community lunch with the theme “Love Christ, Love Others, Make Disciples.” Meals include beef or chicken kebabs and a variety of side dishes and are available for dine-in, take-out or drive-thru. Get an early start on holiday shopping at the Country Store where you can find Armenian delicacies like bottled grape leaves or the 496-page cookbook, “A Hundred Years and Still Cooking,” with recipes for over 600 ethnic dishes. Details: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday. First Armenian Presbyterian Church. $15. 559-237-6638.

Fall Home Improvement Show – It seems like summer just ended and fall arrived but it’s never too early to get a jump start on your home spring projects. Get tips and ideas on remodeling and decorating and meet licensed and insured contractors, merchants and vendors. The event also features a gourmet food fair, for serving up during the holidays or gift-giving. Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Fresno Fairgrounds. $8, $4 seniors, free to ages 12 and under. 800-897-7899, www.fresnoshows.com/hishowinformation.

Murs – Born Nicholas Carter, the Los Angeles rapper became the emcee for hip hop group Living Legends in 1996. After a mostly independent career, he signed with Tech N9ne’s record label, Strange Music, in 2014 and released his latest album, “Captain California,” earlier this year. Fun fact: Murs set a Guinness World Record for rapping 24 hours non-stop in 2016 during a live stream. Details: 8 p.m. Thursday. Strummer’s Club. $16. 559-485-5356, www.strummersclub.com.

This story was originally published November 2, 2017 at 11:00 AM with the headline "This week’s top entertainment – Theater, ballet & 120 years of ministry."