The Lighthouse Event Center is putting a new twist on a holiday Christmas classic this weekend with four live performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A radio show.”

“It’s like the Jimmy Stewart movie, but it’s a play and all of the actors are onstage in the 1940s, reading from scripts into microphones,” said director Gordy Handeland.

He said the same characters from the movie are featured in the play, but instead of physically acting out the parts as performed in the movie, the actors will imitate people putting on a radio show in the 1940s.

The 15 local actors, ranging from age 9 to 70-plus, bring a wide range of skills and experience to the performance. A sound effects person will bring actions to life producing all different sorts of sounds, including opening and closing doors and breaking glass.

“‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is a Christmas tradition for many, and really gets people in the Christmas spirit,” said Handeland. “We’ll have the stage decorated and feature a couple of songs, with refreshments afterwards, too.”

Show times are slated at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Advance tickets are available at Hy-Vee and Stadheim Jewelers in Albert Lea, and Coffee House on Main in Austin.

The Lighthouse Event Center is located at 621 Marshall Street in Albert Lea.

Several other family friendly holiday events are sure to get everyone in the Christmas spirit this weekend, as follows:

Friday

• The Festival of Trees at the Albert Lea Art Center is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, ending Dec. 31. The Albert Lea Art Center is located at 224 S. Broadway Ave., Albert Lea.
• Leo Carey American Legion Post 56 is hosting a burger basket fundraiser from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Cost is $7 per basket and all proceeds will benefit Thorne Crest Retirement Community and the Freeborn County Humane Society.
• Relive the British Invasion with American English, the ultimate Beatles tribute band, from 7 until 9 p.m. at the Albert Lea High School auditorium. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. All proceeds will benefit Thorne Crest Retirement Community and the Freeborn County Humane Society.
• The Church of Christ-Christian will host its 17th annual drive-through live nativity from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The event is located at 1705 SE Marshall St., between Advance Auto and NAPA Auto Parts, Albert Lea. In case of inclement weather, the event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Saturday

• Enjoy fresh garden produce, fall produce, baked goods, local arts, crafts and more at the Albert Lea Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northbridge Mall.
• Youth for Christ is hosting its annual Christmas Tea, followed by a short program and luncheon, starting at 10 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church basement.
• Trinity Lutheran Church WELCA, 204 First St. NW, New Richland, will host a Christmas bazaar from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy a lunch of secret-recipe sloppy Joes, chips, dessert, pop and coffee. Shop for homemade baked goods, crafts and candy and gently-used winter clothing, accessories, decorations and more.
• Enjoy musical performances and vote for your favorite with donations during “Singing for the Stars,” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Albert Lea High School auditorium. Admission is $5 per person. All proceeds will go directly to local community members who are fighting breast cancer.
• Comedian Scott Hansen and the Stagebenders will present “Toys for Troops Comedy Tour” at 8 p.m. at TB3’s Bar & Grill in Freeborn. Tickets are $20. Proceeds will benefit families of troops.

Sunday

• The Albert Lea Community Band will perform a Christmas Concert at 1 p.m. Saturday at Northbridge Mall. LaVerne Walheim will direct the performance.
• First Lutheran Church will present John Rutter and Friends at 7 p.m. The Albert Lea Community Chorus, Southeastern Minnesota Chamber Orchestra and the First Lutheran Chamber Choir will be featured. Tickets are available at First Lutheran Church, Doyle’s Hallmark and at the door.
• The Freeborn County Historical Museum is hosting the annual Christmas Gathering from 4 to 7 p.m. Enter through the gates by the fairground arch. Admission is $1 per person. Members and children under age 11 enter free.
• Crossroads Community Hospice invites the community to the “Set Memories Aglow” tree lighting ceremony from 5 to 5:30 p.m. on the front drive of Albert Lea Medical Center. The tree will remain lit through the holiday season.