Going out

Holiday Pops: Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops kick off "Happy Holidays from the Pops," the orchestra's annual holiday extravaganza, with Broadway star Lee Roy Reams and a cast full of dancers, choirs and puppets. Oh, and you can have your picture taken with Santa's helper 90 minutes before show time in the lobby ($6). 8 p.m. today, repeating at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. $17.50-$48-50. 381-3300.

All gospel: Cincinnati Black Theater Company celebrates the birth of Christ with song, dance and mime. Written by Langston Hughes, Black Nativity is a gospel musical designed to make your feet stomp, hands clap and spirit move. Opens 8 p.m. today and continues weekends through Dec. 21, Xavier University Gallagher Center Theater, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston. $18. 421-1100.

Jazz lessons: Cammy-winning blues-rocker Kelly Richey has been expanding her horizons, studying jazz guitar. Tonight at Mr. Pitiful's, she'll show off her new sound with a different sort of trio, the Billy Larkin Experience featuring Brad Elliot on drums. Music starts around 9 p.m.; no cover, 1323 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 369-0202.

Last call: Victorian Holiday Village comes to life with thousands of twinkling lights, miniature-sized, decorated Victorian-style homes and buildings, a vocal quintet, cocoa, cookies, photos and costumed characters. 6-8:30 p.m. today and Friday, then it closes. Located on the grounds of Ohio National Financial Services at I-71 and Pfeiffer Road, free. 794-6254.

Bengals pep rally

Give a cheer: Now that it's OK to be a Bengals fan again, Channel 19 is throwing them a party. And televising it. It's a giant pep rally at Gameworks at Newport on the Levee with contests (best display of Bengals pride gets two tickets for the sold-out San Francisco game Sunday), an interactive component that will put your picture on TV and a whole batch of local celebs. 7 p.m. Saturday, free. 421-1919.

Planning ahead

24 hours out: It's Christmas with a Latin flavor with a night full of music by Latin X-posure, Salsa Caliente, Son del Carbie, Tropicoso and Zumba. 8 p.m. Friday, 20th Century, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 351-7222.

Also 24 hours out: Cincinnati Baroque tackles the most beloved of Christmas numbers, Handel's gigantic Messiah. 7 p.m. Friday, Our Lady of Lourdes, 2832 Rosebud Drive, Westwood. $25, $17 seniors, $5 students. 351-1615.

48 hours out: Bogart's cranks it up for three top local bands, the three finalists in 97Xposure band contest. Cari Clara, the Spectacular Fantastic and Emily Strand will each play a 45-minute set with the winner to be announced at the end of the evening. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, 281-8400; www.bogarts.com.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail: jknippenberg@enquirer .com; fax: 768-8330.