Whether you are ready or not, the week of Christmas is at our heels.  Yes, it’s hard to believe Christmas is just about a week away!

If you are not yet in the holiday spirit, below is a list of events going on in downtown Columbus this weekend that just might help put you in the holiday mood. And if you are already are in holiday mode, these events will get you even more excited!

Attention Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo….and that heavy breather in the flowing black robe and big helmet –

This song’s for for you.

And by song, I actually mean concert.

“Star Wars: In Concert” is a unique multimedia event that combines composer John Williams’ unforgettable music, performed by a live symphony orchestra and chorus, with specially edited footage from all six Star Wars films.

Photo Credit: Miguel Vasconcellos, Orange County Register

Accompanying the concert will be an exhibit of costumes, props, production artwork and behind-the-scenes videos from the Lucasfilm Archives at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch.  Many items have been stored for as long as 30 years, unseen until they were last in front of a camera — until now.

Photo Credit: Miguel Vasconcellos, Orange County Register

The event, which began its national tour October 1 in Anaheim, California, will visit Nationwide Arena tonight!  The concert begins at 7:30 pm.

As a gal who is not too ashamed to admit she has pretended to be Princess Leia Organa fighting off Imperial Storm Troopers and Jabba the Hut (and that was just last week!) –

I am thrilled to say that I will not only be in attendance at the concert tonight….I will be filming the exhibits and conducting audience interviews on behalf of Greatest City of All and my movie site, FlickChick.TV.

Seriously…..I’m happier than a Wookiee with a cookie.  Just sayin’.

According to the event website:

I was excited to learn that Anthony Daniels, the actor who portrays C-3PO in all six films, will introduce each segment of the the two-hour show, guiding audiences through the Star Wars story in a fresh and exciting way.

This entirely new way to experience the epic Star Wars story is sure to enthrall film fans, music fans and Star Wars fans of ALL ages.

Yep, that means YOU Luke….and that wacky father of yours too!

Tickets, $35 to $75 are still available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com) or at the Nationwide Arena box office.

For more information about this truly one-of-a-kind event, visit www.StarWarsInConcert.com.

Make sure to check back here later in the week for a full report AND video from this exciting event.

And now, you know I have to say it….

“May the force be with you!”

Guest post by Adam Clark of GroovyDoodle Photography

Shadowbox Cabaret brings Holiday Hoopla back for another holiday season. Now in its 18th year, the show is better than ever and combines past favorites like “The Santa Babies” and “Dasher Returns” with brand new material.

The opening night was solid with a packed house. There were lots of hilarious moments, my favorite being “The Firstest Christmas” with Amy Lay reprising her familiar role as the hilarious child narrator. I spent nearly the entire 10 minutes of the skit in non-stop laughter along with the packed crowd. They had to pause multiple times so the laughter of the audience would die down enough to hear the actors continue. A close second was “Figgy Pudding” with July Klein as the choir director of a feisty group who, much to her dismay, won’t sing the song as instructed.

The only flop of the night was “Crazy Charlie – Merry Christmas Bitches.” Once the novelty of the introduction wore off, the rest of the skit seemed forced and the ending fell flat.

Overall, the Shadowbox cast was incredible and Holiday Hooplah XVIII is a must see this year.

Shadowbox Holiday Hoopla
Click here for more pictures

The show will run Wednesday through Sunday until January 2. Tickets range from $20-$30 and can be purchased online here. Shadowbox Cabaret is located inside Easton Town Center.

Will you be checking out the hoopla this holiday season? Have you been to a past hoopla? Let us know in the comments.

(Creative commons photo credit from Flickr: bockbilbo)

(Creative commons photo credit from Flickr: bockbilbo)

So maybe you like the fair for the concerts. Well I can;t say I blame ya. They have some great shows lined up this year. Take a look and get your tickets quickly. Oh and be sure to check the Ohio State Fair Website for any updates and information about concerts.

Here is the Ohio State Fair 2009 concert lineup.

Wednesday, July 29
Kelly Clarkson with special guest Eric Hutchinson / 7 pm / $36
Since winning season one of American Idol, superstar Kelly Clarkson has topped the charts. Her songs such
as “Since U Been Gone” and “Breakaway” have become hits both here and abroad. American singersongwriter
Eric Hutchinson’s number one radio hit “Rock & Roll” has made him a household name.

Thursday, July 30
Jeff Dunham / 7 pm / $38
Featured in Forbes and Time Magazine, hysterical ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his puppet sidekicks will
have you laughing the night away. See him perform live while you hear the best of Achmed, Bubba J, Walter
and Peanut.

Friday, July 31
Keith Sweat / 7 pm / $15
R&B legend Keith Sweat jumpstarted his career in the R&B and soul music industry with his biggest hit “I Want
Her,” which topped the charts at No. 1. Sweat’s newest CD entitled “Just Me” debuted at No. 10 in 2008.

Saturday, Aug. 1
Alice Cooper with special guest Blue Öyster Cult / 7:30 pm / $22
Rock star Alice Cooper ignites the stage with music from his new CD “Along Came a Spider.” For three
decades Blue Öyster Cult has been entertaining fans. Started in upstate New York, this classic rock band has
produced more than 20 albums and CDs.

Sunday, Aug. 2
All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir / 1 pm / Free
Four hundred top student musicians and vocalists from across Ohio will showcase their amazing talents.

Sunday, Aug. 2
Little Big Town with special guest Jamey Johnson / 7:30 pm / $23
Recently nominated for two Country Music Awards, Little Big Town is a common name in every country music
lover’s collection. Songs like “Boondocks” and “Bring it on Home” have made them popular nationwide. Joining
them on stage is Jamey Johnson, known for his recent hit song “In Color.”

Monday, Aug. 3
Relient K with special guest Everyday Sunday / 7 pm / $10
Since 1998, Christian rock band Relient K has been performing around the country and releasing albums. In
2003, these artists were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album. Special guest Everyday
Sunday will join them on stage for an all around family-friendly performance.

Tuesday, Aug. 4
The Four Aces / 1 pm / Free
For more than 50 years, The Four Aces have brought you the best of the oldies. Entertaining groups of all
ages, this quartet is sure to impress.

Tuesday, Aug. 4
Kenny Rogers & Glen Campbell / 7:30 pm / $28
American country music singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers is known for his ultimate hits including “Sweet Music
Man” and “Buy Me a Rose.” Golden Globe award winner Glen Campbell has a legendary music career
spanning five decades, achieving chart-topping success.

Wednesday, Aug. 5
Foreigner with special guest Eddie Money / 7 pm / $24
With numerous chart-topping hits and albums, Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock
acts in the world. With Eddie Money, well-known for smash hits, like “Two Tickets to Paradise,” this show is
sure to rock your world.

Thursday, Aug. 6
Demi Lovato with special guest Jordan Pruitt / 7 pm / $23
Demi Lovato, from Disney Channel’s “Sonny with a Chance” and “Camp Rock,” takes the stage performing her
recent smash hits and more. Jordan Pruitt opens the night with music from her two albums “No Ordinary Girl”
and “Permission to Fly.”

Friday, Aug. 7
Eric Benét with special guest Howard Hewett / 7 pm / $20
With Grammy nominations for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance,
soul singer, songwriter and producer Eric Benét will heat up the WCOL Celeste Center. With special guest
Howard Hewett, R&B and gospel singer, this show will melt your heart.

Saturday, Aug. 8
David Cook with special guest Green River Ordinance / 7 pm / $28
As the 2008 American Idol winner, David Cook is sure to be a crowd favorite with his breakout hits, including
“Time of My Life” and “Permanent.” Special guest Green River Ordinance will perform songs from their new
album, “Out of My Hands.”

Sunday, Aug. 9
Sale of Champions / 2 pm / Free
Celebrate with the champions of the junior fair livestock shows as they sell their prize-winning animals to the
highest bidders at the 2009 Sale of Champions.

Sunday, Aug. 9 (Crew Stadium)
Rascal Flatts with special guests Dierks Bentley & Darius Rucker / 7:30 pm / $30, $60, $75
With four chart-topping albums, Rascal Flatts has more top hits than any other group. Dierks Bentley wowed
country listeners with his new hit “Sideways,” while Darius Rucker’s song “It Won’t Be Like This For Long”
warmed the hearts of country music lovers everywhere. You don’t want to miss this dynamic line-up.

The 2009 QFM96 Budweiser Wing Zing is July 18th at the LC Pavilion. Starring PETER FRAMPTON along with Scotty Bratcher, Dan Orr Project, Frank Harrison, Willie Phoenix, & Terry Davidson & the Gears.

Tickets are on sale now for $18.00 at all Ticketmaster locations… Special ticket deal just announced… Anyone that comes to Wing Zing can buy, that day only, at the QFM96 tent one Doobie Brothers and one Lynyrd Skynyrd ticket for $25.00. Two shows for $25.00. Can’t beat a deal like that.

Is there anything better than a warm summer evening under the stars…spent with good friends, eating great food, drinking fine wine and listening to beautiful music? Well…for me, no. In fact, that evening sounds just about perfect.

Lucky for me then, I was invited by good friends to enjoy such an evening this past Saturday night — as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra kicked off their annual Picnic With The Pops outdoor summer music series with an all-time favorite of mine, Christopher Cross.

The music series spans six weeks each season and performances take place on the campus of Chemical Abstracts Service, host of Picnic With the Pops and Popcorn Pops since 1982. Picnic with The Pops annually attracts more than 70,000 people to its’ spacious lawn.

For me, the opportunity to gather with friends and family and share dinner picnic-style under the stars is not to be missed.

Picnic with the Pops draws a very popular and eclectic roster of musical talent, sure to please almost any musical taste.  Upcoming shows include Marvin Hamlisch with Broadway star Linda Eder, The Oak Ridge Boys, Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers Band and The Music of Abba. Hmmm….the Jonas Brothers must have been too busy.

As I mentioned above, I’m a huge Christopher Cross fan from way back, so I was thrilled to get this invite and pretty much sang along to every tune (my table-mates were quite understanding, to say the least!).

Seriously….I’m a wannabe karaoke queen and with award-winning hits like: Sailing, Ride Like The Wind, Think of Laura, Say You’ll Be Mine and Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)….how could I not sing?

Christopher sounded great and the large audience was very appreciative of the marvelous music and warm memories. Well, I definitely know that I was.

By the way, here’s an interesting fact: Did you know that the beautiful song Think of Laura was written for Laura Carter, a Denison University student who was killed by a stray bullet in Columbus in 1982? Cross shared that Carter was a friend of someone he was dating back then, and he wrote the song for her.

Think of Laura then became a big hit in the mid-80’s when it was used as a theme song for the character Laura Webber (of “Luke & Laura” fame) on the popular soap opera General Hospital.

(Hey, I knew that.)

OK, so if you’re like me and wish to enjoy a fun summer evening under the stars with a picnic and some beautiful music, check out the line-up for the remaining performances of the Picnic With The Pops summer music series below.

Oh, and If you do go and happen to hear someone singing loudly at a table near you…make sure to stop by and say “Hello”. I truly enjoy meeting fellow music-lovers, and I’m thinkin’ my table-mates will probably thank you for pausing my sing-along.

Just a guess.

Columbus Symphony & Picnic With The Pops – Summer Season 2009

\”Picnic With The Pops Makes Triumphant Return\” – Columbus Dispatch Review