Although many arts groups are using the next week or two to gear up for holiday productions, there's still plenty going on, including a couple of exciting musical events happening this weekend on campus at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Friday night, Whistling Swan Productions presents locally grown bluegrass band Bearfoot at 7:30 p.m. in the Wendy Williamson Auditiorium. Bearfoot will perform songs from its latest album, "Doors and Windows," in the band's only Anchorage show this winter. Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m., Alaska Pro Musica -- Mark Wolbers, clarinet; Walter Olivares, violin; and Timothy Smith, piano -- will perform Grieg's Violin Sonata in C minor, plus trios by Vanhal and Khachaturian, as well as solos and duets. Tickets for both shows ($20 for Bearfoot and $18 for Alaska Pro Musica), are available at (907) 263-2787 or www.centertix.net.

The snow's barely on the ground in Anchorage, but apparently it's time for holiday shows already. Personally, I have a hard and fast rule against breaking out holiday decorations until the day after Thanksgiving, but if you're not as uptight as I am, you can get a head start on your holiday season with UAA's production of "Christmas Belles," which opens Friday in the Mainstage Theatre at UAA's Fine Arts Building. "Christmas Belles," a comedy that UAA calls a "Christmas pageant gone wild," runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Dec. 6. Tickets ($13 for general admission, $18 for reserved seats) are available at the UAA box office or through CenterTix: (907) 263-2787 or www.centertix.net.

Speaking of getting a head start, Anchorage blogger Steve Aufrecht has launched his coverage of the Anchorage International Film Festival. The festival doesn't open until Dec. 4, but Aufrecht is already previewing this year's films. Aufrecht, who has blogged the festival since 2007, will highlight the films in competition as the festival approaches.

And as long as we're planning ahead, it's time to think about "Nutcracker" tickets. Presented by the Anchorage Concert Association and featuring the Eugene Ballet Company plus more than 100 local dancers, "The Nutcracker" will enjoy its customary short (but intense) run at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, with six performances over the course of three days on Thanksgiving weekend: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29. Tickets, $25 to $45, are available at (907) 263-2787 or www.centertix.net.

Of course, "The Nutcracker" is just the beginning; with the holidays around the corner, concerts, bazaars, recitals and events are about to blow up statewide. Make sure to add your holiday events to the Alaska Dispatch calendar.

Contact Maia Nolan at maia_alaskadispatch.com.