Best Toronto culture picks this week: ‘Krampus Ball,’ ‘Elf in Concert,’ Saint Levant and more

Saturday at the Opera House, 735 Queen St. E.
Highly anticipated for those looking to celebrate “the darker side of the holidays,” Toronto’s Krampus Ball returns for its 12th year. Audience members and performers don frightening but impressive costumes, channelling the Northern European half-goat, half-demon. Dance all night and revel in performances from Squid Lid featuring A.P.E., Projekt F, Bass Witch featuring Me Time, Trick Casket, and Inchoate with Zel Tyrant. — Asma Sahebzada
Saturday online and Sunday at the Paradise Theatre, 1006 Bloor St W.
Celebrate emerging Canadian and international filmmakers who identify as women or non-binary at this annual festival marking its 13th year. The festival is a space for under-represented filmmakers from racial minorities and creators with disabilities to showcase their short films. On Saturday, industry panels will be held remotely, allowing attendees to hear from the directors and other experts. The lineup for Sunday’s film screenings includes “Sweet Lime,” “The Future Above Us” and “Remembering Me.” Go to breakthroughsfilmfestival.com for tickets and passes. — Asma Sahebzada
Saturday and Sunday at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
It never gets tiring to watch your favourite Christmas movies, but it can be even more enjoyable to watch on the big screen while listening to a live orchestra play the soundtrack. This weekend, you can catch the 2003 film “Elf” while the Toronto Symphony Orchestra performs John Debney’s score live. — Asma Sahebzada
Monday on Crave
Soul singer Jackie Shane was a trailblazer: a Black transgender woman born in the Jim Crow-era American South who found acceptance in Toronto, where she packed clubs in the 1960s before vanishing into obscurity in 1971. This Canadian documentary about her life, which won a special jury prize at Hot Docs this year, features phone conversations with Jackie recorded before she died in 2019 and was produced by trans actor Elliot Page. — Debra Yeo
Monday at Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth Ave.
Snag a ticket, if you can, to a highly anticipated double bill at the Danforth, featuring two of the most popular international Palestinian artists: rapper Saint Levant and singer-songwriter Lina Makoul. Makoul, who spoke to the Star earlier this year, describes her music as “indie pop in Arabic,” though it might also be described as an uncategorizable blend of pop music, hip-hop, traditional Palestinian music and dabke. — Richie Assaly 
Wednesday until Dec. 21 at Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St.
Bad Dog Theatre will take up residency at Factory Theatre for a remount of “Holiday! An Improvised Musical.” As its title suggests, this comedy is woven together based on audience suggestions while also drawing inspiration from Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” Its ensemble cast include star comedians like Brandon Hackett, Aurora Browne and Ashley Botting. Last year’s musical, hosted at Assembly Theatre, was nominated for three Dora Awards, including for outstanding production. — Joshua Chong
Friday at History, 1663 Queen St. E.
Toronto indie pop band Valley is bringing home its North American tour — its first since becoming a trio — with a single stop in the city. The Juno-nominated band formed in 2014 and consists of main vocalist Rob Laska, bassist Alex Dimauro and drummer Karah James. Fans can expect the band mates to perform songs off their latest album, “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden,” which Laska says was created in just one month. — Asma Sahebzada