5 things to do this weekend

1. DAYTON IS FOR LOVERS

It's been awhile since Hawthorne Heights has played a hometown show. So for Nov. 20, they're doing it big. The nationally renowned rock band is hosting "Dayton Is For Lovers: A Gem City Music Festival." The all-ages musical showcase at the "Old" Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St., will feature nine local acts ranging from well-established to virtually unknown, including Good English, Arms Race and Jasper the Colossal, with Hawthorne Heights closing out the night.

2. BEER-RY CHRISTMAS

Because it's the most wonderful time for a beer! The winter season holds many gifts for beer lovers in the form of big, bold ales designed to fend off the cold chill of a long winter's night. From Belgians and Barleywines to Stouts and Sours, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors.This inaugural Beer-ry Christmas event will gather up a couple dozen of these winter warmers for a joyous holiday celebration to benefit the House of Bread, a non-profit community kitchen serving hot, nutritious, lunchtime meals to those in need. The event, the first of several early holiday events this week, will take place from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Kettering Tower Lobby, 40 N. Main St., Dayton. The cost is $22.

3. RANDY HOUSER

It has been seven months since Randy Houser released his current single, "We Went," but he is still getting plenty of mileage out of the song. The tale of lovers on the run from the law was a Top 20 country hit for the singer from Mississippi and the lead track from his forthcoming album. Houser, currently out on the "We Went Tour," performs with Frankie Ballard and special guest Craig Campbell at Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Cost: $30-$50. Call 937-339-2911 or visit www.hobartarena.com.

4. CHRISTMAS IN SPRINGBORO

Who doesn't want an excuse to celebrate Christmas early? Christmas in Historic Springboro, the biggest weekend-long holiday festival, is back for its 29th year. It kicks off Friday, Nov. 20 and continues until Sunday, Nov. 22. This year's theme is "Bicentennial Christmas," and the massive holiday festival encompasses all seven blocks of historic downtown Springboro. The festival will include shopping in hundreds of heated craft booths, a parade, a 5K, holiday music, children's events and more.

5. DAYTON OPERA

Many opera fans consider lead soprano Yunah Lee to be the quintessential Butterfly of our time, having performed the lead in "Madame Butterfly" with more than two dozen opera companies. She will once again embody the iconic role when Dayton Opera presents this Puccini classic at the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton, on Friday and Sunday, Nov. 20 and 22. "Madame Butterfly," which premiered in 1904, tells the love story of a young Japanese woman and her new husband, an American sailor. Lee is making her first appearance with Dayton Opera. Tenor John Pickle, in the role of Lt. B.F. Pinkerton, made his Dayton Opera debut in 2014. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $24-$94. Call 937-228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

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