The holidays are filled with arts and entertainment. Get out and see something.

TV viewers can stop watching glorified karaoke disguised as singing contests and get out of the house. There is talent right here in town and it is live.

“White Christmas” is being performed this weekend at the Lighthouse Event Center. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, with two more performances next weekend.

The New York Metropolitan Opera performs via live feed — live! — at noon Saturday at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. This one is “Un Ballo In Manschera” and is about a plot against a king. If you can’t make it, “Aida” is aired live the following Saturday.

Albert Lea High School students are set to give a holiday choir concert at 7 p.m. Monday. The band and orchestra give their holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 17.

Albert Lea Community Theatre gets in on the Christmas act next weekend with three performances of “The Soft Sounds of Christmas” at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. Dec. 16.

There are organ recitals Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church. And Sharon L. Astrup-Scott performs an advent recital at 12:15 Dec. 12 at First Lutheran Church.

See? Who needs Simon Cowell or Christina Aguilera? If you love music, it is far better when it is immediately in front of you and shared with audience members instead of through a TV set.