Holiday Happenings: Lights, music, and performances kick off the festive season

The holiday season will be in full swing starting this month with concerts, plays, opera, visits with Santa, and illuminated landscapes. Atlanta OperaPulitzer Prize-winning “Silent Night” will run from Nov. 7 to Nov. 15. Based on the film “Joyeux Noël,” the story takes place during World War I on Christmas Eve, when opposing forces lay down weapons, come together around a makeshift tree to sing carols, and play soccer matches. Later in the year, the Opera will host “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” from Dec. 2 to Dec. 27. Get tickets for both shows at atlantaopera.org.  Garden Lights, Holiday NightsThe Atlanta Botanical Garden is hosting the 16th annual “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” Nov. 14 to Jan. 10. The grounds will be illuminated with thousands of lights, with expanded displays along Flower Walk, and new choreography for Nature’s Wonders, the world’s largest curtain of light and sound. Tickets usually sell out fast, so get yours at atlantabg.org.  Rudolph the R