NOV. 16
Capitol Opera Richmond’s inaugural performance of Puccini’s famous love story “La Boheme” will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 16-17 at Henrico Theatre, 305 E. Nine Mile Rd. The concert will feature local artists and the Greater Richmond Children’s Choir. Music will be sung in Italian with English subtitles. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students. For details, call 328-4491.
***
D.S. Freeman High School, 8701 Three Chopt Rd., will present “Moon Over Buffalo” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16-17. Ken Ludwig’s madcap comedy looks at life and love in the theatre. It is the play that brought Carol Burnett back to Broadway after 30 years in 1995. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. For details, call 673-3700.
***
Santa will arrive at 6 p.m. in the Main Plaza at Short Pump Town Center for the mall’s grand illumination. A parade will feature The Gingerbread Boy, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Frosty, toy soldiers, Santa’s Elves and, of course, Santa and the Snow Princess. Following the parade, Santa and some of his special friends will illuminate the 50-foot Holiday Tree with more than 50,000 twinkling lights. Magic wands, for children 10 and under, will be distributed at Guest Services while supplies last. For details, visit http://www.shortpumpmall.com .
***
The Taters, winners of Billboard Magazine’s Critic’s Choice, will perform at 8 p.m. at McCooks Lakeside Sports Grill, 5516 Lakeside Ave. The Taters play “roots-pop,” an eclectic blend of power-pop and country roots similar to the styles of the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and the Beatles. For details, call 266-2717.

NOV. 17
The first-ever Tree Lighting Toast at The Shops at Willow Lawn will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Willow Lawn Plaza. Get into the holiday spirit with wine tastings, free photos with Santa, arts and crafts, giveaways, merchant specials and more. Silly Bus, Jonathan the Juggler and Kurt Stemhagen will provide entertainment. Admission is free; wine tasting fee is $5. For details, visit http://www.willowlawn.com .
***
Learn more about Thanksgiving 1863 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Meadow Farm Museum, 3400 Mountain Rd. Admission is free. For details, call 501-2130 or visit http://www.henricorecandparks.com .
***
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s “Give Thanks. Walk” family-friendly 5k will take place at 9:30 a.m. in North Shore Commons at Innsbrook, 4951 Lake Brooke Dr. There will be fun activities for kids, entertainment and awards for highest fundraisers. Monies raised will support the life-saving mission of St. Jude. Registration is free. For details, visit http://tinyurl.com/aovj53h .

NOV. 18
The University of Richmond will present a Global Sounds Concert at 3 p.m. in Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music. This family-friendly concert will feature Japanese, Indonesian, West African, Indian and Brazilian music with dance performances by local and visiting music ensembles. Admission is free and no tickets are required. For details, call 289-8277 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
***
Laurel Hill United Methodist Church, 1919 New Market Rd., will host a fundraiser in honor of Henrico resident Jill Tromba, who has been battling cancer for four years, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Products from 31 Gifts, Pampered Chef, Premier Jewelry and other vendors will be available for purchase. All consultants’ profits support the Tromba family during the holiday season. For details, and how to order products if unable to attend, call Ashley Steininger at 339-0141 or Kasey Warren at 310-6305.
***
The 2012 Book Fair at the Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Ave., continues with author Ellen Fischer at 9:30 a.m. She will read her children’s book “The Count’s Hanukkah Countdown,” in which Grover and the Count welcome visiting Israeli Muppet friends Brosh and Avigail while learning that eight is the perfect Hanukkah number. There will be a yummy Sesame Street character themed breakfast. Admission is $3 per person; family max is $10. For details, call Lisa Looney at 545-8608 or visit http://www.weinsteinjcc.org