A Josh Blue Christmas

Thursday-Saturday: Nationally headlining comic and proud Denver son Josh Blue’s holiday show returns to Comedy Works’ downtown location this weekend with shows Thursday, Dec. 21, through Saturday, Dec. 23. The expert chronicler of human behavior is alternately loopy, self-effacing, shockingly inappropriate and heartfelt (sometimes all at once).

Shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 1226 15th St. in Denver. Tickets: $30. All shows are 21-and-up. Tickets: $30 via comedyworks.com

Golden Age animation, brought to life

Friday: If you’re a fan of classic animation, “The Queen’s Cartoonists” is for you. The jazz-rooted group plays original music synced to projected images from the Gold Age of cartoons, but also shares anecdotes about the cartoons, the composers, “stream-of-consciousness humor and elements of a musical circus.” The cheeky theme? “Holiday Hurrah: Yule Love It!”

The all-ages show, which also plays Breckenridge Dec. 21, comes to the Lakewood Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at 470 S. Allison Parkway in Lakewood. Tickets, of which there are only a few left, are $25-$50. Call 303-987-7845 or visit lakewood.org/lccpresents.

“Poky Little Puppy” and other classics

Through Feb. 8: Related to the Queen’s Cartoonists: Denver Botanic Gardens’ ongoing “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Book,” which runs through Feb. 18, 2024. “Colorful, mid-century illustrations from the Little Golden Books series are featured … including ‘The Poky Little Puppy’ illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones and ‘Chicken Little’ illustrated by Richard Scarry,” programmers wrote.

The exhibition includes 36 works on paper, first-edition copies of Golden Books and a reading nook. Included with general admission, with illustration classes available. $7.50-$15, botanicgardens.org/tickets-log

A Christmas-horror classic

Friday-Saturday: Anyone who’s seen the original “Black Christmas” knows the 1974 horror film launched countless imitators in its depiction of sorority girls and their stalking by a phone-happy psycho. And yet hardly any of the lookalikes capture the panic-inducing precision of “Black Christmas,” which stars 1970s luminaries Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder and Andrea Martin.

Sie FilmCenter is screening the movie exclusively on Friday, Dec. 22, and Saturday, Dec. 23, to offer respite from the forced-smile family confabs of the holiday season. Regardless of the weather, there’s an excellent chance of chilled bones. Showings at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23 at 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Tickets: $14 via denverfilm.eventive.org