2 pm: Auction

The two-day Vintage Denim Apparel Auction at the Pasadena Center will feature a variety of blue jeans and other denim apparel, including authentic Levi’s, Lee and Wrangler western pants, leather motorcycle jackets, Nike sports shoes, bandannas and posters, and hard-to-find items such as Alcatraz prison jackets.

* Vintage Denim Apparel Auction, Pasadena Center Conference Building, Room 207-208, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Friday preview, 2-5 p.m.; auction, 5 p.m.; Saturday preview, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; auction, 2 p.m. $10 (includes catalog). (626) 793-2122.

8 pm: Dance

Los Angeles Classical Ballet pumps up the special effects in its revised staging of “The Nutcracker” through Christmas Eve at the Long Beach Terrace Theater in the Convention and Entertainment Center. In this 14th annual slate of performances, the company dances to tape, but Andrei Ivanov of the Kirov Ballet guests as the Nutcracker Prince, and little Clara flies through the air more than ever.

* “The Nutcracker,” Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., $16-49. (213) 365-3500. Also Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Dec. 18-19, 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2 p.m.; Dec. 23, 8 p.m.; Dec. 24, 2 p.m.

8 pm: Music

This time of year brings many performances of George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, “Messiah,” but the Southern California Early Music Society’s Sing for Handel Messiah is a performance with a difference. Proceeds from the sing-along concert will go to benefit the Handel House Trust in its current restoration of Handel’s house and development of Britain’s Handel Museum, where Handel lived and wrote the “Messiah.” Russell Fox will conduct the Bel Canto Symphony Orchestra and soloists Kris Gould, Katja Nicolai, Daniel Plaster and James Koenig, as well as the audience as chorus.

* Sing for Handel Messiah, Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. $20-$75. Doors open at 7 p.m. (310) 358-5967.

8:15 pm: Pop Music

Alejandro Fernandez, the son of legendary ranchera singer Vicente Fernandez, who appeared here last month, has moved away from the music of his father on his recent CD, “Me Estoy Enamorando,” and taken on the likes of Julio Iglesias with a pop-styled Latin album that’s sure to make the much-loved heartthrob even more popular. But don’t worry. Onstage, Fernandez combines pop tunes and ranchera music and, appropriately enough, sings Frank Sinatra’s hit “A Mi Manera” (My Way).

* Alejandro Fernandez, Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City. $54.40-$56.90. Also Saturday. (818) 622-4440.

all day Movies

As if there aren’t enough choices at the corner cineplex, this week’s openings offer something for just about everyone: New York humor from Woody Allen (“Deconstructing Harry”); thrills and chills from Wes Craven (“Scream 2”); kid gags from John Hughes (“Home Alone 3”) and serious drama from Steven Spielberg (“Amistad”).

* “Deconstructing Henry” will open Friday in limited release. “Scream 2” and “Home Alone 3” will open Friday in wide release. “Amistad” opened Wednesday in limited release.

2 pm: Family

The tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and the Lady Washington and their crews will provide tours and educational voyages about maritime history, now through Feb. 17, at several coastal cities. These replicas of 18th century merchant vessels will arrive Friday at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro, at 2 p.m. Public tours begin at 3 p.m.

* Tall ships tours and educational voyages, Los Angeles Maritime Museum, at the end of 6th Street, Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro. The ships will remain in San Pedro through Dec. 21. Other stops: Long Beach, Shoreline Village, Dec. 22-Jan. 4; Los Angeles Maritime Museum, Jan. 5-18; Dana Point, Orange County Marine Village, Jan. 21-25; Marina del Rey, Fisherman’s Village, Feb. 10-17. Fees range from $1 to $40 for programs, seven days a week. (800) 356-2972.

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FREEBIE: Xtet Ensemble performs at Harbor College in Wilmington, 8 p.m. (310) 374-2141.