You can talk about music, or lectures, or theater, but all anyone cares about today is the new Harry Potter flick and its related parties. Not that there's anything wrong with that.---

I've completely missed the boat on Harry Potter for a couple reasons. One, I'm old enough to be beyond the demographic a few years (although there are a disconcerting number of folks my age who are totally geeking over Harry). And two, I'm child-free. But I get that it's a phenomenon, and I'm in favor of anything that gets kids reading. So party on, Potter geeks! 

Tonight, you can join your fellow Pot(ter)heads at the Clark Planetarium for one premiere party from 8 to 11:30 p.m.

There are a couple of Christmas-themed events going on as well. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is performing two shows today at EnergySolutions Arena, and the Desert Star Theatre pokes fun at the season with The Bi-Polar ExpressOver in West Valley City, the Utah Cultural Celebration Center is hosting an opening party for its Trees of Diversity show. at its Murray Theater.

And if you're looking for something a little more educational, and classy, consider a trip to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, where curator Jill Dawsey is hosting a conversation with the museum's latest salt II artist, Sophie Whetnall, at 6 p.m.