Don't mock it 'til you try it: The Santa Pub Crawl is one of the most fun nights of the year in downtown Salt Lake City. Accept no substitutes.---

Sure, there's a Santa fun bus Saturday, and Park City does its own Santa Pub Crawl, but the long-running downtown Santa Pub Crawl is the real deal, with more than a decade of drunken buffoonery, ornery Kris Kringles, sassy Mrs. Clauses and befuddled bartenders and cocktail waitresses in its past. Word is that this year's crawl, happening Friday night, will boast nearly 500 participants. It typically starts at O'Shucks around 7 p.m., and the Santas will then sprawl across downtown's bar scene for several hours. So, if you have a Santa suit, or can make one in a hurry, join the fun. Or simply belly up at your favorite Main Street pub and watch the insanity unfold around you--that can be just as fun. 

Elsewhere Friday night, slowcore pioneers Low headline at Kilby Court, Royal Bliss and King Niko play Liquid Joe'sFolka Dots Classic Country Christmas. and the Hive Gallery hosts the

Saturday, you have two chances to catch the multi-artist Christmas Jam at One Mind Studio. Theta Naught is playing its annual holiday show at Nobrow Coffee & Tea at 7 p.m., and old-school thrashers D.R.I. headline at Club Vegas. Over at The Urban Lounge, Spell Talk plays with Cornered by Zombies and God's Revolver.

And on Sunday, consider the finale of the Jazz Vespers series at the First Unitarian Church, featuring the Joe Muscolino Band.