Free show

By Forrest Caskey

NUTCRACKERS, NATIVITIES , candlelit choral processions.... Holiday cheer is everywhere – the question you may be asking yourself, once you've conquered that gift list, is "Can I afford it?" Sure, if it's free. Take advantage of the seasonal events listed below, and you might even have enough holiday cash left over for a very happy New Year. Also, see our holiday calendar listings throughout the month for more events, including loads of craft fairs with no entry fee and plenty of free entertainment.

Fillmore Street's Holiday Stroll features live street-corner jazz by folks from the neighborhood, a pet parade, and trunk shows up and down the street, featuring plenty of free grub and cocktails (as well as many last-minute gift-shopping opportunities). Sat/10, noon-8 p.m. (jazz bands 2-6 p.m.), Fillmore between Geary and Jackson, SF. www.fillmorestreetsf.com.

Over in Oakland's City Center Plaza, the West African Highlife Band celebrates Kwanzaa in song during a noon concert, followed the next week by Klez X representing Hanukkah lovers everywhere. Dec. 14 and 21, noon-1 p.m., Oakland City Center Plaza, Broadway between 12th and 14th Sts., Oakl. (510) 628-8490, www.oaklandcitycenter.com.

The Wells Fargo History Museum gives its gift to the community in the form of a free noontime performance series featuring jazz and blues vocalist Frankye Kelly and Her Quartet (Dec. 14), the above-mentioned klezmer band Klez X (Dec. 15), the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers (Dec. 16), carols by the Contra Costa Chorale (Dec. 19), Juanita Ulloa and Her Picante Ensemble "operachi" (Dec. 20), and the San Francisco City Chorus (Dec. 21). Noon-1 p.m., Wells Fargo History Museum, 420 Montgomery, SF. (415) 396-2619, www.wellsfargohistory.com.

On one very Unsilent Night this month, hundreds of music enthusiasts will congregate at Dolores Park, boom boxes and a recording by New York City composer-performer Paul Kline in hand, to create a likely unforgettable sound experience: the boom box carol. The more the merrier. Dec. 21, 6:45 p.m., Dolores Park, Dolores between 18th and 20th Sts., SF. www.philkline.com, boombox@mindspring.com.

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra closes out the holiday season with its annual free concert. Dec. 30, 8 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, SF. (415) 398-6449, www.sfchamberorchestra.org.