The best events and releases to get you in the mood for the holiday season.

We don’t know about you, but we’ve seen lots of twinkling lights about, a fair few pointy trees, and an abundance of ermine trim... Could it be? Yes, it could. Christmas is nearly upon us, but before you fall into a cheap-chocolate-and-schmaltzy-television-induced coma, here is our list of festive(ish) things – from films to markets to ballets – that are still to be done, wherever you are in the world.

Unleash your inner Mr Frank Sinatra on the Clore Ballroom in London’s Royal Festival Hall with this chance to croon along with a live 10-piece big band. The stuff of dreams, or maybe nightmares, but guaranteed to be entertaining. Especially after a few drinks.

17 December, London southbankcentre.co.uk

The festive album phenomenon may be petering out (and probably for good reason), but if you’re a traditionalist, Las Vegas band The Killers are keeping the yuletide flame burning with a new record that collects together the Christmas singles they’ve released annually for the last decade for AIDS charity (RED). In other good news: at least it’s not Slade.

Released 9 December on CD thekillersmusic.com

Every town in Europe has a Christmas market these days with mulled wine – or gluhwein, or vin chaud – by the barrelful, but we’re especially charmed by the one at Gothenburg’s former 17th-century armory, which sells local wares with plenty of glögg to enjoy as you browse.

**Now until 23 December, Gothenburg goteborg.com **

Even though future Christmasses may see us all locked in our individual VR headsets, for now we can still enjoy the communal experience of cinema and the annual festive blockbuster. Step forward Rogue One, the very first Star Wars movie spin-off (or “story”, it says here) starring British actors Ms Felicity Jones and Mr Riz Ahmed. The perfect excuse to get out of the house when the relatives become a little too intense.

Released on 15 December (UK) and 16 December (US) starwars.com

You may have seen phony Santas in acrylic beards, but how about eyeliner moustaches? It can only be legendary Hairspray director and raconteur Mr John Waters, who should make a deliciously Nasty St Nick as he takes on Christmas in a one-man show.

17 December, Berklee Performance Center, Boston berklee.edu

There’s probably a production of The Nutcracker happening simultaneously in every city around the world right now, but this 1954 production of Mr Tschaikovsky’s ballet – complete with its famous fast-growing one-tonne Christmas tree – is hard to beat.

Now until 31 December, New York City nycballet.com

Who doesn’t like to watch a favourite old movie at this time of year? And yes, It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle On 34th Street are always charming, but so is this 30th-anniversary reissue of Mr David Lynch’s ear-severing freakfest, which is showing in British cinemas once again. Rejoice!

Reissued on 2 December in the UK

As the nights draw in, it’s great to hunker down and get stuck into some home viewing. As usual, Netflix has plenty of exciting new offerings, but this biopic of the early years of President Barack Obama is our pick. A time to reflect, if ever there was one.

Available to stream on 16 December netflix.com

Sapporo has a few claims to fame – there’s the eponymous beer, and, of course, shiroi koibito biscuits – but at this time of year we’re interested in the fact that it becomes a beacon (literally) as 520,000 bulbs in and around Odori Park transform Japan’s fourth largest city to spectacular effect.

**Now until 14 March, Sapporo, Japan welcome.city.sapporo.jp **