A Heartfelt Holiday Saturday 30 Irish American singer-songwriter Maxine Linehan's solo show, This Time of Year, was written, recorded and premiered in the Green Mountain State. Now hailed as a holiday tradition, the concert is less about tinsel and more about tone, inviting listeners at Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester to examine the sometimes stifling season through a lens of love, loss and longing. String Fling Saturday 30 No Strings Marionette's new production, Quill and Foyle's Hasty Composure, at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph uses puppets, scenery and a live score to tell the tale of twins who muster the courage to discover their life's purpose. The original show features a bevy of notable names in music, including Vermont composer Paul Perley and Hadestown bassist Rob Morse. Lovely Branches Friday 29 Burlington's annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony returns to brighten faces and spirits. This festive display features the usual pomp, including classic carols and a performance of "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (more commonly known by its catchy lede, "'Twas the night before Christmas"), culminating in 100,000 bulbs beaming up the 30-foot gargantuan evergreen. Crank It Up Friday 29 & Saturday 30 Sandglass Theater presents A Rafter of Crankies at Green Mountain Orchards in Putney as its charming offering for the town's craft tour weekend. "What's a cranky?," you might ask. It's a panoramic painting that scrolls across a backlit box, evoking a comic strip come to life. Combined with song and story, it's an unmissable folk tradition. Banjo's Best Saturday 30 Local legend Tom Banjo mounts an old-timey Family Variety Show at Four Corners Schoolhouse in East Montpelier, flanked by internationally renowned storyteller Tim Jennings and musical trio Sanctuary Mutts. The three dynamic acts coalesce for a high-octane evening showcasing captivating characters, concertina classics, superb strumming and traditional tales. Got the Axe Saturday 30 Revered Grammy-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny brings his Dream Box/MoonDial tour to the historic Paramount Theatre in Rutland. Throughout Metheny's multi-decade career, he's performed with a diverse roster of noteworthy musical peers, from Herbie Hancock to David Bowie. No matter the era or genre, the virtuoso's versatility remains unmatched. Tech-Free Technique Through Saturday 30 Abstract painter and environmental activist Kasey Child's "Touch Sand, Touch Snow, Turn Off Your Phone" exhibition at Front Four Gallery in Stowe uses boisterous brushwork, impressionistic compositions and loud colors to underscore the…