OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: December 17-23

_ Our crowdsourced list of the best events in Ottawa this week. You can find even more events on our Ottawa Event Calendar . _

** See also: ** New Year’s Eve events in Ottawa ** Until January 7: ** ** Christmas Lights Across Canada ** This season marks the 31st edition of Christmas Lights Across Canada. The program was launched in 1985 to highlight landmarks along Confederation Boulevard, including Parliament Hill, National Capital Commission (NCC) sites, national museums, institutions, monuments, embassies and other prominent institutions, as well as to add vibrancy to the Capital during the winter months and kick off the holiday season in Canada’s Capital Region. Notable updates this year include an increase of 100,000 lights in the Capital including a new location on MacKenzie Avenue, and a winter lightscape projection show that will be presented on Parliament buildings every night from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. _ (Sponsored) _ ** Thursday, December 17: Chrysalis Zine re-launch ** December 17 at 7:00 pm. Raw Sugar, 692 Somerset W. Chris Johnson & Marilyn Irwin _ – Amanda Earl , Bywords _ ** Friday, Dec 18: Amos The Transparent Holiday Show @ Zaphods ** ATT performs their Annual Holiday Show featuring their orchestral, moody, folk-inspired, indie-pop along the lines of Elliott Smith, Wilco & Broken Social Scene. Throw in some well-known “undercovers” by Bruce Springsteen, and other well-respected artists, and it promises to be this season’s favourite party. _ – Eugene Haslam _ ** Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19-20: ** ** Jim Bryson’s Annual Holiday Type Shows ** Every year around this time, Jim Bryson takes over the Blacksheep Inn for his annual holiday concerts. This is a great tradition that you should check out at least once. On Saturday, he’ll be joined by C&C Surf Factory and on Sunday, Megan Hamilton will be the opener. And he’s just released a new holiday-themed song called Half Price. Give it a listen . _ – Ryan Bresee , CKCU’s Whatever’s Cool With Me _ ** Sunday, Dec 20: Screening of Christmas Vacation ** What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with this Christmas classic! At the Hintonburg Public House. _ – Laura Gauthier _ ** Sunday, December 20: Monkey Around Christmas Party ** Santa will be there from 11:00AM- 1:00PM! For ages 1 year old and up.  1 to 2 year olds $6 + HST3 and up $12 + HSTAdults are free _ – Sara-Lynne Levine, Macaroni Kid Ottawa _ ** December 17 to January 3: Canadian Geographic Wildlife Photography of the Year ** Take a break from the holiday rush and go see some wildlife. The winning photos from the 2014 Canadian Geographic Wildlife Photography of the Year contest are on display at the Canadian Museum of Nature. The Museum is also showing Wild Canada, part of the Planet Earth series, with vistas that are sure to inspire you. (Check out the Museum’s cool activities involving wildlife of the bug variety, too.) _ – Denise Deby , Green Living Ottawa _ _ For more events, check out ottawastart.com/events/ … or add your event via ottawastart.com/start/ _