Holiday season is a busy time, and with the recent launch of Disney+, most of us are spending our downtime huddled in front of our phones re-watching Hannah Montana or the new Star Wars: The Mandalorian epic to de-stress.

Guilty as charged.

However, the holidays are also the perfect time to support local plays, music concerts and more.

Lamar State College Port Arthur is presenting ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,” Friday and Saturday. The Port Arthur Little Theatre is showing “A Twisted Christmas Carol,” for two consecutive weekends starting Nov. 29 as well as “A Christmas Variety Show,” starting Dec. 13.

While nothing may beat the original Christmas movies like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman,” performers work hard over their holiday break to provide the community with new and fun shows during the hustle and bustle of shopping, gift wrapping and travel.

Try taking a break from the stress and visit a local theater for some entertainment and laughs.

The Nederland High School Jazz Band is performing with Lamar University for a joint holiday concert Thursday evening. Port Arthur and Port Neches-Groves school district bands will also have their own variations for holiday concerts.

If you’re driving in your car from place to place and the original Christmas tunes on the radio are relentlessly drumming in your ear, take a break from Mariah Carey’s top charting “White Christmas” this year to see a high school provide a new style of holiday music. There are options from traditional to jazz and orchestra for everyone’s musical tastes.

The talents of Nederland’s own Tim Foust from Home Free is also making a stop in Mid-County for a holiday concert at the Performing Arts Center on campus, Dec. 1. Carmen Bradford will be accompanying the Symphony of Southeast Texas for a “Home for the Holidays” concert Dec. 8 at the Julie Rogers Theatre.

There is so much to see and do during the holiday season. Make a couple of those stops local and support students, actors, musicians and homegrown celebrities showcase their talents across Mid- and South County.

Cassandra Jenkins is a reporter for The Port Arthur News. She can be reached at cassie.jenkins@panews.com.