Top 5

Anxious about those upcoming exams? Stressed out over all of those unnecessarily large, last-minute assignments? Take pleasure in a worthwhile study break and use the opportunity to enjoy Boston one last time before the holiday break arrives. Aside from viewing the lights at the Boston Common, a wealth of exciting holiday entertainment awaits the stressed-out student this weekend. Have a holly, jolly Christmas and enjoy "the most wonderful time of the year."

With the Advent season comes Handel's Messiah. This weekend, the Boston Baroque Society, the continent's first permanent baroque orchestra, will be performing Martin Pearlman's world-renowned interpretation of the oratorio. The Boston Baroque's 1992 cast recording under founder and director Pearlman was Grammy-nominated, so this revisit on Friday and Saturday night at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall should be a special treat.

See what all of the buzz is about! The international sensation is making a pre-Christmas stop at Boston's Colonial Theatre. The performance transcends all barriers, though it lacks a plot and spoken word. Stomp uses a unique blend of percussion and dance, using objects such as garbage cans for instruments and performing an entire dance with brooms to craft an exceptionally entertaining story.

While studying here in Boston, everyone should take the opportunity at least once to venture to the American Reparatory Theatre (ART). Located in Cambridge, ART is a premier professional theater, known especially for its innovative scenery and lighting designs. Desire is ART's second production of its 2006-2007 season. Adapted from Wim Wender's 1987 German film of the same name, it is described by ART as being about "the borders, visible and invisible, that divide us."

We all know the Tchaikovsky-scored ballet based on Hoffman's classic children story. Go and celebrate Christmas early by participating in the 39th anniversary of Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker. Even if you've already seen it, you'll delight in viewing it at The Opera House, where the ballet found a permanent home last year. Already have evening activities planned? No need to worry. Matinees are performed on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Come to Gasson 100 and enjoy yourself at the 20th anniversary of the Breaking the Barriers Ball, the annual semi-formal dance for which students invite faculty and staff members as their dates. The show will feature dinner and live entertainment from BC bOp! and several a capella groups. Tickets are only $10, and all proceeds will benefit the Carol DeMiti Stuart Foundation.