THURS–SUN 12/8–11

CAIRO'S EXPO 89 FEST

It's time for the winter festival, everyone. Who needs sunglasses and sunburns when you've got Cairo—which literally means "triumphant"? Rain-soaked realities aside, EXPO Fest is now four years running and ready to add some win to a chilled-out weekend. Starting off Thursday with a night of "After Dark"–themed film and ending Sunday night with music from King Dude and Tiny Vipers, the weekend stays reverb-heavy and saturated with glyphs. I'm personally stoked on former Wet Paint frontwoman Jamey Braden's "genre-defying" performance art installation deemed "UMMM... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Cranking out Cairo faves like the jangly/jungle-y Stephanie, the fest also features Hozac Recs' garage revivalists Idle Times and Portland-based psychedelic drone artist White Rainbow. Cairo, varying times, free–$8 depending on event.

SATURDAY 12/10

DIY HOLIDAY FAIR

Beginning at the recently defunct all-ages venue Healthy Times Fun Club (RIP) in 2007, Hollow Earth Radio spawned the first Holiday Fair. Four years later, it's grown and we're all so proud. Now held at the Vera Project with more local crafters, zinesters, and record labels than ever. Bring a shirt and have it screen-printed (or learn to do it yourself) with a design from one of several featured artists for $5 as part of Bring It Screen It. Create a song at the "surrealist songwriting" booth (think Exquisite Corpse). Check out some up-and-coming labels: ggnzla Records, Debacle Records, Lost Sound Tapes, and Off Tempo will all be ho-ho-here. Ambience provided via the psychotropic beats of OC Notes and new doo-wop band Nod and the Hobgoblins, as well as riveting sets from HER DJ's (cough—I will be doing one). Not only does it benefit two of Seattle's most deserving all-ages spaces, it's a chance to fill up those stockings with some handy relics of anti-corporate production. Who knows, your grandma might even like that noise cassette you got her. Vera Project, 11 am–5 pm, free.