WeekendWatch: The start of the holiday season

Photo courtesy Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Thanksgiving has come and gone but the holiday season is in full swing. Make the most of this first weekend of December by checking out our selection of some great events happening on campus and around the city.

Here we come a caroling: On Saturday, Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart will lead an effort to set a Boston record for the number of carolers singing, holding a holiday sing-along at the Christian Science Plaza, right across the street from Northeastern’s neighbor, famed Symphony Hall. Last year’s attempt drew more than 3,200 singers. The caroling starts at noon.

And all that jazz: Northeastern’s Center for the Arts is hosting New Orleans’ Own Hot 8 Brass Band Friday night in Blackman Auditorium, with tickets available for $5 for students with a Northeastern ID. For more than a decade, the band has played classic New Orleans street music, performing in weekly parades through New Orleans. They have been featured in the Spike Lee movie “When the Levees Broke” and the HBO series “Tremé.”

First Friday: The MFA holds its monthly First Friday gathering complete with art, snacks and music on Friday at 5:30 p.m., featuring music by the local swing band Back Bay Rhythm Makers. The event is free with admission to the museum, which itself is free for Northeastern undergraduates with a student ID.

Husky Basketball: The men’s basketball team, which already has a big win against talent-packed St. John’s University, faces Old Dominion this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Matthews Arena.

Husky Hockey: The men’s squad is away this weekend, facing future Hockey East rival Notre Dame, but the 10th-ranked women’s hockey team will host a home game against New Hampshire at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Matthews Arena.