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Do It! Mayday Parade, Gingerbread Fest, more

TUESDAY, DEC. 4

The bright sound of alternative rock band Mayday Parade will fill the Republik

Alternative rock band Mayday Parade drops in at the Republik on Tuesday.

The Tallahassee, Fla.-based group has become a regular on the Vans Warped Tour, playing four of the last six tours to a loyal following. Though its sound is bright and clear and lead vocalist Derek Sanders has a soaring tenor, the band doesn’t mind taking a look at the darker side. Songs in the band’s repertoire include “When I Get Home, You’re So Dead,” and “I’d Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About.” Its latest video, “Stay,” is about the agony of watching a drug overdose victim undergo emergency treatment.

Mayday Parade formed in 2006. Its first EP release, “Tales Told by Dead Friends,” was released independently but earned the band a record deal. The albums “A Lesson in Romantics” in 2007, “Anywhere but Here” in 2009 and a self-titled album in 2011 followed. Mayday Parade was named “Hardest Working Band” in 2010 by website Songkick, citing its 194 concerts that year.

Bassist Jeremy Lenzo, guitarists Alex Garcia and Brooks Betts, and drummer Jake Bundrick join Sanders in the band.

Opening act is We Are the In Crowd.

Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Cost: $30-$40; $25-$35 in advance. All ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Info: groovetickets.com or 855-235-2867

FRIDAY, NOV. 30

Waikiki events honor city’s ties with Morocco

“Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”

And here’s lookin’ at Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, right, in the classic war romance “Casablanca.” A screening of the film highlights a Sunset on the Beach event today that celebrates Honolulu’s ties with Morocco.

The city formed a relationship with Morocco in 1999 during an international conference here, which has blossomed into a sister-state relationship. As a symbol of those ties, the king of Morocco gave a fountain to the Hawaii State Art Museum, and this week has been declared His Majesty King Mohammed VI Week in Hawaii.

At Sunset on the Beach, Waikiki visitors can experience Moroccan culture, with Moroccan food from The Spot and Pacific Catering, and Moroccan music from two bands, one from California and another here from Morocco.

The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is hosting a tented exhibit of Moroccan handicrafts. Artisans are on hand to demonstrate and explain their products through Sunday. A second exhibit of photography showcasing the region of Rabat by Bouregreg Agency will also be showcased.

“Morocco has become very fashionable,” spokeswoman Rose Medina said, noting that many retailers carry Moroccan-influenced housewares. “Celebrities are traveling there in droves. Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey, they all travel to Morocco.”

Where: Queen’s Beach, Waikiki

When: Entertainment starts at 4:30 p.m., movie at 7 p.m.

Cost: Free

Info: sunsetonthebeach.net, royalhawaiiancenter.com/events

SUNDAY, DEC. 2

Get creative with family at Gingerbread Festival

Designing and building a house is often a question of good taste, but Sunday’s 13th Annual Gingerbread Family Festival will be a matter of what tastes good.

The festival, at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall, invites families to build their own gingerbread house as a fundraiser for Easter Seals. In the years since its inception, it’s grown from a small event to include hundreds of families.

Kits are $39. Tables will be set up at the Blaisdell for construction projects.

We’re talking a bit more than Hansel and Gretel here. Kits include precut pieces of gingerbread and decorative items such as animal crackers, gummies and icing. Meanwhile, people have been known to bring their own extras, as if furnishing a dollhouse.

Then there are the mansionlike structures that come out of the festival competitions, one for community groups and another for professional chefs.

Two years ago the chef’s winner was a replica of Iolani Palace, with working lights included. “All these kind of things are going on at the same time,” said spokeswoman Chimaine Poteau. “They’ll be taking pictures with Santa. It’s kick-off-the-holidays kind of thing, very festive.”

Look for a demonstration of robotics by Punahou and ‘Iolani school teams, too, along with demonstrations of technology for the disabled. Punahou is bringing along a robot that shoots basketballs, and participants can help feed the machine.

Where: Blaisdell Center, Exhibition Hall

When: Two sessions: 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 pm. Sunday

Cost: $39 for kit

Info: eastersealshawaii.org or call Kristen Ribilla at 529-1708

SUNDAY, DEC. 2

Toy drive includes food, music and polo

Polo players will saddle up the ponies for a good cause and to honor a respected North Shore community activist Sunday.

Operation Toy Box will collect toys for underprivileged families in the area. “It’s something they do every year, to collect toys for needy children in the North Shore area,” said spokeswoman Ruth Limtiaco. “There’s always a band, so it’s kind of a kickoff for the holidays.”

This year’s toy drive pays tribute to its founder, the late Ron Valenciana. Valenciana was the organizer of the Haleiwa Food Bank, pastor of Once-a-Month Church and publisher of the North Shore News, a community newsletter. He died this summer.

Food, beverages, music and holiday decorations will add to the festivities, and there’s a halftime show by Skydive Hawaii.

Where: Hawaii Polo Club, 68-539 Farrington Highway

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Cost: General admission $10 ($5 with toy donation), $25 for clubhouse seating

Info: www.hawaii-polo.org or 226-0061