Our daily column, 5 Things You Need to Know Today, will help you to get your day started and offer you some fodder for water cooler conversation.

1. A memorial service will take place for Christopher Weigl today at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Holliston, 725 Washington St. Weigl, 23, died suddenly Dec. 6, 2012 as a result of a tragic accident.

2. Mass Ballet's final performance of The Nutcracker is today. Featuring more than 100 local dancers, the curtain rises at 1 at Lincoln-Sudbury High School. Tickets are available at the door $15-$22.

3. Amazing Things Art Center's Craft and Fine Arts Bazaar is today.

4. This is the last weekend of the A Sense of Place art exhibit at Fountain Street Fine Art gallery. Open today 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

5. Caroline Mack of Framingham was cast as Clara in Walnut Hill School for the Arts' 2012 production of The Nutcracker. Mack, a Walsh Middle School sixth grade student, will perform her final show as Clara today, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at Perrin Theater in the Keiter Center for the Performing Arts on the Natick campus of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Tickets, if still available, are $25 adults and $18 children.