CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Christmas at St. Mary’s
When: 7 and 8 p.m. Dec. 14
Where: Historic St. Mary’s Chapel, 1129 E. Third St., Charlotte
Cost: $15 regular admission, $7.50 for students and seniors. Tickets available in advance at www.carolinapromusica.org. Reservations may be made online or at 704-334-3468.
Details: The program features medieval and Renaissance music, readings of the season, and carols. Bob Sweeten returns to tell the story of the birth of Jesus through the wise men’s visit. The ensemble will appear in Renaissance attire.
Holiday Happenings from Blumenthal Performing Arts
* North Carolina Dance Theater: Nutcracker – Dec. 13-22, Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte.
* Chris Isaak Holiday Show – Dec. 16, Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte
* Colors of Christmas (featuring Peabo Bryson, CeCe Winans, Ruben Studdard and Melissa Manchester) – Dec. 20-21, Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte
Tickets: Call 704-372-1000 or visit carolinatix.org for tickets.
WBT’s Holiday on Ice
When: Through Jan. 5
Where: NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza, 400 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Details: Holiday on Ice brings an outdoor ice skating rink to the heart of Uptown on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will stop by on Dec. 14, 20 and 24.
Cost: $9 if you bring your own skates and $12 with skate rentals.
DALLAS, N.C.
Annual Holiday Open House
When: 3-7 p.m. Dec. 13
Where: Gaston County Museum of Art History, 131 West Main Street, Dallas
Cost: Free
Details: See the museum decorated for Christmas, take part in cookie decorating and crafts, hear live music, see and participate in historic dancing, and sample holiday treats. Father Christmas will visit with the children.
Info: www.gastoncountymuseum.org/ or 704-922-7681
Victorian Christmas
When: 10-11 a.m. Dec.14
Where: Gaston County Museum of Art History, 131 West Main Street, Dallas
Cost: $2 per participating child
Details: This is a Preschool Preview Program geared toward children ages 1-4, with parental supervision required. Participants will learn about Victorian holidays through stories, song and crafts. The museum’s natural pine tree will be decorated with Victorian ornaments, providing the perfect backdrop for photos.
Info: www.gastoncountymuseum.org/ or 704-922-7681
GASTONIA, N.C.
Season of Light at the Schiele
When: Through Dec. 31 – 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m. and 2:39 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays
Where: Schiele Museum, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd.
Cost: $3 for all visitors, plus museum admission. Children 3 and younger free.
Details: This planetarium show allows viewers to discover how some holiday customs developed and how they involve lighting up the winter season, from the burning Yule log and Christmas tree lights to the lighting of luminaries and the Hanukah Menorah.
Info: 704-866-6908 or www.schielemuseum.org
Colonial Christmas Candlelighting
When: 2-6 p.m. Dec. 14
Where: Schiele Museum, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd.
Cost: Free for Schiele museum members and free with paid general admission for nonmembers.
Details: Celebrate the season in 18th-century style and join in the “Procession of the Yule Log,” decorating with greenery, singing early American carols and English country dancing. As the day draws to a close, gather with the Schiele’s Backcountry family for the traditional Candle-lighting Service and scripture reading. Enjoy colonial hospitality with a taste of Christmas pudding and hot gingered apple cider.
Info: 704-866-6908 or www.schielemuseum.org
Schieleville, N.C.
When: Dec.16, 5-6 p.m. members only, 6-8 p.m. other visitors
Where: Schiele Museum, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd.
Cost: $3 for museum members, $ 5 for nonmembers
Details: Santa Claus makes his first stop at the Schiele for an evening of activities especially for the kids. Make a natural tree ornament, see a holiday planetarium show, tour our exhibits, enjoy holiday movies, and have cookies and milk. Don’t miss story time with costumed safari character Kilimanjaro Jack. Bring your camera for a photo opportunity with Santa himself. Activities are first-come, first-serve.
Info: 704-866-6908 or www.schielemuseum.org
LINCOLNTON, N.C.
Festival of Trees
Where: Former CMC-Lincoln Medical Center, 200 Gamble Drive
Schedule:
Dec. 13 and 14 – 5-9 p.m.
Dec. 15 – 2-5 p.m.
Dec. 16 – 10 a.m. -12 p.m., Senior Citizens Day, $2 tickets for seniors
Dec. 20 – 5-9 p.m. Kids Pajama Night
Dec. 21 – 5-9 p.m.
Dec. 22 – 2-5 p.m. Dec. 22, Community Stories of Christmas Past
Cost: $5 for general admission, $4 for students/seniors, children 5 and younger get in free
Details: Take a trip down memory lane as the former CMC-Lincoln Medical Center is transformed into a “Christmas Past,” with hallways named after Lincolnton streets, photos from the past, personalized Christmas trees, and community members’ holiday stories displayed. The event also features live local music performances, a canned food drive, a bake sale, and the Antiques and Artists Market.
Info: http://www.artslincolnnc.org/FOT.html
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 13-14, 3 p.m. Dec. 15
Where: Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 E. Main St., Lincolnton
Cost: $10 for adults, $7 for students/seniors. Tickets available at the door, at the Lincoln Cultural Center or at lincolntheaterguild.com.
Info: 704-452-7830
SPENCER, N.C.
Holidays at the N.C. Transportation Museum
Where: 411 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer (exit 79 off I-85)
Hours: Winter schedule, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday
Happenings:
* Cookies and Cocoa with Santa – Dec. 14, 20, 21. Visit with Santa, have hot cocoa and cookies, hear stories from an elf, make a craft and mail Santa a postcard. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children 3-12, and free for children 2 and younger. Rides at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 (if demand).
* Santa Train – Dec. 14, 15, 21, 22. Take a daytime train ride to the Roundhouse to see Santa and his elves, have candy canes and oranges, and make a craft. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and active military and $10 for children 3-12. Kids 2 and younger ride free.
Info: nctrans.org or 704-636-2889
PARADES
Cherryville – 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14
Dallas – 4 p.m. Dec. 13
Fallston – 2 p.m. Dec. 14
Lowell – 2 p.m. Dec. 14
Kingstown – 1 p.m. Dec. 14
Shelby – 3 p.m. Dec. 15