Holiday Happenings
Dec. 1-3
Carolina Ballet: "Nutcracker" 8 p.m. (Dec. 1) 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Dec. 2) 2 p.m. (Dec. 3) Beasley-Curtis Auditorium, Memorial Hall A holiday season staple, "Nutcracker" is a fantasy classic, capturing the irrepressible imagination of a child's world in which all things are possible. Based on E.T.A. Hoffman's more macabre book, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," the ballet tells the story of Clara, a young German girl, who dreams of a nutcracker prince. This was Tchaikovsky's third and last major ballet. Call the Memorial Hall Box Office at (919) 843-3333 or visit www.carolinaperformingarts.org for tickets: $30-$60 for the general public, $18 for children younger than 12 and $10 for UNC students. Sponsored by Carolina Performing Arts.
Dec. 2,3: 23rd Annual Daniel Boone Craft Fair. Held in the Big Barn in the Shops at Daniel Boone, this show features a number of local and state-wide vendors selling hand-crafted items. The Craft Fair begins at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.
Dec 2-24, Tue-Sun—Hillsborough, Orange County Historical Museum: Holiday Wreaths Exhibit. A wide variety of wreaths and wreath-themed artwork by nearly a dozen artists, including paper, silk flowers, live greens, dried materials, pillows, ceramics, yarn and even bread dough! Info: www.orangecountymuseum.org or (919) 732-2201.
Dec 2, 3 PM—Hillsborough, Downtown: Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Info: www.hillsboroughchamber.com or (919) 732-8156. The Chapel Hill Journal will cover this event.
Click here to watch an audio slideshow of the parade
Click here for a photo page of the parade
Dec 2
11 AM & 5 PM—Hillsborough, Triangle Sportsplex: 'The Nutcracker Suite on Ice'. Info: www.trianglesportsplex.com or (919) 644-0339.ec.
Dec. 3
Hillsborough Candlelight Tour, 1-6 p.m.Hillsborough, Orange County Visitors Center: Christmas Candlelight Tour. Features 20 historic stops plus gingerbread house display, children's story readings, horse-and-carriage rides, refreshments and more. The Hillsborough Christmas Candlelight Tour is a unique opportunity to visit historic buildings, churches, sites and private homes in Hillsborough. Click here for website and more info.
Dec 3-Jan 6, Daily—Chapel Hill, The Carolina Inn: Twelve Days of Christmas Festival. Features displays, decorations, tours, dinners, teas, gingerbread house displays, sand sculpture, entertainment and more. On Sunday, Dec. 3, there will be an open house from 1-5 with special features such as singers. Info: www.carolinainn.com or (919) 933-2001.
Click here for audio slideshow of the Twelve Days of Christmas
1-5 PM—Chapel Hill, Downtown: Community Tree Lighting. Features the Franklin Street Festival of Lights, Holiday Open House and tree lighting. Click here for more info, or (919) 967-9440.
Click here for photos of the Community Tree Lighting
Dec. 6
General Alumni Association holiday concert 7 p.m. Beasley-Curtis Auditorium, Memorial Hall Celebrate the winter season with the General Alumni Association's annual holiday concert, featuring several student a cappella groups. Admission is free for GAA members with a suggested $5 donation, and tickets for the public are $5. All proceeds will be donated to UNC Relay for Life. Call the Memorial Hall Box Office at (919) 843-3333 or visit www.carolinaperformingarts.org for more information.
Phillips Middle School Christmas Concert
Dec. 7
Winter stories, music for children of all ages 5 p.m. lobby reception 5:30 p.m. program Pleasants Family Assembly Room, Wilson Library Brian Sturm, assistant professor of information and library science, and master's students Megan Hendershot and Elizabeth Matson will continue a cherished tradition of storytelling and music about the coldest season of the year. University Library employees Kate Barnhart and Kris Walz and master's student Laurie Neuerburg will provide music of the season. Sponsored by Friends of the Library. Free to the public. For information, call Liza Terll at (919) 962-4207 or liza_terll@unc.edu.
The Chapel Hill/Orange County Vistors Bureau and The Franklin Hotel will host a Holiday Open House 3-5:30 p.m. at the decorated Visitors Center at 501 W. Franklin Street. There will be a coffee bar, dvd presentation, literature, displays, music, refreshments and giveaways. There will also be tours of the Franklin Hotel at 3:45 and 4:30 p.m. Call 968-2060 for more information.
Dec. 8
Art after dark pajama party 5 p.m. Ackland Art Museum Parents are invited to bring their children in pajamas for story reading in the galleries (ages 0-5 and 6-10).Visitors of all ages will enjoy evening art viewing, complimentary refreshments and live music. Registration for the free event is required. For more information, call (919) 966-5736 or visit www.ackland.org.
Holiday Pops 8 p.m. Beasley-Curtis Auditorium, Memorial Hall The North Carolina Symphony will perform a selection of holiday carols and sing-alongs. Tickets for the public, $23-$40, are available at the North Carolina Symphony box office in Raleigh, by phone at (919) 733-2750 or online at www.ncsymphony.org. UNC student tickets, $10, are available at the Memorial Hall Box Office on Cameron Avenue, online at www.carolinaperformingarts.org or by phone at (919) 843-3333.
Saturday, Dec. 9
Chapel Hill, Downtown: Holiday Parade. Floats, bands and more. Info: www.chapelhillnews.com or (919) 932-8788. Begins at Morehead Planetarium at 10 a.m. and ends at Carrboro Town Hall, usually around 11:30. Presented by the Chapel Hill News, in cooperation with the Chapel Hill Jaycees, the parade this year promises to be a celebration of our community and holiday spirit.The Chapel Hill Jaycees will showcase Holiday Lane, located directly in front to the Chapel Hill News. Performers, bands and floats make a brief performance along Holiday Lane throughout the parade. MC Personalities will appear live to officially kick-off the parade and make announcements of entertainment & sponsors.A community sing will take place at 9:30 a.m. featuring students from St. Thomas More and Trinity Schools. Also enjoy the East Chapel Hill High School Jazz Band playing your holiday favorites. Be there early to get the best seats along the parade route.Toys for Tots will be onsite at Holiday Lane with a collection center for receiving toys for children. The Chapel Hill News welcomes members of the United States Marine Corp to the parade in support of Toys for Tots.East Franklin Street between Henderson St and Boundary St will close at 8 a.m. in preparation for the parade line up. The Chapel Hill Journal will cover this event with photos and video.
8 p.m., North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra: Holiday Jazz Blizzard Beasley-Curtis Auditorium, Memorial Hall The orchestra welcomes the holiday season with a swinging jazz concert featuring the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn adaptation of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite," along with favorites from the bands of Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton and others. Call the Memorial Hall Box Office at (919) 843-3333 or visit www.carolinaperformingarts.org for tickets: $15 to $20 for the general public, $12 and $15 for seniors, and $10 for UNC students, faculty and staff. Sponsored by Carolina Performing Arts.
Hillsborough, Triangle Sportsplex: Skate With Santa. Call for times and cost. Info: www.trianglesportsplex.com or (919) 644-0339.ec
Friday, Dec. 15
6-8 p.m. Fearrington Luminaries : Fearrington Village will present refreshments, caroling on the Green, luminaries and holiday shopping from 6-8 p.m. Friday. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. Call 542-2121 for information.
Saturday, Dec. 16
11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Star of Bethlehem. The Morehead Planetarium will present its annual holiday show Star of Bethlehem through Jan. 1. Star is featured on Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 11L30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Call 962-1236 or visit www.moreheadplanetarium.org for more info.
1-5 p.m., Downtown Chapel Hill, Festival of Lights, The Franklin Street Festival of Lights in downtown Chapel Hill will continue through Jan. 4, 2007. There will be a Santa's workshop, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and his elves, under the Top of the Hill Restaurant at 100 E. Franklin Street.
Sunday, Dec. 17
1-5 p.m., Downtown Chapel Hill, Festival of Lights, The Franklin Street Festival of Lights in downtown Chapel Hill will continue through Jan. 4, 2007. There will be a Santa's workshop, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and his elves, under the Top of the Hill Restaurant at 100 E. Franklin Street.
Wednesday, Dec. 20
9:30 a.m. Holiday Celebration, Carrboro Century Center. Crafts, face painting, balloon sculpting, cookie decorating, all leading up to an interactive magic show at 11 a.m. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Call 918-7364.
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