Polar Express Train Ride — Dec. 11-13, 16-22. Tickets and info at http://www.nctrans.org/

Scrooge Christmas Trolley tour — Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19. For times and tickets see http://visitsalisburync.com/vp/1071.aspx

Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express — Through Dec. 31: 6-9:30 p.m. at Village Park, 700 West C St., Kannapolis. Free (excluding train rides, $2 per rider). 250,000+ lights at Village Park nightly (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).  Kannapolis’ own Singing Bears perform each hour beginning at 6 p.m.

Phoenix Readers free performances —• Dec. 10, 11:30 a.m., United Church of Christ • Dec. 13, 2 p.m. Center for Faith & the Arts • Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m., Oak Park Retirement, • Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m., Morningside Assisted Living Senior Community, Concord • Info at kldavis302@gmail.com

Holiday Music Celebration at Montgomery Store — 7 p.m. Dec 10: Gold Hill’s Montgomery General Store kicks off the Christmas celebrations. Admission by donations to benefit the performers. www.historicgoldhill.com or 704-267-9439.

Christmas light and Nativity event— 6-9 p.m. Dec. 11-12: Annual Christmas Light and Nativity drive- thru sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church,at the home of Randall Barger, corner of Faith Road and Deal Street, 704-279-2500.

‘Christmas Across the Pond’ — 7:30 p.m., Dec. 11: The Salisbury Rowan Choral Society concert at First UCC, 207 W. Horah St. Free, donations requested. Bring a toy to be donated. https://www. facebook.com/Salisbury. Rowan.Choral.Society

Christmas in the Village — Dec. 11-13: Historic Gold Hill Village, 840 St. Stephen’s Church Road. Sponsored by Gold Hill Merchants’ Assoc.

‘A Christmas Carol’ — Dec. 11-13: Intune School of the Arts’ production at Concord First Assembly, 150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. www.concordchristmas.com

Santa & the Grinch antique fire truck rides — 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12: Ride antique fire trucks around downtown. Hot cocoa or coffee, cookies and make holiday decorations.Free rides depart from Visitors Center, 204 E. Innes St.

Kannaplis Christmas Parade of Lights — 6 p.m. Dec. 12: Beautiful night time parade held in downtown Kannapolis. New route begins on Oak at Vance. www.cabarrusevents.org

Hometown Holidays Committee Christmas tour — 6-8 p.m. Dec. 12: At the home of Tommy and Judy Stoner, 301 Fourth St. Santa and his sleigh will greet on the front porch. $5 donation to tour the house.

Holly Jolly Christmas Show — 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Dec. 12 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 13: 85+ craft and small business vendors at the Rowan County Fairgrounds. Admission $1 and 2 canned goods or $3, under 12 free. Food items go to Faith Lutheran Church community food bank. Main Street Baptist Church’s women’s fellowship available to wrap gifts.

Gold Hill Holiday Music Celebration continues — Saturday Dec. 12: At Gold Hill Montgomery General Store. ‘A Banjo Christmas’ with Danny Bowers 1 p.m., The Broadway Family 2 p.m. The Jordan River Band 7-9 p.m. Saturday. Admission by donations to benefit the performers. Info at www.historicgoldhill.com or 704-267-9439.

St. John’s Men’s Chorus Christmas Concert — 4 p.m. Dec. 13: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. Free. Offering to benefit Rowan Helping Ministries. 704-636-3431, www. stjohns-salisbury.org

Rowan Big Band All Stars — 7 p.m. Dec. 13: “Christmas In Swingtime,” 18-piece jazz band with local musicians. Free, open to the public. First Presbyterian Church, 308 W. Innes St. Christmas music from the Big Band Era of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.

Piedmont Singing Men — 7 p.m. Dec. 13: 43 musicians from 23 churches in the Concord/Kannapolis/Charlotte area will tell a story using songs of the Christmas season. St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 9275 Bringle Ferry Road, 704-633-3770.

Jubilee Choir annual Christmas concert — 5 p.m. Dec. 13: “Were You There On That Christmas Night?” with guest artist Kia Baird, plus Rebecca Stinson, Phyllis Partee, Doris Goodman, Monica  Green.  Free, love offering accepted. Held at Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church.

Afton Ridge ice skating with Santa — Dec. 13: Visit with Santa 2-5 p.m. All-weather ice-skating rink at I-85 & Kannapolis Parkway. www.shopaftonridge.com

‘Christmas Across the Pond’ — 7 p.m., Dec. 13: Repeat performance by The Salisbury Rowan Choral Society. First UMC China Grove, 110 W. Church St. www. facebook.com/Salisbury. Rowan.Choral.Society

Karl Hales hosts 11th annual ‘Christmas Traditions’ — 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15: The stories and music of Christmas, with Neal Wilkinson, vocalist Leslie Dunkin, pianist Susan Trivette. Meroney Theater. Admission is one canned item for Rowan Helping Ministries.

Christmas in The Grove — Dec. 18 from 4-8 p.m. in China Grove. Sledding, s’mores, hot chocolate. Also Dec. 19 from 6-8 p.m. with sledding, horse and wagon rides, Santa, hot chocolate, s’mores. Details on www.chinagrovenc.gov

‘The Nutcracker’ — 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20: By Piedmont Dance Theatre with the Salisbury Symphony, Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium. All seats reserved. www.salisburysymphony.org

Unplugged/ acoustic Christmas benefit concert — 7:30 p.m Saturday, Dec. 19: Kevin Max’s ‘An Acoustic Holiday With Kevin Max.’ Tickets at  http://liveshowticketing.com/index.php/event/kevin-max-holiday-acoustic-concert/ Grace Bible Church, 6725 Highway 152 E in Rockwell.

11th annual Singing Christmas Tree. 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 20: West Corinth Baptist Church  choir’s 11th annual Singing Christmas Tree  titled “The Star Still Shines” with songs made famous by Steve Amson and Jason Crabb. Reception follows the Saturday performance. Dean Orbison is Minister of Music.

New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Bell Tower — 8 p.m.-midnight Dec. 31: Annual downtown Salisbury tradition in partnership with the Salisbury Parks & Recreation Department.

New Year’s Eve Tomato Drop — 9 p.m. – midnight Dec. 31: At Unity Presbyterian Church, Woodleaf. In affiliation with the Woodleaf Tomato Festival. Details at  704-278-4248 or woodleaftomato festival@yahoo.com

31st annual Old Christmas at Old Stone House — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 2 and noon-4 p.m., Jan. 3: Old Stone House, 770 Old Stone House Road. 704-633-5946, www.rowanmuseum.org

 

Out of Town traditions

‘Letters to Santa’ — 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 12: UNCSA Preparatory Dance Program. Ace Exhibition Complex, 1533 S. Main St. Tickets $10 at 336-721-1945.

Music of the Carolinas: Freylach Time! — 3 p.m. Dec. 13: An afternoon of Hanukkah music. Free. 2 p.m. NC Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. Details at ncmuseumofhistory.org

9th annual Handel’s Messiah by W-S Symphony — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16: At Centenary UMC, 646 W. Fifth St. Tickets are $15 – $47 at WSsymphony.org or 336-464-0145.

Twin City Stage presents Macy’s ‘Yes, Virginia The Musical’ — Dec. 18-20: Arts Council Theatre, 610 Coliseum Drive, Winston-Salem. www.twincitystage.org

Tanglewood Festival of Lights — Through Jan. 3, Clemmons plus family activities. http://visitwinstonsalem.com/

Christmas Town USA — Through Dec. 26, McAdenville. The 375 Christmas trees on view outnumber the households. www. mcadenville-christmastown.com/

Christmas at Old Salem — Through Dec. 31, Candlelight tours, holiday music, Moravian Candle Tea. www.oldsalem.org/

Gardens aglow — Various locations: • Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, Holiday Lights at the Garden through Jan. 3 • Asheville, Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum through Jan. 2 • Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville, Holiday Lights in the Garden through Dec. 27. See VisitNC.com

Christmas at Biltmore — Through Jan. 10. Candlelight tours through Jan. 2. Asheville. See http://christmas.biltmore.com/

To submit your event to the Time Out Holiday event listings, email to timeout@salisburypost.com