Performances of ‘The Nutcracker’

Piedmont Dance Theatre and Salisbury Symphony — 6:30 p.m. Dec 15 and 2:30 pm Dec 16: 11th annual production. 110 performers include dancers from Piedmont School of Music & Dance, ages 6-51 . Keppel Auditorium, Catawba College. Adults $25-$45, age 17 and under $17.50 -$25 at PiedmontDanceTheatre.com

UNC School of the Arts — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13: Guest dancers Yuriko Kajiya and Connor Walsh. Full performance schedule: Dec. 12-15 at 7:30 pm; Dec. 15-16 at 2 pm. Tickets $29-$83 at the Stevens Center box office and uncsa.edu/performances

High Point Ballet — Dec 19-21: Choreography by award-winning artistic director Gary Taylor. High Point Theatre, 220 E Commerce Ave. Reserved seating for all performances at highpointballet.org
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker — Dec. 23: Moscow Ballet’s “Dove of Peace Tour”at Ovens Auditorium. Tickets $30-$177 plus charges. Ovens Auditorium, adjacent to Bojangles’ Coliseum. Info at ovensauditorium.com, tickets at Ticketmaster.com

Christmas Events

China Grove

Annual Christmas In The Grove — 5-9 p.m. Dec. 15: Sledding, food, hot chocolate, s’mores, caroling, horse drawn wagon rides, face painting, visit with Santa, more. Free. Bring an unwrapped for Toys for Tots if you like. Main Street and Swink Streets, www.chinagrovenc.gov

Rescheduled: Live Nativity at Mt. Moriah — 6-8 pm Dec 16: Drive by or get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Holy Scene. Costumed characters, real animals. 750 Mt. Moriah Church Road, 704-857-5034.

Rescheduled: Arctic Express with Steve Somers — 6:30-8:30 pm Dec 18: Learn about winter holiday traditions from around the world. RPL South, 920 Kimball Road, China Grove.

Concord

‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ at Old Courthouse Theater — Through Dec. 16: At 49 Spring St NW, 704-788-2405, Tickets at www.oldcourthousetheatre.org

Come Now to Bethlehem —7 pm Dec 16: Lessons and Carols for Christmas by Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church Choir and members of Charlotte Orchestra. 6841 Poplar Tent Road, 704-783-1603 office@poplartentchurch.org

Kannapolis

Village Park, 700 West C St., www.kannapolisnc.gov
Celebration of Lights & Winterland Express — 6 pm throughDec 30: Stroll through the park or take a ride on the Winterland Express. More than 250,000 Christmas lights. Closed Dec. 24 and 25.

Mooresville

‘The Reason’ theatre in the round Christmas presentation — 7 pm Dec 15, plus 11 am and 6 pm Dec 16:West Corinth Baptist Church, 120 Corinth Church Road. Free.

Lake Norman Christmas Light Boat Parade — 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, www.racecityusa.org

Carol of the King, The Irish Dance Christmas Spectacular — 7-9 pm Dec. 19: The Charles Mack Citizen Center, 215 N Main St, Mooresville, www.racecityusa.org

Holiday Light Spectacular — 6-8 p.m. Through Dec. 23, www.racecityusa.org

Rockwell

Classic Cinema Series: ‘Christmas in Connecticut’ — 2 pm Dec 14: Beloved 1945 film. RPL East branch 110 Broad St. 704-216-7842.

Movie: ‘The Star’ — 2:30-4 p.m. Dec. 21: 2017 animated holiday film (PG). RPL East branch 110 Broad St. 704-216-7842.

Arctic Express with Steve Somers — 10:30 am-noon Dec 8, 10-15: Learn about winter holiday traditions from around the world. RPL East branch, 110 Broad St. 704-216-7842.

Salisbury

Victorian Christmas at the Hall House — Christmas tours 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 15, 16, 22, 23 • Special candlelight tour 6-8 p.m. Christmas Eve. $5 per adult, $3 per student, 12-17, children under 12, free. Christmas Eve tour is by donation. 226 South Jackson St.,www.historicsalisbury.org/tours/hall-house-tours

Cards for a Cause — Dec. 1-18: Rowan Public Library, 201 W Fisher St, www.rowanpubliclibrary.org

Scrooge’s Christmas Trolley Tour — Select days through Dec 22: Presented by Lee Street Theatre. Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, 204 E Innes St, www.leestreet.org

PPT presents ‘A Christmas Story’ — Dec 7 through 15: All the elements from the beloved motion picture on stage. Norvell Theater, 135 E Fisher St., 704-633-5471, piedmontplayers.com

Fridays@First Advent Series at FUMC — •Noon Dec. 14: Women’s Chorus from Charlotte’s Myers Park UMC under the direction of James Jones • Noon Dec. 21: Lee Street Theatre Cabaret Singers • All concerts in this free series are 30 minutes and open to all. First United Methodist Church, at 217 S. Church St. 704-636-3121.

Jingle Bell Magic with Steve Somers — 10:30 am Dec 13: RPL, 201 W. Innes St. Magic tricks, storytelling, music. 704-216-8234.

Narroway Theatre ‘A Stranger for Christmas’ — 10 am-3:30 pm Dec. 13: $60. Plus box lunch. Bus departs from Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., 704-216-7714.

Rowan Big Band Christmas concert — 7:30 pm Dec 14: Rowan Big Band All Stars; big-band standards and swing era favorites from 1930s through present day with well-known Christmas classics. Tickets $20 at Lee Street theatre, 329 N Lee St, 704-310-5507, LeeStreet.org

Bethlehem Prayer Service simulcast at St. John’s — 9 am Dec. 15: Live broadcast of the Advent prayer service simulcast with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, The Holy Land and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. In the Faith Center. Panel discussion afterward. 200 W Innes St.

Santa + Grinch Antique Firetruck Rides — 11 am-2 pm Dec 15: Antique firetruck rides on East Innes St., free.It is weather permitting and there will not be a rain date. www.visitsalisburync.com/

CFA Holiday Suitcase event — 4-8 pm Dec 15: Holiday arts and crafts made by area artists.Entertainment plus a Santa’s workshop where for $5 kids can make and wrap a present. Plus homemade goodies, hot chocolate, coffee, hot tea for $1 each. Center for Faith & the Arts, 207 W Harrison St.

John Brincefield’s Big Ole Family Christmas Special — 7:30 pm Dec 15: Gather around John’s “living room” in the style of an old-time radio show to celebrate Christmas. Music by the Moonglows. Tickets $25. Lee Street theatre, 329 N Lee St, 704-310-5507, LeeStreet.org

4th Annual Cruise-by Christmas Window Art Show — Dec 15-Jan 5: Original window art by local artist Cherrathee Hager. Available for viewing 24 hours a day. Checkered Flag BBQ on South Main Street is the first to have their unique holiday windows completed. A list of other locations will be published. 704-490-2001.

Service of Lessons and Carols at St. John’s — 11 am Dec. 16: Chancel Choir, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Ensemble, instrumental ensemble, soloists. 200 W Innes St.

Soldiers Memorial Jubilee Community Choir — 4 p.m.: The Jubilee Community Choir ‘s 33rd annual Christmas concert, “Shout for Joy, the Savior is Born,” Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, 306 N Church St. Featured guests are Dr. Tika Douthit, flute; Galvin Crisp, saxophone; Natalia House, dancer; and Rebecca Stinson, soloist; accompanied by Phyllis Partee. Other soloists are Doris Goodman, Monica Green and Phyllis Partee. Free, open to the public; a free will offering will be collected. Refreshments follow. Kay Wright Norman is music director and musician.

‘Carol and the Belles’ Christmas dinner and show — 12:30 p.m. Dec. 16: Set in the ’50s; presented by children, youth, adults. Tickets $15. RSVP to 704-213-1894 or beckycarolmorris@yahoo.com Christiana Lutheran Church, 6190 US Hwy 52, Salisbury.

FUMC Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols — 5 pm. Dec. 16: Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. First United Methodist Church, 217 S Church St 704-636-3121 www.fumcsalisbury.org

Christmas Carol Karaoke — 4-7 p.m. Dec. 18: Door prizes and prizes. Hors d’ oeuvres served. RSVP to Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. 704-216-7715, www.ruftyholmes.org

Film: ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’ — 2-4:30 p.m. Dec 20: Free. Charles Dickens revives his career by self-publishing “A Christmas Carol.” Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, 704-216-7714.

ARC of Rowan Christmas Party — 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 21: Salisbury City Park, 316 Lake Drive. www.rowancountync.gov

Rescheduled: S-R Choral Society presents ‘The Sleigh Ride Home’ — 4 p.m. Dec. 23: Milford Hills United Methodist Church, 1630 Statesville Blvd. 704-796-9683 or https://www.facebook.com/Salisbury.Rowan.Choral.Society/

Joseph Martin’s ‘The Song Heard Round the World’ — 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23: Becky Morris on piano, Jon Kirk on percussion. Christiana Lutheran Church, 6190 US Hwy 52, Salisbury.

33rd Annual Old Stone House Christmas — 1-4 p.m. Dec. 29-30: Old Stone House, 770 Old Stone House Road, www.rowanmuseum.org

New Year’s Eve at the Bell Tower — 9 pm Dec. 31: Presbyterian Bell Tower Park, Corner of W. Innes and S. Jackson. www.visitsalisburync.com/

Spencer

Rescheduled: The Polar Express Train Ride — Due to the wintry weather last weekend, all Dec. 9 ticket holders have been shifted to Dec. 23 with the same seating class and arrival time. All Dec. 9 ticket holders are being contacted via email; not necessary to call the museum. www.nctrans.org

Asheboro

‘It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play’ — Dec. 22-23 and 27-30: RhinoLeap’s production will play at the historic Sunset Theatre, recreated with voices and zany sound effects by only five actors.Tickets $30 adults and senior/military$25, at www.rhinoleap.com

Charlotte

Bojangles Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium host — 2700 E. Independence Blvd. Info at ovensauditorium.com, tickets at Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. Prices do not include service charges.

Rocking Around The Christmas Tree With Darci Lynne And Friends — 7 p.m. Dec. 14: Singer/ventriloquist Darci Lynne from “America’s Got Talent.” $29.75-$99.75

The Beach Boys’ Reason For The Season Christmas Tour — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15: Classics from their Christmas album plus new music from Mike Love’s album. $57-$117.

The Avett Brothers — 8:30 p.m. Dec. 30-31:$49.50-$89.50.

Denton

10th Annual Country Christmas Train— 5:30-9 p.m through Dec. 27: 10th anniversary. Weekends and other select weeknights. Hundreds of light displays, live Nativity, short film about the Christmas story. $13-$15 adults. 4259 Handy Road.www.dentonfarmpark.com

Winston-Salem

Little Theatre of W-S presents ‘An Old Salem Christmas Carol’ — Dec. 13-16, 20-22: At SECCA, 750 Marguerite Drive. Tickets and schedule at www.thelittletheatreofws.org

W-S Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18: 12th annual performance. Conducted by Dr. Christopher Gilliam. Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. Fifth St. Tickets $15-$47 at WSsymphony.org or 336-464-0145.

Old Salem Village holiday candlelight tours — Through Dec 21: “A Baking We Go!” will involve visitors in hands-on baking plus holiday tour by lighted lanterns through the historic streets. $50 each includes take-home earthenware cup. Pre-register at oldsalem.org or 1-800-441-5305.

Reynolda Village — 2250 Reynolda Road, adjacent to Wake Forest University. Tickets and schedules at www.reynolda.org
Caroling Fridays — 2:45 pm Fridays through Dec 21
Christmas 1917 Tours — Dec. 11, 18.
‘A Christmas Memory’ —4 pm Dec. 16: Annual reading of Truman Capote’s classic short story.
Carolina Brass Holiday Pops Concert — 7 p.m. Dec 18.

Tweetsie Railroad

Blowing Rock — 5-10 pm Fridays-Saturdays through Dec 29: Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland with Santa Claus, Steam locomotive No. 12, a spectacular displays of twinkling lights, a heartwarming live Christmas Show, a giant snow globe, the Carousel, roast s’mores by a fire pit. Tickets $38, age 2 and under free. Visitors are urged to purchase tickets in advance.

Daniel Stowe

Holidays at the Garden: A Mile of a Million Lights — Through Jan 6: Lights, music, children’s activities, model train displays, more. Closed Christmas Day. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont. Tickets, schedule at www.DSBG.org