NC Trans Museum hosts The Polar Express 2019 — Through Dec. 22. North Carolina Transportation Museum,. Tickets and schedule at www.nctrans.org

Scrooge’s annual Christmas Trolley Tour — Through December • 6-9:45 p.m.Info at www.leestreet.org. Schedule and tickets at Salisbury tickets.vendini.com

Christmas at the Hall House — Through Dec. 22 • 1-4 p.m. Old-time Christmas decorations in historic 1820s home. $3-$5. 226 S. Jackson St. www.historicsalisbury.org or 704-636-0103.

Holiday-themed escape room in Statesville —  “Nutty Holidays” brings guests to a remote cabin in the deep woods of Frazier Bunns, Montana to visit crazy Aunt Beth. Light-hearted yet challenging room for  ages 8 and up.  150 E. Sharpe St. Reserve at keytoescapenc.com or 704-253-4559.

Kannapolis Winterland Express train— Through Dec 30 except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day • 6-9 pm Sundays-Thursdays • 6-10 pm Fridays- Saturdays. Ride the train, see 250,000+ Christmas lights. Free admission; train and carousel $2. Santa in his studio, see Kannapolis Singing Bears and Atlantic Coast S Gaugers’ model trains, plus kids’ zone. 700 West C St. www.kannapolisnc.gov/christmas

LTWS presents ‘An Old Salem Christmas Carol’ — Dec 6-22: Based on the classic tale by Dickens, a local adaptation was written exclusively for The Little Theatre of W-S by playwright Stephen P. Scott. Held at SECCA’s Dunn Auditorium, 750 Marguerite Drive, W-S. Tickets $25 at 336-725-4001 for tickets or www.LTofWS.org

Christmas in The Grove— Sledding postponed to Jan 4. Main Street, China Grove. www.chinagrovenc.gov

Fridays@First: An Advent Series — Dec. 20 • noon: Deborah Busby Coclanis, pianist. First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St.

‘Dancin around the World Holidays’ — Dec. 20-21 • 7:30 pm. Spencer’s Steppin’ Out Dance Company’s Christmas dance recital at Lee Street theatre,  329 N Lee St. Featuring students from pre-school to high school. Tickets at 704-310-5507 or leestreet.org

J C Price hosts annual Children’s Christmas Extravaganza — Dec 21 • 5-8 pm. Plenty of refreshments and holiday fun. J.C. Price American Legion Post 107 & Auxiliary, 1433 Old Wilkesboro Road. Info: 704-640-6360 or 704-640-0877.

Western Town Christmas at Happy’s Farm — Dec. 20-21 • 5-8 p.m. Free to the public, each child receives a bag of cotton candy. Visitors can ride the Train Haywagon to view the D-Day exhibit; or walk around in the farm’s western town and see the lights and play on the playground and jail arcade. Sweet treats, hot chocolate and s’more kits available for purchase. See the new Courthouse building that resembles the room on the Andy Griffith Show, complete with Otis’ jail cell. 985 Parks Road, 704-279-5268, www.happysfarm.org

Cleveland Lions Club Breakfast — Dec. 21 • 7-10 a.m.: Cleveland Lions Den, 106 Cemetery St. Come greet Santa. Breakfast of scrambled eggs, country ham, bacon, sausage, home-made biscuits, grits, beverages By donation. 704-278-2252.

The Nutcracker Ballet — 6:30pm Dec. 21 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22: Salisbury Symphony and Piedmont Dance Theatre’s 17th annual production. Keppel Auditorium, Catawba College. www.salisburysymphony.org

Bethlehem Prayer Service — Dec. 21 • 9-11 a.m. Live Broadcast of Advent Prayer Service simulcast with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. At St. John’s Lutheran, 200 W. Innes St., stjohns-salisbury.org

‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ — Dec 21 • 7:30 pm: Greensboro Opera comes to Lexington. Three Kings, following the star to Bethlehem, stop for shelter at the home of a poor, crippled shepherd boy. Edward C. Smith Civic Center, 217 S Main St, Lexington. Tickets $15 at www.smithciviccenter.org/events/

‘O Come, let us adore Him:” A Contemporary Christmas Celebration — Dec. 22 • 9:27 am: Featuring Brad Stephenson, Corinne Mauldin, Destiny Stone. St. John’s Faith Center. Rediscovering wonder and joy this season through drama and music. 200 W. Innes St., stjohns-salisbury.org

Christmas Eve Tour at the Hall House — Dec. 24 • 6-8 p.m. Dr. Josephus Hall House, 226 S. Jackson St, www.historicsalisbury.org or 704-636-010

Old Christmas at the Michael Braun Haus (The Old Stone House)— 11 am-3 pm Dec 28 • noon-3pm Dec 29: Experience old German traditions during Christmas and tours of the Old Stone House. The Mecklenburg Militia, Hessian Jaegers, 84th Highlanders, Locke’s Militia, 71st Highlander reenactment groups on site recreating local historical events of January and early February 1781. $5 adult, $3 student. 770 Old Stone House Road. www.rowanmuseum.org

28th Annual Tanglewood Festival of Lights — Clemmons: Through Jan 1. Santa and Mrs. Claus and all Santa’s helpers on site Nov 15-Dec 23. Ticket and schedule info at www.forsyth.cc/Parks/Tanglewood/fol/ or 336-703-6481.

45th annual Christmas at Biltmore-Nov. 8-Jan. 5: Extravagant celebration complete with dozens of Christmas trees, miles of ribbon, garland and lights. Festive menus in the restaurants plus holiday wine tastings. 800-411-3812. www.biltmore.com

36th annual Candlelight Evenings at Biltmore-Nov. 8-Jan. 4: Candlelight, firelight, live music, extravagant holiday décor during these nighttime tours. Advance reservations required. 800-411-3812. www.biltmore.com

W-S Symphony’s Holiday Concert to feature ‘The Gathering’ — Nov 30 and Dec 1: Appalachian harmonies, Christmas tunes, visit from Santa, holiday sing-along plus “The Gathering,” by Stokes County resident Laurelyn Dossett. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road in W-S. Tickets start at $24. 336-464-0145 or wssymphony.org

New Year’s Eve at the Trolley Barn — Dec 31 • 9 pm-midnight: Salisbury Parks and Rec hosts games, live music, live feed of Time’s Square ball drop, refreshments. Located at the Trolley Barn, 165 E. Liberty St. due to Bell Tower Green construction. See downtownsalisburync.com

2019 New Years Eve Ball — Dec. 31 • 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Age 25 and older. Hollywood theme; come in your best. $25 singles $40 couples 494 E. Plaza Dr, 494 E. Plaza Dr., Mooresville, tickets at www.eventbrite.com

PCS annual Christmas concert — 4 pm Jan 4 (the 11th Day of Christmas): 75-voice Piedmont Choral Society’s its annual free Christmas concert accompanied by 22-piece professional orchestra. Forest Hill UMC, 265 Union St North, Concord. Familiar carols and songs of the season. Info 704-699-6053 or kayy2000@gmail.com

Wine About Winter — First Friday in Feb 5-9 p.m. Downtown Salisbury’s signature wine tasting event. Tickets include souvenir wine glass and bag, wrist band, tasting pass to 20+ wines from around Rowan county and beyond. www.downtownsalisburync.com