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The holiday season is in full force here in Raleigh and there’s plenty of festive things to do around town this week—from light shows and merry plays to pop-up markets and holiday parties.
THROUGH 12/24
DEWEY’S BAKERY HOLIDAY STORE
“Me want cookies!” The Athens Drive Magnet High School Band Program is hosting a fundraiser at Dewey’s Bakery’s Village District and Waverly Place locations. Grab a Dewey’s Moravian Cookie gift tin for a friend or fam member with a sweet tooth, then get a Moravian Sugar Cake for yourself. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go toward ADMHS’s band program. athensdriveband.com
THROUGH 1/2
MAGIC OF LIGHTS
“I’ve got the magic in me…” For the first time ever, Coastal Credit Union Music Park will be lit up for a magical 1-mile drive-through holiday lights display with various holiday light features, including a Blizzard Tunnel, 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland and The Night Before Christmas, for what’s sure to be a lit event. magicoflights.com
12/9
JINGLE BALL
Jingle all the way over to the Museum of Natural Sciences for elevated eats from Rocky Top Catering; unlimited beer, wine and cocktails; a Bailey’s Fine Jewelry giveaway; and Stella Artois etching stations—all presented by Capital City Clauses. capitalcityclauses.org
12/9–12
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
The bah-humbug beater is back. First premiered in 1974, Raleigh legend Ira David Wood III’s critically acclaimed musical adaptation of the classic Dickens Christmas tale returns to DECPA for the latest not-so- classic rendition. theatreinthepark.com
12/10
EVENING WITH ELVES
Don’t be a cotton-headed ninny muggins! Take the minis to Marbles for a night with the elves with s’mores outdoors, an arctic museum play and a special visit from the Snowflake Fairy. Holiday PJs are highly encouraged (as is an extra dinner ticket to the North Pole Pizza Parlor). marbleskidsmuseum.org
12/10
HOLIDAY SIP+SHOP
Festive meets female power! Giveaways, tasty sweet treats, Christmas gifts, wine and nonalcoholic bubbly drinks are up for grabs at Vend Raleigh’s Sip+Shop event designed to support local women in business. vendraleigh.com
12/10
POP-UP SHOPS AT MARTIN ST. GRAND OPENING
Downtown Raleigh Alliance is celebrating the opening of its Pop-Up Shops at Martin St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in DTR. The storefront houses minority- and women-owned businesses wishing to share an affordable temporary retail space—and share their goodies with Raleighites doing their Christmas shopping. downtownraleigh.org
12/10–11
HOLIDAY POPS
Have yourself a merry little Christmas with NC Symphony’s annual Holiday Pops tradition with vocalist Yolanda Rabun performing fave festive tunes that promise to make your holiday oh so merry and bright. ncsymphony.org
12/10–11
MERRY MOORE MARKET
There’s room for everyone on the nice list! And Raleigh Night Market is helping you get your Christmas list checked off early with two weekends of its holiday market series at Moore Square. raleighnightmarket.com
12/10–11
ST. NICHOLAS EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Get in the holiday spirit—European style—with traditional Slavic and other European Christmas food and baked goods, entertainment by The Little German Band, and local holiday goods at this 14th annual vintage vendor village taking place at the State Fairgrounds. saintnicholasmarket.com
12/11
HOLIDAY ART MARKET
Triangle Pop-Up is teaming up with Clouds Brewing for a holiday market that will have you sleigh-ing your gift-giving this year. A curated selection of local artists and makers will be offering accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more. But wait—there’s myrrh. Clouds will also be offering beer, mulled wine and hot (nonalcoholic) cider. cloudsbrewing.com
12/11
HOLIDAY BEER FEST
Drink up, Grinches! Clouds Brewing promises lots of good spirit with its annual NC Holiday Beer Fest, which features 25+ beers on tap from throughout the region—plus food, music and, of course, holiday cheer! cloudsbrewing.com
2/11
MAKRS HOLIDAY FEST
Ho ho hold my beer—time to jolly up a sweat at the MAKRS Society’s biggest event of the year with 150+ vendors, live music, food trucks, drinks and kid-friendly activities at City Plaza. themakrssociety.com
12/11
MERRY & BRIGHT, A NORTH POLE MARKET
“Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.” Head to the North Pole in Mordecai Historic Park for this merry event chock-full of can’t-miss vendors, festive crafts, seasonal entertainment, food, music and a holiday photo op at the beautifully decorated historic Mordecai House. paperandstarsstudio.com
12/11
OAKWOOD24 RUN
On your marks, get set, go run for 24 hours! The fourth annual Oakwood24 run is a 24-hour running fundraiser benefiting Healing Transitions (to date, Oakwood24 has raised over $225,000 for the nonprofit!). Lace up your running shoes and get ready to run like the wind. healing-transitions.org
12/11
RALEIGH BREWING HOLIDAY BASH
Your presents is requested at Raleigh Brewing’s first-ever Holiday Bash! Bring your kiddos out from noon to 6pm for face painting, a bounce house, food trucks, a visit with Santa and more—plus get some of your holiday shopping done through the local pop-up market. At 8pm, the afterparty kicks off with beer, a DJ and a photo booth. Shake it like a pole-oriod picture! raleighbrewing.com
12/11 & 18
OFFICIAL UGLY SWEATER BAR CRAWL
The burden is back on you to get ugly in the spirit of Christmas—at least your sweater. ’Tis the season for tacky tops as you crawl your way through spirited spirits. Just make sure if you “compliment” someone’s ugly rags that they are part of the crawl. barcrawllive.com
12/11–12
HISTORIC OAKWOOD CANDLELIGHT TOUR
Here’s your chance to get a look inside those Historic Oakwood homes as a dozen open their doors to visitors for an annual dose of community and history (homes date as far back as the mid-1800s) via this 50th anny tour. historicoakwood.org
12/12
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY
Deck the halls with award-winning pianist Joseph Fuller as he tinkles the ivories with Christmas classics at the NCMA. ncartmuseum.org
12/12
SANTA WITH A VIEW
This year’s Christmas card is going to blow all your previous ones out of the water thanks to The Willard, which is hosting a photo sesh with Santa against a sweet Raleigh skyline backdrop. BYOC (bring your own camera!), but coffee, cocoa and cocktails will be available. thewillardraleigh.com
12/12–13
THE RALEIGH RINGERS HOLIDAY CONCERTS
All the jingle ladies (and gents), get your holiday handbells on during The Raleigh Ringers’ annual holiday tradition featuring unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music arranged just for handbells. Rock on.
12/15
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
Sleigh what?! TSO’s highly anticipated winter tour is back to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group’s landmark album Christmas Eve and Other Stories. Described as an “unforgettable multisensory extravaganza,” this performance is sure to leave you amped for Christmas. pncarena.com
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