Compiled by Allie Todd
Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas’ – Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2pm and 8pm; Sunday, 1pm and 7pm – Head over to Durham Performing Arts Center to watch holiday classics come to life during this Broadway performance. There are a limited number of tickets available, but there will also be a lottery for each performance opening a day before.
Santa Train – Thursday through Dec. 22 – Hop aboard the Santa Train at the Museum of Life and Science for a nighttime ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway to the North Pole, where you’ll be greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their elves. The event includes hot chocolate, snacks at Sprout Cafe and crafts with the kiddos.
Lake Jane – Thursday, 10am-2pm – This recently launched women’s knitwear brand will be hosting a holiday pop-up event at the Durham Hotel. Headquartered in Durham, Lake Jane sources fabric in Los Angeles and North Carolina, with all production based in North Carolina.
Thursdays with Tea Cup Gin – Thursday, 5-8pm – Sway to the music at the JB Duke Hotel’s “Thursday Soiree” series, featuring the jazz band Tea Cup Gin. The hotel will feature its own version of the Vesper Martini, including the use of Durham’s own Conniption Gin, for guests to sip on as they enjoy the show. Delectable offerings from JB Duke Hotel’s recently released fall menu will also be available to order, including fan favorite Pumpkin Gnocchi.
Cristina Bejan – Thursday, 7pm – The Regulator Bookshop welcomes the author in conversation with Malachi Hacohen, for a discussion of Bejan’s new book, “Intellectuals and Fascism in Interwar Romania: The Criterion Association.”
Lonnie Holley & Alexa Rose – Thursday, 8pm – Hosted at The Fruit, this Duke Performances’ event kicks off the weekend’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, a Hillsborough-based nonprofit that provides access to resources for blues and folk musicians to make a livelihood from their music.
Christmas Tree Garden – Friday through Dec. 30 – Take the family out for a stroll through American Tobacco Campus‘ Diamond View Park to enjoy about 20 lighted Christmas trees, which will be illuminated from 5:30-11pm nightly and have been decorated by American Tobacco tenants and community partners.
Roving Robots – Friday, 1-3pm; Saturday, 10am-noon and 1-3pm – For this edition of the Tinkering Family Workshop series at the Museum of Life and Science, parents and caregivers can sign up with their kids, ages 6 to 12, to design, build and program robots that move, play sounds and respond to their environment – you can even build one to take home!
Christmas by Candlelight – Friday, 5:15-9:15pm – Come to Duke Homestead for evening of candlelit tours and relive a traditional Victorian Christmas. Visitors are invited to dance, help decorate the house and the Christmas tree with historic decorations, listen and play Christmas stories and games, sing along to beloved holiday songs, drink some hot cider and meet Santa Claus.
American Tobacco Tower Lighting – Friday, 6pm – This 15th annual event at American Tobacco Campus features pre-lighting performances from Bulltown Strutters, Barriskill Dance Theatre School and other groups – plus, Santa and a special guest appearance by Tyler Butler-Figueroa, a finalist from “America’s Got Talent.” New for 2019, Bedlam Vodka will serve craft holiday cocktails in the Down Under area near Boricua Soul. While you are there, be sure to stop and take a selfie with the commemorative ice sculpture! At the conclusion, Oxente drummers and puppets from Paperhand Puppet Intervention will lead up the CCB Plaza tree lighting.
Liberty Arts Annual Holiday Sale & Party – Friday, 6-9pm – The Liberty Arts Studio hosts a holiday sale and party where families can find unique, handmade gifts, purchase food and drinks, and hear holiday music.
The Marcus King Band – Friday, 8pm – Along with special guest Aaron Lee Tasjan, the band takes The Carolina Theatre stage to perform their brand of Americana and blues-inspired rock ’n’ roll music.
Duke Jazz Ensemble with Fred Wesley – Friday, 8pm – Wesley, the bandleader of The New JBs, will take the stage at the Baldwin Auditorium for a trombone performance alongside the ensemble.
Major Handy with Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. & Ils Sont Partis – Friday, 8pm – Another Music Maker 25 show, this performance blends the history and evolution of the Creole Zydeco tradition at The Fruit.
Race 13.1 Durham – Saturday, 7:30am – The fifth annual holiday Race 13.1 Durham will feature a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and kids fun run on the American Tobacco Trail beginning near The Streets at Southpoint mall. The kids fun run is free with a suggested donation of $5, or an unused toy that will be donated to Duke Children’s Hospital patient.
Family Garden Walk: The Cardinal – Saturday, 9-9:45am – A walk through Sarah P. Duke Gardens allows the whole family to discover new parts of the garden while learning more about the North Carolina state bird.
American Wildlife Refuge Raptor Event – Saturday, 10am-2pm – At Mystic Farm and Distillery, get up close with wild raptors and learn how you can support their rescue through the American Wildlife Refuge. A free distillery tour and tasting comes with every $25 donation.
Triple Stop Holiday Market – Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Gallery hop your way through Cecy’s Gallery & Studios, The Artisan Market at 305 and 5 Points Gallery.
PopUp Durham Featuring Runaway Clothes – Saturday through Dec. 28, 11am-6pm – Visual and apparel artist Gabe Eng-Goetz, founder of the Runaway brand, opens a pop-up retail store for the clothing line. The temporary spot, called Run Home, is located in the PopUp @ American Tobacco space in the Diamond View III Building. The majority of pieces will be in-store exclusives.
Alpine Holiday Weekend – Saturday and Sunday – Don your ski gear, ugly sweaters, onesies, etc. and enjoy some spiked hot chocolate or take a shot off a ski at Boxcar Bar + Arcade! Ugly holiday sweaters will also be raffled off. On Dec. 8, from 2 to 5 p.m., bring an unwrapped gift or household need to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. For donating, you can also be entered into a raffle to win prize packs from Tito’s, Jager, Miller Light and Terrapin Brewing. Boxcar will donate 10% to the nonprofit during these hours as well.
Pura Fe, Cary Morin, Deer Clan Singers & Lakota John & Kin – Saturday, 1pm – At this matinee presentation hosted by Duke Performances at The Fruit, an intergenerational mix of performers from across the the country and Canada will perform a range of sounds and musical styles advanced by Native American artists.
Holiday Open House – Saturday, 1-5pm – This annual winter tradition at West Point on the Eno dates back to 1979 and includes refreshments, historic holiday decorations, festive music and holiday crafts.
Melina’s Fresh Pasta Anniversary Party – Saturday, 2-6pm – Melina’s Fresh Pasta celebrates its second anniversary party with ravioli, gnocchi bowls, cannolis and more.
Jonkonnu – Saturday, 4:30-7pm – Celebrate this African American holiday event, with St. Sya Academy at Historic Stagville. Drummers and dancers will traverse the historic grounds, while a troupe of local musicians and students perform at Horton Grove to honor this celebration with roots in West Africa and the Caribbean. After the performance, take a lamplight tour of former slave dwellings and learn more about the meaning of Christmas during times of slavery.
Holiday Market – Saturday, 5-9pm – The Mothership hosts its fifth annual cozy night market with warm drinks, twinkle lights and locally made and vintage goods.
Stephen Prutsman & Pamela Frank – Saturday, 8pm – As a part of the Chamber Arts Series by Duke Performances, the artists will perform piano and violin music in this Bach recital at Baldwin Auditorium.
Cool John Ferguson, Alabama Slim, Pat Cohen, Pura Fe & Cary Morin – Saturday, 8pm – Music Maker founder Timothy Duffy directs the house band for this “Music Maker Blues Revue,” the organization’s signature traveling showcase.
Dave Chappelle – Saturday, 7pm; Sunday, 7pm and 10pm – The nationally renowned comedian performs his stand-up on The Carolina Theatre stage this weekend.
The Branchettes & Phil Cook – Sunday, 1pm – The gospel duo, Lena Mae Perry and Wilbur Tharpe, take to the stage at The Fruit to perform songs and congregational hymns as part of Duke Performances’ Music Maker 25.
Winter Wonderland Festival – Sunday, 2-4pm – Sarah P. Duke Gardens hosts this winter-themed event with crafts, storytelling, cookie decorating and festive music with “Snowdrop,” the Gardens’ snowperson mascot, at the Doris Duke Center.
Joseph Alessi – Sunday, 3pm – This principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic comes to Baldwin Auditorium for a free performance. Alessi will perform “Concerto for Trombone” by Durham composer Steven Bryant alongside the Durham Medical Orchestra, conducted by Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant. It will be the world premiere of the orchestral arrangement of the concerto.
NC Jazz Ensemble Holiday Concert – Sunday, 4pm – Get into the holiday spirit at Hayti Heritage Center to watch this talented band of artists and educators perform classic holiday hits.
The Glorifying Vines Sisters – Sunday, 7pm – Representing a tradition dating to the musical quartets of the 1930s, this singing group brings energetic gospel sounds to The Fruit in this Duke Performances concert. Based in Eastern North Carolina and led by Alice Vines, the quartet closes out the seven-show celebration that commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Music Maker Relief Foundation.
