Weekend Best Bets: Markets, Museums and Music

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Spend an intimate evening with Matisyahu at The Carolina Theatre on Sunday.
Spend an intimate evening with Matisyahu at The Carolina Theatre on Sunday.

Cider & Cookies – Thursday through Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday, 1-5pm – If you’re downtown doing some holiday shopping, stop by for hot cider and cookies, featuring the vintage Duke Toll House recipe. Stick around to see current exhibits like Durham A-Z: H is for Hayti, and Durham Beginnings: 1865-1885. Museum of Durham History, 500 W. Main St.; Free; 919-246-9993

Hour of Code in the Lab – Thursday through Saturday, 10:30am-2pm and Sunday, 12:30-4:30pm – In celebration of International Computer Science Education Week, participate in hands-on activities to learn how to think like a computer and try out different programming tutorials. Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave.; Free with museum admission; 919-220-5429

Holiday Sip & Shop – Thursday, 3-8pm – Get 20% off full price merchandise. Fifi’s of Durham, 1000 W. Main St., Ste. 1B; 919-806-3434

Santa Train – Thursday through Sunday, 5:20-8pm – Take a nighttime train ride through a Christmas wonderland to meet Santa and his helpers at this 38th annual event, the Museum of Life and Science’s largest annual fundraiser and a beloved holiday tradition for the whole family. Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave.; $15-$20; 919-220-5429

“A Fool for Christmas” – Thursday, 7pm – Allan Gurganas tells the story of a socially awkward loner named Verne who manages a pet shop in a mall off an interstate, somewhere in North Carolina. A pregnant runaway teenage girl takes to hanging out at the mall, and, out of sympathy for a fellow outcast, Verne befriends her. Allan has performed his Christmas tale at the bookshop several times over the last 10 years, and changes the story a bit every time. The bookshop will be serving hot cider, cookies and wine. The Regulator Bookshop, 720 Ninth St.; Free, but donations of new or lightly used children’s books for Book Harvest will be appreciated; 919-286-2700

A Very Merry Motorco: Community Carol Extravaganza – Thursday, 7:30pm – A public, community-wide Christmas carol/holiday music jam/sing-along in celebration of Sloan Meek’s birthday involving Look Homeward, Pinkerton Raid and other local musicians. Sloan is a Durham personality who is a great friend and avid fan of Look Homeward, The Pinkerton Raid and many other local musicians because of his involvement with Reality Ministries. Celebrate Sloan’s Birthday and the Christmas season with his gift for Durham: a rockin’ rollicking reindeer rattling Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long with music, games, prizes, treats and a Reality Ministries handmade gift store. Motorco Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave.; Free

Roxanne Cash – Thursday, 8pm – The iconic singer/songwriter visits Duke Performances for a concert featuring songs from her recent Grammy-winning album, “The River & The Thread,” backed by a full band. Page Auditorium, 402 Chapel Dr.; $15-$55; 919-684-4444

The Tramp’s New World – Thursday through Saturday, 8:15pm and Sunday, 7:30pm – Created and performed by Rob Jansen, this one-man show tracks the journey of Charlie Chaplin’s “Tramp” character as the lone survivor of an atomic blast; like Chaplin’s classic films, it finds humor and humanity in the unlikeliest of situations. Manbites Dog Theater, 703 Foster St.; $5-$25; 919-682-3343

Santa Paws – Friday, 6-8pm – Join us for an evening of holiday fun with your canine friends! Features pictures with Santa, games and activities, holiday pet market, and an animal food and toy drive. Durham Armory, 220 Foster St.; Free; 919-560-4355 ext. 27220

Third Annual 20 Buck Chuck – Friday, 6-9pm – Artists of the Triangle share original artwork at an affordable price point to encourage the public to purchase art for the holiday season to share with friends and family. Artists will be onsite to talk and share in food and drink, including free beer from Dueling Sloths. SPECTRE Arts, 1004 Morning Glory Ave.; Free admission; 919-213-1441

Christmas by Candlelight – Friday, 7-9pm – Costumed interpreters lead a candlelit tour through the historic area festooned with decorations in the style of the 1870s. Enjoy live music and dancing in the Third Factory, then move on to the Duke’s home, where you will be welcomed with Christmas carols, story telling, hot apple cider and other treats. Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Rd.; $6, adults and $3, children ages 10 and younger; 919-477-5498

Valentina Lisitsa – Friday, 8pm – Born and trained in Kiev, the pianist got her start as Hilary Hahn’s accompanist, then found global acclaim when her YouTube videos went viral. At Duke Performances, Lisitsa will play a melodic program that explores short-form works for piano. Baldwin Auditorium, 1336 Campus Dr.; $15-$38; 919-684-4444

Inaugural Holiday Half Marathon – Saturday, 8am – Grab your best running shoes and participate in a half marathon, 10K or 5K with plenty of holiday cheer including jingle bells, drumlines and festive music, plus all runners of legal drinking age will receive two free post-race beers from Boston Beer Company. Before the big race, children will have the opportunity to participate in a Holiday Kids Fun Run. There will be a bounce house, face painting, and Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance! Northgate Mall, 1058 W Club Blvd.; $35+

Christmas in the Carolinas During the Civil War – Saturday, 10am–4pm – With period-specific decorations in place and historians on hand, see how Christmas was celebrated in the Piedmont during the Civil War. There will be children’s games, demonstrations, apple cider, cookies and more. Bennett Place, 4409 Bennett Memorial Rd.; Free, donations accepted; 919-383-4345

Guglhupf’s Christmas Market – Saturday, 10am-4pm – Back for the seventh year, this annual holiday market features local vendors selling handcrafted gifts including pottery, jewelry, ornaments and much more. Plus, Guglhupf’s bakery will be selling gourmet items packaged for gifting! Enjoy traditional German street food, live music from folk-baroque-alternative country duo The Barred Owls, live classical cello and professional face-painting from Character Paints. Guglhupf, 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.; Free admission; 919-401-2600

Saturday Storytime – Saturday, 10:30am – Former preschool teacher Courtney Saffie reads from some of her favorite children’s books from authors including Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling, Harper Lee and many more! The Regulator Bookshop, 720 Ninth St.; Free; 919-286-2700

Tinker Tech – Saturday, 10:30am-noon – Create your own wooly, wired circuit creature using colorful felt to make your fuzzy monster, then thread conductive wire and an LED inside to light it up! Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave.; $15, plus museum admission; 919-220-5429

Christmas on the Farm – Saturday, 11am-3pm – Enjoy Christmas Cookies baked with the farm’s duck eggs and honey, BWF eggnog, hot cocoa and a bonfire to keep you warm as Christmas songs fill the air and you enjoy community and the beauty of the farm. Grab a plate of chili – made with 100% grass-fed beef — and corn bread for $6/plate. Take home some pasture-raised meat and eggs, and farm-crafted soaps and candles. Bring friends and family, chairs for around the fire, and a cooler to bring home delicious and healthy food for your dinner table. Blue Whistler Farm, 9923 Roxboro Rd., Bahama; Free admission

The Nutcracker – Saturday, 11am and 3:30pm – A hometown tradition with family-friendly pricing. Live music by the Tchaikovsky Virtuosi conducted by Maestro Andrew McAfee. The Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St.; $12-$27; 919-560-3030

The Nutcracker – Saturday, 2pm & 7pm, and Sunday, 2pm – A family favorite for more than a decade, the Carolina Ballet’s rendition of the classic production returns to Durham with new illusions and a dazzling show, adding wonder to the holiday season and bringing Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score to life. DPAC, 123 Vivian St.; $35.25+; 919-680-2787

Chestnut Roast and Carols – Saturday, 4-6pm – Enjoy free roasted chestnuts sourced from High Rock Farm in Gibsonville, North Carolina, an amazing estate and chestnut grove built in 1807. Jesse James DeConto of The Pinkerton Raid and the monthly Beer & Hymns is leading a group of carolers. Join in classic carols you know and love, as well as a mix of other nostalgic holiday tunes. Fullsteam Brewery, 726 Rigsbee Ave.; Free

RED DOT: Community Art Exhibit – Saturday, 6-9pm – A holiday fundraiser for The Carrack featuring small affordable works of art priced at $25, $50 and $75. Mingle with artists and enjoy light refreshments and music. The Carrack, 111 W. Parrish St.

Cécile McLorin Salvant – Saturday, 8pm – This rising star closes Duke Performances’ season with her quartet, singing both rare and unrecorded jazz and blues tunes and a collection of jazz standards. Baldwin Auditorium, 1336 Campus Dr.; $15-$34; 919-684-4444

Durham Craft Market Holiday Show – Sunday, noon-5pm – The same local artisans you typically find across from the Durham Farmers’ Market join together for a special holiday market. Durham Armory, 220 Foster St.

Victorian Family Christmas – Sunday, 1-4pm – Join costumed interpreters to celebrate an 1870 Christmas with cider and cookies, traditional Christmas crafts and a visit with Santa in the parlor. Sing carols, hear stories, pop popcorn, and make and take home Christmas ornaments and crafts. Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Rd.; $2, children ages 6 and younger are free; 919-477-5498

LoMo Market Holiday Pop-up Shop – Sunday, 4-7pm – Shop gifts and crafts from local vendors, sip on hot cocoa and enjoy hot tamales and soup from Soul Cocina. Trinity Park, 410 Watts St.

An Intimate Evening with Matisyahu – Sunday, 8pm – On this tour, the reggae rapper reconnects with long-time musical collaborators and friends from his early touring days, including Aaron Dugan, the guitarist on his breakthrough album, “Live at Stubb’s,” which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Matisyahu and his band present an evening of stripped-back arrangements highlighting the music that launched his career through to his most recent release, “Akeda.” The Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St.; $36+; 919-560-3030

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