Holiday events in the Triad
By Judie Holcomb-Pack
Get your calendar out – it’s time to start penciling in all the wonderful holiday events that happen during “the most wonderful time of the year.” Below are highlights of a few of the events and activities that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
*Kick off the holiday season with a trip to view the amazing light displays with over 1 million lights at Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights, 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. through Jan. 1. Over 100 separate displays spread over a four-mile route, a light-and-motion-filled adventure.
*Enjoy the beauty of a Victorian Christmas at Korner’s Folly, 413 S. Main St., on Wednesdays-Saturdays through Jan. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays 1 -5 p.m. Self-guided tours will include 22 decorated rooms. Tickets are $12 adults; $8 children ages 6-18 (under age 6 free).
*Experience the beauty and smells of the holidays at the annual Candle Tea hosted by Home Moravian Church in the Single Brothers House, 600 S. Main St. in Old Salem. The Candle Tea will be held Dec. 6, 7 and 8 and 9 from 1-8:30 p.m., and Dec. 8, 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sing carols, enjoy a cup of Moravian coffee and sugarcake, and end with hearing the Christmas story read while viewing a miniature scene of Bethlehem. Tickets are just $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.
*Bring the grandkids to The Christmas Puppet Show: The Night Before Christmas at Korner’s Folly, on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Come hear the Korner’s spin on the classic 1820s poem by Clement Clarke Moore. The Puppet Show is followed by a visit from Santa so bring your camera for this great photo opportunity. Tickets are $5/person.
*Showtune: The Holiday Edition will be presented by 40 Plus Stage Company through Dec. 6-8 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 8-9 at 2 p.m., at the Mountcastle Black Box Theatre of the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 N. Spruce St. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children. For tickets, visit www.rhodesartscenter.org or call (336) 747-1414.
*An annual Christmas tradition is “A Christmas Carol,” Triad Stage’s holiday classic by Charles Dickens. The performances will be held at Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce St., through Dec. 23. Travel through the past, present and future with Ebenezer Scrooge. For dates and ticket information, visit www.triadstage.org or purchase tickets at www.rhodesartscenter.org.
*There will be an opportunity to enjoy Handel’s Messiah: Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m., at Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. Fifth St., with music performed by the Winston-Salem Symphony and voices of the Messiah Festival Chorus. Tickets are $15 and up. For more information, visit www.wssymphony.org
*An Old Salem Christmas Carol will be presented Dec. 7 -9, 14-16, and 20 -22, at SECCA, 750 Marguerite Drive. A passing stranger is welcomed into Salem Tavern by a cheerful group celebrating Christmas Eve. The story he tells them is magical, and yet vaguely familiar. It’s 1887 and hard times have fallen on the people of Winston and nearby Salem. This heartwarming world premiere adaptation was written exclusively for The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem. For more information, visit www.thelittletheatreofws.org.
*Prepare to be dazzled when The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s renowned ballet and a long-time holiday tradition, returns for its 53rd year. UNCSA’s Nutcracker Orchestra will perform the music. This year’s performances will be held Dec. 7 -16 in the Steven’s Center, 405 W. Fourth St. Tickets range from $20 – $75 and are available at www.uncsa.edu/performances.
*A Kernersville Yuletide will happen on Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Make the trip to South Main Street in Kernersville and visit three destinations that have teamed up to create an enchanting holiday event. Stroll down South Main Street and stop by Kernersville Moravian Church to listen to music of the season, shop for some last-minute Christmas gifts, and visit the traditional Moravian tavern. Continue on to Korner’s Folly to explore the 188s house (regular tour admission applies). Then finish up at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gardens.
*The 34th presentation of A Christmas Memory, the one-woman show by Robin Voiers based on the short story by Truman Capote, will be presented on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. at Reynolda House, 2250 Reynolda Road. Reservations are required as this show sells out quickly. For tickets, visit www.reynoldahouse.org.
With all these choices for holiday events, it will be hard to choose which ones to attend. However you choose to celebrate the holidays, here’s wishing you the joy and peace of this special season.
