'Tis the Season

POSTPONED: MORGANTON CHRISTMAS PARADE NOW SCHEDULED FOR DEC. 17, 6 P.M.

Let the festivities begin! Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it’s time to look ahead to the wonderful, bustling, sometimes chaotic time that is the holiday season.

Whether you’re looking forward to celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or the Winter Solstice, we’ve got your guide to holiday happenings across Burke County.

CHRISTMAS PARADES

• Valdese: Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.
• Glen Alpine: Saturday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m.
• Hildebran: Saturday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m.
• Morganton: POSTPONED UNTIL DEC. 17 DUE TO WEATHER Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m. 
• Drexel: Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.
• Rutherford College: Saturday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m., Light the Night Christmas Parade and Fireworks

MORGANTON

• Small Business Saturday: Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Downtown Morganton
• Yuletide Art Markets: Sundays, Dec. 1 and 15, noon to 4 p.m., Fonta Flora Brewery, 317 N. Green St., Morganton
• Santa Claus visits on the Courthouse Square: Every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 21, 5-8 p.m., Morganton
• Downtown Carriage Rides: Every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 21, 5:30-9 p.m., Morganton
• Morganton Combined Choirs Concert: Sunday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m., First Baptist Church, Morganton
• Holiday Farmers Market: Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 111 N. Green St., Morganton
• Santa visits at Merrill Mischief: Sunday, Dec. 15, 12:30-4 p.m.

VALDESE

• The Blue Ridge Edition in Concert: Saturday, Nov. 30, 3 p.m., Old Rock School Auditorium, 400 Main St. W., Valdese
• Hatley Memorial Tree Lighting: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m., Old Rock School, 400 Main St. W., Valdese, Children’s Christmas Concert and free hot chocolate
• Mingle with Kris Kringle: Saturday, Dec. 14, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Old Rock School, 400 Main St. W., Valdese
• The Carolina Christmas Show: Friday-Saturday, Dec. 21-22, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 23, 4:15 p.m., Old Rock School, 400 Main St. W., Valdese

DREXEL

• Drexel Christmas Tree Lighting: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7:15 p.m., downtown park
• Hallyville Market: Friday, Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m., 205 S. Main St., Drexel
• Christmas on Main: Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GLEN ALPINE

• Carolina Kidz, The Gift of Giving Kids Festival and Toy Drive: Friday, Dec. 13, collection all day, festival 5-8 p.m., 201 W. Main St., in Glen Alpine

CITY OF MORGANTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (COMMA) (commaonline.org)

• A Celtic Christmas, by A Taste of Ireland: Monday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.
• The Nutcracker, by the World Ballet Company: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.
• New Dimensions School Holiday Celebration: Monday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m. (K-2nd grade), 7 p.m. (3rd-5th grade)
• The Bands of Freedom present “Christmas Scapes:” Thursday, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m.
• Holiday Spectacular with the Western Piedmont Symphony: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.
• 3rd Annual Winter Solstice & Christmas Jazz Concert featuring Joseph Hasty & Centerpiece Jazz: Saturday, Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m.

BURKE ARTS COUNCIL, 506 S. Sterling St., Morganton

• After School Art Club: Wednesdays, Dec. 4 and 11, 3:30 p.m.
• Holiday Charcuterie Plate Making Class: Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Holiday Appetizers Class: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.
• ‘Tis the Season Strings with the Carolina Primrose Quartet: Friday, Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m. (reception), 6 p.m. (concert)

OLD COLONY PLAYERS

• Miracle on 34th Street: Dec. 6, 7, 12, 13, and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m., Old Rock School Auditorium, 400 Main St. W., Valdese