Quail Ridge Books & Music

Holiday program with Charles Frazier, author of “Cold Mountain,” “Thirteen Moons,” and “Nightwoods” will read from his works, share holiday memories, and read from a Universalist newsletter for 1938 that describes Christmas with members of the Inman family on Cold Mountain. Refreshments served. Guitarist Bruce Emery will perform. 7 p.m. Saturday (music starts at 6 p.m.), Free. 919/828-1588, www. quailridgebooks.com

Scandinavian Christmas Fair

Live music, authentic folk dances, traditional homemade Scandinavian food, Nordic folk crafts, activities in Pippi Longstocking’s house, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, N.C. State Fairgrounds, Holshouser Building, $7 adults, children under 13 free. www.scanfair.org, 919-824-2335.

Pictures with Santa

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Depot parking lot, 110 S. White St.; Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Wake Forest Town Hall, 111 S. White St.; Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-noon. Depot parking lot, 110 S. White St., No charge for sitting, images sent to CVS Pharmacy on Roosevelt Ave. for order. Contact Lisa Newhouse, 919-435-9415.

Carols & Cocoa

With Ebenezer Baptist Choir, 10 a.m. Saturday, Burwell School Historic Site, 319 N. Churton St., 732-7451 or www.burwellschool.org

Holiday Gem and Mineral Sale

Polished cabochons, spheres, cubes, gemstone pendants set in sterling silver, lapidary tools and more for collectors and craftsmen of all ages, sponsored by the Central NC Mineral Club, Free admission, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, 919-929-5673.

Nutcracker

Infinity Ballet of Apex presents excerpts at the Halle Cultural Arts Center, 3 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m Sunday, $5; 237 N. Salem St., Apex. 919-249-1120, www.apexnc.org/halle

Holly Days at Sanderson

More than 150 vendors offering jewelry, food, holiday decor items and more at Sanderson High School. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 5550 Dixon Drive, Raleigh. $2 per person with admission proceeds benefiting the Food Bank. Sanderson High vocal ensembles will perform on Saturday.

Joel Lane Musuem House

“The Birthplace of North Carolina’s Capital,” will sponsor its annual Colonial Christmas Open House celebration, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Traditional greenery decorations reflect different ways in which colonists and early Americans celebrated the Christmas holiday. Re-enactors will demonstrate scenes of 18th-century life, live music, children using Colonial games and crafts through the Hands-on History program. Free admission; donations requested. 160 S. Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh. 919-833-3431 or www.joellane.org.

12th Annual Breakfast with St. Nick

Sponsored by Mt. Bethel Presbyterian Church. Your breakfast tickets include breakfast buffet, your child’s photo with St. Nick himself, face painting, tattoos, crafts, storytelling and more. Holiday goodies at our youth bake sale. Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win great prizes. Your breakfast ticket enters you into drawings for door prizes drawn every 15 minutes. 8-11 a.m. Saturday, $5 or $20 family ticket. 3541 Rose of Sharon Road, Durham. 919-383-3854 or www.mtbethelchurch.org.

Tour of Historic Homes

Presented by Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood, noon-6 p.m. Saturday. Tour several of Raleigh’s oldest homes; learn about historic and recent renovations and see stunning holiday décor 1-5 p.m. Live holiday entertainment, coffee, cider and craft fair. Adults $15; Children 10 and under, $10. 919-744-8934 or www.glenwoodbrooklyn.com.

Annual Candlelight Tour

Downtown Hillsborough, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, 919-7328156 or www.hillsboroughchamber.com

Handel’s Messiah

Cary Community Choir, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Westwood Baptist Church, 200 Westhigh St., Cary. Free, but donations collected for The Carying Place, a nonprofit serving Wake County families in need. www.carycommunitychoir.com

Boylan Heights ArtWalk

More than 100 artists showing and selling their work, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; food trucks, free admission, www.boylanheights.org or Lyman Collins, 919-337-3633.

Celtic Christmas

Benefit for Kids Need Christmas ( www.kidsneedchristmas.com); bring unwrapped toys for boys or girls or make a donation and get a Christmas CD as a thank-you gift. Celtic vendors, live music. 4 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Tir Na nOg Irish Pub, 218 S. Blount St., Raleigh

Winterfest concert

Features Meredith College music ensembles and audience singing, free, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday, Jones Auditorium, Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.

Christmas Craft Show

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Big Barn at Daniel Boone, 388 Ja-Max Drive, Hillsborough. 919-732-2361 or www.theshopsatdanielboone.com.

Aversboro Road Baptist Church

Children’s Choir Christmas Musical, “The Light Has Come,” 6 p.m., Sunday; Chancel Choir, Orchestra, and Handbell Choir present “A Celebration of Carols,” 7 p.m. Dec. 7, 1600 Aversboro Rd., Garner. 919-779-0434 or www.arbc-garner.org.

N.C. Museum of History

Time for Tots: La Posada, 10 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. Dec. 4 or Dec. 11, ages 3-5 with adult. $1 per person. To register, call 919-807-7992. Make It, Take It: Ornamental Holidays, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Dec. 8. Free drop-in program for children to learn to make traditional North Carolina ornaments. 919-807-7900.

Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace

Christmas Candlelight Tours, 6:30 p.m-9 p.m. Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, 264 Aycock Road, Fremont, warm apple cider and holiday music, 919-242-5581.

Marbles Kids Museum

Little Kids Cook-Gingerbread Man, preschoolers prepare tasty dishes inspired by favorite storybooks, 9 a.m.-noon, Dec. 5, pre-registration required. www.marblekidsmuseum.org/littlekids. An Evening With Elves features a family-style dinner buffet, crafts, activities and meet-and-greet with elves, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Dec. 7, $25 for members, $30 for non-members, advance ticket purchase required, www.marbleskidsmuseum.org. Decorate a keepsake gingerbread house during this Gingerbread Workshop, 10 a.m.-noon, Dec. 15, $30 per house (up to four guests), $5 per additional guest, limited space, pre-registration required. www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/goingon.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House

Activities at the State Capitol kick off at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 with the lighting of luminarias, musical performances, cookies and hot chocolate, local food trucks and more; at 6:15 p.m. Gov. Perdue and First Gentlemean Bob Eaves light the Union Square tree; at 6:30 p.m. the open house begins with a chance to view the holiday decorations. Free. The Museum of History will be open until 7:30 p.m.; the Museum of Natural Sciences will be open until 9 p.m.

Advent Jazz

St. Ambrose Episcopal Church presents The St. Ambrose Jazz Mass Quartet, 7 p.m. Dec. 6. Free with a repast after the concert. 813 Darby St., Raleigh. 919-833-8055.

Nativity Drama

Walk through a nativity scene at Salem Baptist Church; 6 p.m., Dec.6; 6 p.m. Dec. 7; 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8; 5:30 p.m., Dec. 9. 1821 N. Salem St., Apex, 919-362-7327. www.salem-bc.org

Ira David Wood III’s A Christmas Carol

Theatre In the Park’s original musical adaptation, “A Christmas Carol,” based on the book by Charles Dickens and adapted for stage by Ira David Wood III. Times vary. Dec. 6-12, Progress Energy Center, Raleigh; Dec. 15-16, Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham. $25-$80. 919-831-6936 or www.theatreinthepark.com.

Cinderella

Presented by Raleigh Little Theatre, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6-16, Thursday and Friday; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Musical comedy is a holiday sugarplum for the whole family. A visually stunning musical combining elegant costumes and scenery with song, dance, conniving step-relatives and resourceful fairy-folk. Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh. $25 with reserved seating. 919-821-4579 or raleighlittletheatre.org/shows.

Capital City Girls Choir

Christmas concert, $10, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Jones Auditorium, Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough St. Raleigh.

Lighting of Wake Forest

See the town’s 30-foot Christmas tree’s light by Mayor Vivian Jones, pictures with Santa, choir performances and carriage rides, 6 p.m-8 p.m. Dec. 7, Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. 919-435-9415.

Christmas By Candlelight

Celebrate an 1870 Christmas at the Duke Family homestead. Enjoy tours, caroling, dances, hot cider and other goodies. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. Duke Homestead Road, Durham. Free. 919-477-5498.

Cantari Men’s Ensemble

“All is Calm” commemorates an extraordinary moment in history when in 1914 German and English soldiers put down their guns to meet in No Man’s Land and exchanged gifts. It combines singing of trench songs, patriotic tunes and carols, along with text taken from letters, journals, poetry and even an old radio broadcast. Dec 7-9 and Dec. 13-16. $16 in advance, $18 day of show. www.artscenterlive.org or 919-929-2787.

Annual Tree Lighting

Town of Morrisville, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. A night of entertainment from the Ready Set Go choir, a brass band, crafts for the children and refreshments. The evening will conclude as we all count down to the lighting of the tree. Morrisville Town Hall. 919-463-6207.

Holiday Fair

More than 100 vendors selling handmade crafts, food items and other Christmas gifts. Also take a picture with Santa. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 8, Garner Magnet High School PTSA, 2101 Spring Drive, Garner.

Christmas Open House

Seasonal decorations, music, refreshments and demonstrations by re-enactors at this free program. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 8. House in the Horseshoe, 288 Alston House Road, Sanford. 910-947-2051.

Bake Sale & Craft Bazaar

Homemade edibles, crochet and knit corner, crafty creations and recycled and regifted items. All proceeds go to mission work of United Methodist women, Free admission, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 8, Knightdale United Methodist, 7071 Forestville Road, Knightdale.

Raleigh Ringers

The acclaimed handbell ensemble will present holiday concerts 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8; 3 p.m. Dec. 9; $17-$19 in advance, $2 more at the door, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center, 2 E. South St., Raleigh. www.rr.org, 919-847-7574.

Haywood Hall

The home of John Haywood, N.C.’s first elected treasurer will be decorated and open to the public, holiday music and light refreshments, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 8 and Dec. 9, free but contributions appreciated. 211 New Bern Place, Raleigh. Santa will visit Sunday from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.; a photographer will be present if you want a picture with Santa.

Winter Holiday Concert

Lively contemporary music for winds, traditional holiday tunes, works by Back and Dmitri Kabalevsky and non-traditional arrangements of familiar works by Mozart and Mannheim Steamroller. 3 p.m. Dec. 9, $5, free for children 10 and under. Durham School of the Arts, Weaver Auditorium, 400 N. Duke St. Attendees are encourage to bring a non-perishable food item or toy to donate to Durham Rescue Mission.

Christmas Celebration

Youth hand bells and the Christmas story through the eyes of a donkey and a mouse. 5 p.m. Dec. 9, Genesis United Methodist Chruch, 850 High House Road, Cary, 919-467-2128.

St. Mary’s School

Lighting O’ the Grove features caroling, Christmas music by the St. Mary’s Chorale and the Ladies in Blue a capella group, a visit from Santa and Scrooge, refreshments and the lighting of the Christmas tree. More than 600 luminarias will light the campus. 7:15 p.m. Dec. 9. Free and open to all, but cash donations accepted to aid the school Hurricane Sandy relief fund. Canned goods will be collected for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Holiday House Tour

Hosted by Preservation Society of Chapel Hill, 1 p.m. -5 p.m., Dec. 8 and 9. Kick off the holidays by visiting seven historic homes in downtown Chapel Hill. Tours include the former homes of author Betty Smith and bandleader Kay Kyser. $25 in advance; $30 day of tour. 919-942-7818 or www.chapelhillpreservation.com.

Holiday Season Around the World

Presented by The Durham Chorale, 3 p.m., Dec. 9. A wide range of seasonal music from the classical – Handel’s “For Unto Us a Child is Born” – to familiar carols with a surprising jazzy twist. A highlight is a selection from “Amahl And The Night Visitors” by Gian Carlo Menotti. The 60-member chorus is led by director Melody Zentner. Durham Academy Lower School, 3501 Ridge Road, Durham. $10.

Chanukah Celebration

Enjoy a Chanukah show, a latke lunch, candle lighting, holiday songs, kids games and more, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 9 Kehillah Synagogue, $16 adult, $10 children under 13 (non-members), 1200 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, admin@kehillahsynagogue.org or 919-942-8914 for info. Please bring a canned food donation for the Inter-Faith Council.

Christmas in the Carolinas

“During the Civil War” living history program depicts how Christmas was celebrated then on a Piedmont farm. Old St. Nick will visit and a hog’s head will be roasted. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 15; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 16; Bennett Place State Historic Site, 4409 Bennett Memorial Road, Durham. 919-383-4345.

Footnotes Tap Ensemble

The professional nonprofit adult tap company presents “Nine Ladies Tapping and A Guy,” a lively evening of music, rhythm and tap. 7 p.m. Dec. 12, Free admission and light refreshments served; Carolina Inn, 211 Pittsboro St., Chapel Hill, 919-918-2715. www.carolinainn.com/twelvedays-events.php

Holiday Concert in the Barn

Presented by the community choruses of Fearrington. Seasonal songs old and new. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Fearrington Village, 240 Market St., Pittsboro. $7. 919-542-2121.

Santaland Diaries

Automatic Vaudeville returns with its hilarious Christmas comedy written by David Sedaris, “The Santaland Diaries.” 8 p.m. Dec. 12- Dec. 15; 3 p.m., Dec. 16. Theatre in the Park, 107 Pullen Road, Raleigh. $15-$20. 919-831-6936 or www.theatreinthepark.com.

Live Nativity

Drive-through event tells the Christmas story through narration and music with live animals and individuals portraying the people touched by the birth of the Christ child. 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Dec. 13-15, Hephzibah Baptist Church, 4633 Hwy 70 E. Princeton, 919-965-5886. www.hbcprinceton.org or facebook.com/HephzibahBaptist

Cary Ballet Company

Presents two dance shows with the 3D Project. “Visions of Sugarplums” is a magical classic “Nutcracker” ballet in the dreamy Land of Snow and battles with menacing mice; “All Wrapped Up” is a new holiday fantasy set to well-loved sounds of the season with a special appearance from Santa and his reindeer. 7 p.m. Dec. 14; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 15; 2 p.m. Dec. 16. $15 for adults, $12 children, students and seniors, Cary Arts Center, www.etix.com, 800-514-3849.

Carols of Christmas

A holiday tradition featuring the Raleigh Boychoir, 7 p.m. Dec. 15. Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Five Points, Raleigh. Tickets must be purchased in advance. www.raleighboychoir.org or 919-881-9259.

Barriskill Dance Theater

Presents “A Very Bariskill Nutcracker,” using Tchaikovsky’s original music, this production combines jazz and tap dance with classical ballet to tell the story of Clara and her magical Christmas journey. 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 15; 1 p.m. Dec. 16, Reynolds Industries Theater in the Bryan Center at Duke University. $20 for premium seats, $15 for adults, $10 children under 10. Tickets available at tickets.duke.edu or by calling 919-684-4444, 919-489-5100 or barbara@barriskilldance.com.

Concert Dancers of Raleigh

Performing “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a one-hour ballet that includes elves, reindeer, toys and Santa. 4 p.m. Dec. 16; Jones Auditorium at Meredith College; $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children in advance; $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children at the door. 919-782-0622.

Christmas Cantata

A celebration of carols by Joseph M. Martin, presented by Genesis Chancel Choir, Instrumental Ensemble and guests. 9 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. Dec. 16. Genesis United Methodist Church, 850 High House Road, Cary. 919-467-2128.

Little Windows Holiday Concert

The duo of Mark Weems and Julee Glaub will perform a festive mix of traditional holiday songs and Appalachian and Irish music, $15, 4 p.m. Dec. 16. Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop on t he Cary Town Hall Campus, www.friendsofpagewalker.org or 919-460-4963.

Christmas Concert

The North Carolina Boys Choir and the Chamber Choir sing English carols with descants and a short cantata by Buxtehude. The girls’ choir will sing too. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, Duke University Chapel, chapel.duke.edu. Tickets available one hour before the performance or by visiting www.ncboyschoir.org. 919-489-0291.

Black Nativity

The retelling of the birth of Jesus with dance, gospel music and poetry by Langston Hughes, choreography by Chuck Davis and solos by Rozlyn Sorrell and Connie McCoy Rogers, 8 p.m. Dec. 20- 22; 2 p.m. Dec. 22 -23. $25 for adults, $20 for students, $15 for groups of 10 or more; Parking is free; Saint Mary’s School, Pittman Auditorium, 900 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. 919-264-7089, www.thejusticetheaterproject.org

Luminarias

Friends and neighbors are invited to prepare and place luminarias around Fallon Park. Sponsored by Fallon Park Garden Club, 2 p.m., Dec. 31 (rain day Jan. 1), 2605 Cooleemee Drive. 919-783-5867.