A few handpicked happenings that might be under your radar (until now).
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd
@ Mast General Store
>> Visit with Mr. & Mrs. Claus
An old tradition is rekindled at the Mast General Store in Winston-Salem. Many years ago, Brown-Rogers-Dixson, the former retailer that resided in the building, hosted thousands of bright-eyed children visiting with Santa. The good folks of Mast General have rekindled the tradition (and much nostalgia) and will host The Clauses several times this year. Find the hours here and mark your calendars!
( Friday: 4p – 8p // FREEEE! / bring your own camera to capture a keepsake photo)
@ Downtown Arts District
>> First Friday Gallery Hop – Holiday edition!
‘Tis the season to deck the halls and the shops, galleries, businesses and residences of The Downtown Arts District are doing just that! During tonight’s Hop the Downtown Arts District Association (DADA) invites you to come down and let them know which location had the “Best All Around Outdoor DADA Holiday Hop Decorations” (window and store front) and “Best All Around DADA Holiday Hop Decorations” (window, store front and interior of the location). The official ballot will be available at the DADA Info Booth located in the 600 block of N. Trade Street. Contest details here. Also planned – A visit by Santa’s Elves and several of his reindeer in the 600 block of N. Trade St; luminaries on 500 to 700 block of North Trade, 500 block of Liberty Street and Sixth Street; Christmas caroling and other holiday performances by several musical groups; violin and other performances of holiday music by DADA’s Youth Members; new art and craft exhibition openings plus more!
(7p – 10p // FREEEE! / Details)
@ The Milleneum Center
> Annual Miracle on 5th Street Party, presented by Twin City Santa:
Tonight’s the night for one of the Camel City’s most anticipated holiday soirees. This semi-formal event brings together young professionals from all over the Triad to collect holiday toys for donation to the children of the community. Your ticket and your donated gift will provide you complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, some light hors d’oueves, and live music all night. Specialty drinks from Tito’s Vodka and Maker’s Mark will also be available for purchase. Find the full scoop here!
(7p – midnight // ticket info here)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3rd
(6a – 1p // FREEEE!)
@ Chatham Building / 305 West Fourth Street
>> Cobblestone Farmers Market – Holiday Pop Up!
Expect the usual mix of produce, protein, cheese and speciality items that Cobblestone is known for, as well as some extras for those seeking holiday gift ideas. Vendors include Piemonte Farm, Fair Share Farm, Billy Place Farm, Harmony Ridge Farms, Lavender Anne’s, Chad’s Chai, UpDog Kombucha, Farmhaven, Rowland’s Row, Sanders Ridge and more. In addition to some amazing vendors, a/perture cinema will be joining the market with a movie poster sale and fresh popcorn.
(9a – 11a // FREEEE!)
@ Sawtooth Center for Visual Art
> Deck the Halls
Deck the Halls is Sawtooth’s largest fundraising event and generates proceeds that help support this special organization’s operations and arts-based programming. Beautifully-displayed in their gallery and gift shop setting, Deck the Halls features a unique variety of work from Sawtooth faculty, students and regional artists. This year, Deck the Halls will be free and open to the public December 2-21, 2016.
(Saturday: 10a – 4p // FREEE / find shopping hours here)
@ aperture cinema
> Special Fundraiser Screening of Elf
For a festive film break that doubles as a fundraiser, head over to our favorite independent cinema for a screening of Elf at 4p in the Main Theater. Funds from this special screening will be used to help send UNCSA filmmaking students to LA for their senior trip. There will be Papa Johns pizza afterwards as well as a raffle for a prize from a/perture cinema.
(4p // movie tickets: $10 / tickets + pizza: $15/ tickets + pizza + raffle: $20)
@ Downtown Winston-Salem
> 26th Annual Winston-Salem Jaycees Holiday Parade
Can you hear it? The rumbles of the bands on the street, the jingle of bells, and the happy cheers of children as they ask for Santa? On Saturday, The Winston-Salem Jaycees Holiday Parade kicks-off at 5p and Winston-Salem State University’s own Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson will serve as Grand Marshall. You can see Chancellor Robinson and the “Red Sea of Sound” along with more than 100 businesses, community groups and marching bands filling the streets. You can find the parade route here. The annual downtown Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will directly follow the parade.
(5p – 6:30p // FREEEE!)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH
@ Mary’s Gourmet Diner
> A Very “Mary” Holiday Drag Brunch
Pride Winston-Salem invites you to kick off the holiday season with a festive Holiday Drag Brunch over at Mary’s. The entertainer lineup includes: Mr and Miss Pride (Devonte Jackson and Courtney Nicole Wildfrost), Miss Holiday Onyx Jayde Addams, Zoi Montclaire, Love Lee Jackson, Flex Jones, Jade Nicole La-Roux and more. Heads up – seats fill up fast for this popular event so get yourselves there early.
(10a – 2p // $10 donation recommended)
@ Foothills Tasting Room / 3800 Kimwell Drive (off Stratford Road)
>> Holiday Hops & Shop!
A special juried Arts & Craft festival is going down over at Foothills Tasting Room on Sunday featuring over 70 arts and craft vendors. In addition to loads of opportunities to support local, Sawtooth School for Visual Art, will be on hand to help kids make an ornament to take home. There is no cost but donations are welcomed. StrEat Provision, Homeslice Pizza, Camel City Grill, and La Vie en Rose will be posted up with their food truck fare. And Foothills Brewing will be pouring two special seasonal releases: Frostbite Black IPA and Moravian Porter (Mmmmmm!)
(12p – 5p // details!)
@ RJ Reynold’s Auditorium
> Handel’s Messiah presented by Winston-Salem Mozart Club
The Mozart Club will help Triad music lovers get into the holiday spirit with its 86th(!) annual performance of Handel’s Messiah,complete with a 100-plus member chorus, full orchestra, soloists and Piedmont Opera’s James Allbritten serving as guest conductor. Each performance is community-driven and many feel that the Christmas season has its beginning with this awe-inspiring performance each year. Get yourselves educated on the glorious history of Handel’s Messiah here.
(3p // FREEEE! / donations welcomed!)
@ Test Pattern / Silver Moon Salon / Single Brothers
>> Benefit for Vinnie Fundraiser Concert
On November 14th, local resident Vinnie Mannino was found badly beaten and robbed on Trade Street. Vinnie is an avid Pokemon Go player and was out playing at the time of his attack. He is currently at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital recovering from serious face and head injuries and will need extensive medical and rehabilitative care. His friends, family and community have rallied their support and are hosting a benefit event Sunday night to help raise funds for his care. The event kicks off on Trade Street at 4pm for a Pokemon Go “Lure Light Up for Vinnie”. Constant Lures will be kept at the Silver Moon and Test Pattern stops. Live Music at Test Pattern (lineup here), bar games at Silver Moon and a Silent Auction at Single Brothers will all benefit Vinnie. Check out this article over at Triad City Beat for details.
(4p // donations encouraged)
psst…Can’t make the event but want to help? Contributions can be made here.
@ Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University
>> Annual Lovefeast
Thanks to Winston-Salem’s strong Moravian heritage, Lovefeasts have become a local tradition. Lovefeasts seeks to strengthen the bonds and the spirit of harmony in the community, as well as forgive past disputes and instead, love one another. Ending with a sweet ritual, each participant receives a lighted candle in addition to a sweet bun and creamy coffee.The annual Wake Forest Lovefeast is a highly anticipated favorite, and due to its popularity organizers are hosting two services this year at beautiful Wait Chapel.The new family-friendly, 4:30p service will be slightly abbreviated and last about an hour. Rather than a sermon, the Christmas story will be told. The traditional 8p service runs about 90 minutes. The services are free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served. Both events will be streamed live online at go.wfu.edu/lovefeastlive.
(4:30p & 8p // FREEEE!)
TOWNIES PICK(S) OF THE WEEK!
Atelier Bakery at Meadowlark Now Open!
Shoutout to our pals, Pablo and Jennifer (plus Hannah and crew) on the opening of their second location off Robinhood Road! All of the scratch-made, buttery favorites and rich coffee drinks you know and love downtown are available. Homemade ice cream is in the works. Plenty of parking, wooden tables, a kids’ area and comfy seating puts this new spot on my “favorite places to work” (and treat yo’self) list.
Details!
Townies 