Enjoy festive movie screenings, holiday family fun on a farm or get last-minute shopping done at a local market this weekend
Compiled by Eloise Rich
Thursday-Friday
‘Atmospheric Memory’
Don’t miss the last chance to view this unique, immersive sensory art installation at Memorial Hall. Light and sound collide to create an interactive and provoking experience. Purchase a ticket for an entry slot between 10 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. each day.
Thursday-Sunday
Gingerbread Birdhouse Fundraiser
Donate to sign up for Wonder Connection’s end of year fundraiser. Construct your gingerbread birdhouse and enter it in a contest to benefit hospitalized children. Photos of your creation must be submitted by Dec. 20 at 5 p.m.
Winter Wonderland with Goats
Craft your own ornament, pick out the perfect pine to take home from the Christmas tree forest, cozy up with hot cocoa on a train ride and take holiday photos in the festive barn at Spring Haven Farm. Purchase a ticket for an arrival time slot between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the farm remains open until 6 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday
The Mountain Goats
The band performs songs from their latest album, “Getting Into Knives,” that throughout carries the theme of water, at Cat’s Cradle. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are required
Thursday
Kids, Cookies and Candy Canes
Celebrate the season by bringing the kiddos to the Carrboro Century Center for cookies, crafts and a holiday show from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is encouraged in advance.
Yule & Jewels
Melissa Designer Jewelry and Carlisle & Linny Vintage Jewelry bring their jewels and baubles to Yonder Southern Cocktails & Brew for a festive shopping experience from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a brew while you browse.
Friday-Saturday
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
Pull in and park at The Drive-In at Carraway Village for the premiere of Marvel’s latest installment of the Spider-Man series. Tickets should be purchased in advance. Showtimes are at 8:15 p.m. each evening.
Sundaes with Santa
Head over to Maple View Farm’s country store in Hillsborough any time between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. with your letters to Santa, and his friends from the North Pole will place them in his mailbox. A percentage of ice cream sales will be donated to Sam’s Wish Fund Holiday Cheer to provide gifts to children with life-threatening diseases.
The Holland Brothers Live
The Piedmont-based band plays a variety of country, old-fashioned bluegrass and blues-focused tunes at Vecino Brewing Co. from 7 to 9 p.m.
Luau Bash
At Local 506, RUMHAM, Sibbanac and Durham’s pop-punk group Plastic Flamingos gather for a lively night of live music. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are required.
Saturday-Sunday
Holiday at The Farm
Stop by 1870 Farm to visit festive dressed-up animals, meet Santa, make s’mores over a campfire and sip steaming apple cider during a hayride. Limited tickets are available for time slots starting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Saturday
Webb Telescope Launch Party
Kidzu Children’s Museum hosts a daylong celebration of the James Webb Space Telescope launch. Joined by North Carolina School of Science and Math and Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, visitors can partake in space-related crafts, view demonstrations of robots, rockets and more. Sessions take place from 10 a.m. to noon, 12:20 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Registration is required.
Uli’s Raclette Pop-Up
Stop by Botanist & Barrel in Cedar Grove to sample cider alongside the Raclette’s delicious cheeses from 1 to 5 p.m.
Brunch with Santa
Santa’s in town from the North Pole – and he’ll be visiting The Carolina Inn! Experience the holiday magic and join Sain Nick for a brunch buffet including cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles and more. Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options are available. Tickets are required.
Smith and Lang
From 2 to 5 p.m., this duo of acoustic guitarists covers 1950s favorites and throwbacks live at Gizmo Brew Works’ Chapel Hill tap room and bottle shop.
Chatham County Line Electric Holiday Tour
This popular band continues the annual tradition of performing fun covers and their own beloved songs with an extra spark. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at Cat’s Cradle and the show starts at 8 p.m.
A Merry Jerry Christmas with Liquid Garcia
This Raleigh-based Jerry Garcia cover band brings nostalgic tunes and fun to the stage at Yonder Southern Cocktails & Brew in Hillsborough. The show starts at 8 p.m.
Sunday
King Street Holiday Market
Local artists and craftspeople including Eryk Pruitt, Sarah Glickman and more bring their creations to King Street in Hillsborough for holiday shopping from 2 to 5 p.m.
Chapel Hill-idays Downtown Markets
Get all your last-minute holiday shopping done from noon to 4 p.m. Vendors and local businesses set up booths on 400 to 500 West Franklin Street.
ELF Movie Screening
Dress up your vehicle with holiday decorations and close the weekend with a special one-night-only showing of the Christmas classic at The Drive-In at Carraway Village at 5:30 p.m. Santa will be in attendance.
