Time to celebrate the holidays with the Town of Davidson’s biggest annual celebration: Christmas in Davidson.  Expect holiday fun on Main Street all weekend long, and look for the annual Christmas Parade down Main Street Saturday afternoon. That’s the highlight of a weekend that will also include the Wildcats-Wolfpack men’s basketball game, two chances for Breakfast with Santa, the annual College Vespers Service and much more.

WEEKEND OF DEC. 4-7

A scene from a past Christmas in Davidson (Bill Giduz photo)

Christmas in Davidson

This annual town celebration is centered on the village green and Main Street.  Evening events run 6-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.  For a full listing of all the performers, and a map of the event, click on “Christmas in Davidson begins tonight”

The 26th Annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade starts in Davidson Saturday at 1 p.m., with floats, bands and Santa.  The Grand Marshal this year is Sgt. Scott Misenheimer of the Davidson Police Department. The parade heads down Main Street and ends at Mt. Zion Church in Cornelius at about 3 p.m.

Drivers, be aware that traffic will be closed along Main Street to accommodate all of these events.

Bailey Middle School, located on Bailey Road in Cornelius will host its annual “Evening with the Arts” Thursday, starting at 6:30 p.m. with student performances in theater, dance and band, plus student artwork and refreshments.

"Elephants & Butterflies" by Alan Michael Parker.

The Charlotte Writers’ Club North hosts writer Alan Michael Parker at its monthly meeting Thursday, starting at 7 p.m.  Dr. Parker is a published poet and professor of English at Davidson College.  He will read from and talk about his new book of poems, “Elephants & Butterflies.” The meeting will be held at the Carolina Inn on Main Street.

Davidson College will present “Musical Interludes: Outstanding Student Musicians” Friday, starting at 12:30 p.m. in the Sloan Music Center.  The event features free performances by some of the college’s top student musicians.

The Aurora Trio of Davidson College presents “Chamber Music 101: Trio Con Brio” Friday, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Sloan Music Center.  This free concert of work by Hayden, Mendelssohn and others will feature violinist Ryan Cockman, cellist Jacqueline Kim and pianist Emily Howe. 

The Lake Norman YMCA in Cornelius hosts its annual Breakfast with Santa Saturday, 8-11 a.m.  The morning features a pancake breakfast, arts and crafts, games, a magician, and pictures with the Jolly Old St. Nick. Proceeds go to the YMCA’s outreach and philanthropic programs. Registration is $15 per family, $10 per family for YMCA members.

Our Towns Habitat for Humanity will host a Breakfast with Santa Saturday, 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. at the Red Rock Cafe in Huntersville’s Birkdale Village. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults.  The event will include music, food, fun and Santa.

Ready to greet customers at Saturday's sale are (l-r): Kevin Beach, Andy Cave and Ian Stimson, all North Meck seniors from Davidson.

The North Mecklenburg High School Horticulture Department will hold its 14th annual Poinsettia Sale Saturday, from 9-noon, at the school’s greenhouses at the back of the bus parking lot.

Davidson College will hold its annual Alternative Gifts Fair Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. in the union.  The event offers a chance to buy services and supplies for international needs, ranging from eye surgery for someone in Cambodia to a micro-loan for an entrepreneur in Haiti. Purchasers receive a card and explanation of their alternative gift.

The annual Davidson College Christmas Vespers service will be held Sunday, starting with preservice music at 7 p.m., in Davidson College Presbyterian Church.  The service features the Davidson College Chorale, Brass Ensemble, and Flute Choir performing as as narrators tell the story of Christ’s birth.

WILDCAT SPORTS:

Wildcats Sports this weekend features:

The Davidson College men’s basketball team hosting N.C. State, Saturday, starting at noon in the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.  The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net South, and can be found online at the Wildcats Sports website (click the link above).  Radio broadcasts will be on 1350 AM and 610 AM.  The Wolfpack leads this series, 68-13, and has won the last two meetings.  For a full summary of the stats, click on the Davidson College preview.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

• WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 11 a.m., Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Public Art Commission meeting. Agenda includes discussion of the public art piece proposed by Davidson’s first artist-in-residence, Andy Dunnill.
• WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – Davidson Board of Adjustment meeting to hear two appeals from FC Summers Walk LLC of Davidson’s assessment of fees under the adequate public facilities ordinance. Open to the public. Details: 704-892-7592.
• THURSDAY, DEC. 11, 7 p.m., Davidson public library branch, on the Village Green – “Seasonal Makeup by Sheetal,” a free program by makeup artist Sheetal on how to apply makeup, appropriate colors for the season, and Q&A. Registration required. For ages 18+. Registration: 704-416-4000.
• FRIDAY, DEC. 12 to SUNDAY, DEC. 14, Davidson United Methodist Church chapel, 233 S. Main St. – Walk the Labyrinth, and get away from the traffic and noise and stress of the season. Hours: Fri. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. o 4 p.m. Free. Details: 704-892-8277.
• SATURDAY, DEC. 13, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Davidson United Methodist Church fellowship hall – Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by DUMC Christian Mothers United. Open to the DUMC church community. Free, though attendees are invited to make a cash donation to hep fulfill the Christmas wishes of a local family in need. 704-892-8277.
• SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 9 a.m.-noon, next to Town Hall, Main Street – Davidson Farmers Market presents at special Holiday Market, with fresh meats, produce, baked goods, soaps, lavender items and more. Details: www.davidsonfarmersmarket.org.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 7 p.m., Peninsula Club at Lake Norman – Ada Jenkins Center hosts its Ice 2009 fund-raising gala. All proceeds benefit the regional community services center and its programs. Sponsorships available. Details: www.adajenkins.org/ice/

OF REGIONAL INTEREST:

• SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 6-9 p.m., Historic Latta Plantation, Sample Road, Huntersville – Annual “Candlelight Christmas” celebration. Walk the plantation house, kitchen, cabin and grounds by candlelight and see how Christmas was celebrated in the 1820s. Also, watch interpreters re-enact the Dec. 1828 wedding feast of the youngest Latta daughter, Nancy. Admission $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and students, ages 5 and under free. Details: www.lattaplantation.org.
• MONDAY, DEC. 8, 10 a.m., Barnes & Noble, Birkdale Village, Huntersville – Hanukkah Story Time, with a reading of “Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah,” followed by a Hanukkah activity. Free. More about the congregation at www.bslkn.org
• TUESDAY, DEC. 9, 6 p.m., North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville – North Meck High School will host an informational open house for families interested in its International Baccalareate program. The event will be held in the media center, followed by a basketball game.
• SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 3:30 p.m., Conseco Field House, Indianapolis, Ind. – Davidson men’s basketball vs. Purdue, at 9th Annual John Wooden Tradition tournament.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Send listings and press releases to us at editor@davidsonnews.net. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number, in case we have questions.