By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Opens Friday at Our Town Cinemas.

With Christmas just 10 days away — have you finished your shopping yet? — the holiday theme dominates theater and dance performances this weekend. Davidson Community Players wrap up their holiday show “Retrieving the Lamb” with performances Thursday through Sunday at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson. In Mooresville, students from Masterworks School of the Arts perform the Christmas classic “Miracle on 34th Street” on Friday and Saturday.  And two area productions of Tchaikovsky’s holiday ballet “The Nutcracker” are on tap: by Dance Davidson Sunday at Davidson College and by the Piedmont Dance Theatre and Salisbury Symphony Orchestra Saturday and Sunday at Salisbury’s Keppel Auditorium.

The holiday theme carries over into music, with Davidson College Presbyterian Church’s Geneva, Chancel and Youth choirs combining to perform Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria” on Sunday; and Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Cornelius is holding its annual Christmas concert on Sunday, with the church’s Chancel Choir, Bell Choir and Orchestra performing. And in a holiday twist, Tanya and Tim Chartier will depict stories of Christmas through the art of mime in a Sunday performance at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson. Read the full story

Mimes Tanya and Tim Chartier present "Miming in Advent" Sunday at St. Alban's Episcopal Church.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Several holiday concerts  are among the highlights of our calendar in the region this week, from the award-winning U.K.-based classical ensemble Stile Antico and the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus to a performance of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at Davidson College Presbyterian Church and the annual Christmas concert at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

The Grammy Award-winning classical singing group Stile Antico brings its U.S. tour to Davidson United Methodist Church Tuesday night.  The ensemble will perform works from its latest album “Puer natus est,” which features English Tudor music for Advent and Christmas seasons.

On Monday night, North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will be at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Three different choral groups will combine for two performances of Vivalid’s “Gloria” at Davidson College Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning. And  Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Cornelius will hold its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday morning. Read the full story

Charlotte Children's Choir performs Sunday afternoon at St. Alban's.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

While Mother Nature can’t seem to make up her mind what season it is — is it winter or spring? — the coming weekend has plenty of opportunities to get into the holiday spirit. On Friday, Community School of Davidson hosts a “Gifts for the Greater Good” fair. On Sunday, teens at Davidson College Presbyterian Church re-enact the story of Christ’s birth at the annual White Gift Christmas Pageant. That’s followed by a soup and sandwich supper. Meanwhile, the 80-member Charlotte Children’s Choir will perform a concert of holiday carols Sunday afternoon in the Music at St. Alban’s series. In other holiday events, Davidson Day School’s early childhood, kindergarten and first-grade classes will showcase the holiday traditions from around the world during the school’s second-annual Season of Light on Saturday morning; the Cornelius Town Hall will hold a holiday program for special-needs people and their families on Saturday afternoon. And Santa Claus will make a breakfast appearance at Davidson’s Lake Norman Cottage on Sunday. Read the full story

Casey Jacobus (left, as Travis) and Virginia Darcey (as Athalee) lead Davidson Community Players' production of the holiday play "Retrieving the Lamb," which continues this weekend at Armour Street Theatre. (Bill Giduz photo)

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

It’s the first full week of December, and a week for holiday performances of all kinds. They range from Davidson Community Players‘  “Retrieving the Lamb” to music by the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus. Davidson College’s men’s basketball team will Black Out Belk Wednesday night against Vanderbilt, in a fundraiser for the David Burns Memorial Family Trust. And there’s plenty more … Read the full story

The North Mecklenburg Moravian Band will play Thursday night at Wooden Stone, as part of Christmas in Davidson. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Now that November’s behind us (and you’re tired of eating leftover Thanksgiving turkey), it’s on to December and thinking about a bigger holiday — Christmas! Well, there’s plenty going on this weekend in the area to get you in the right frame of mind – from Christmas in Davidson to the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade to the Cornelius Holiday Celebration. Read the full story

The 2011 North Meck Christmas Parade is Saturday afternoon. Above, the Hopewell High Band marched in the 2010 parade. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

Well, Thanksgiving is over — the leftovers have been packed away or devoured and you’re contemplating a week at the gym. Christmas is in the wind, beginning this week with Christmas in Davidson, a three-night festival in downtown Davidson Thursday through Saturday. The event officially begins at 6 p.m. Thursday with an early visit by Santa on Davidson’s Village Green, and the shops and stores in downtown Davidson will be open late all three days.

And on Saturday, the 29th-annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade, runs from Davidson south on N.C. 115 into Cornelius. It starts at 1 p.m. and features feature floats and bands from area high schools, as well as a visit from Santa. Also this week, “Retrieving the Lamb” opens as Davidson Community Players’ holiday show at Armour Street Theatre. Read the full story