Aqualads from Charlotte have been around since 1997, playing ’60s style surf rock instrumentals. They’ll be at Flatiron Kitchen Friday.

Get ready for some late autumn … surf music! Charlotte-based Aqualads will play a party Friday night at Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, during the Christmas in Davidson festival. With that and other special events on the schedule, you might just have to make Friday night a music crawl in downtown Davidson. Aqualads play guitar-driven ’60s style surf rock to perfection. Also on tap: an appearance by LOEBS Friday night at Birdsnest, after Christmas and Davidson winds down for the night. And Davidson’s Sunday Union plays Friday at Summit Coffee. And ragtime pianist Ethan Uslanplays at WDAV’s open house Friday night. Here’s the full weekend schedule. Read the full story

Another ‘Tawba Walk art crawl is planned Sunday in Cornelius.

Holiday theatrical productions and downtown festivals in Davidson, Cornelius, Mooresville and Kannapolis are on the schedule this weekend, along with plenty of live music and other entertainment. The 25th Christmas in Davidson is expected to bring as many as 30,000 people to town Thursday to Saturday nights, for carriage rides, a visit from Santa, and visiting with neighbors along Main Street. Friday night also brings holiday festival in downtown Mooresville. The North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade marches from Davidson to Cornelius on Saturday. Bella Love presents another ‘Tawba Walk gallery crawl on Sunday afternoon in downtown Cornelius. The Lake Norman Yacht Club hosts its Christmas Flotilla and Parade on Saturday, and it’s time for A Kannapolis Christmas in downtown Kannapolis.

On stage, Davidson Community Players host their holiday production of “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘A Christmas Carol’.” And Activate Community Through Theatre presents “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at Woodlawn School Saturday.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ as well as “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Skyfall,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” And looking ahead: They’ll have a “Lord of the Rings” marathon on Dec. 8. Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season gets into full swing this week. The 25th Christmas in Davidson runs Thursday to Saturday nights in Davidson, with carriage rides, a visit from Santa, and visiting with neighbors along Main Street. The North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade marches from Davidson to Cornelius on Saturday. Bella Love presents another ‘Tawba Walk gallery crawl on Sunday afternoon in downtown Cornelius. And A Kannapolis Christmas, At Davidson College Tuesday night, music critic Tim Riley talks about John Lennon, while the college Artist Series presents a Christmas in Ireland concert with Danu. On stage, Davidson Community Players host their holiday production of “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘A Christmas Carol’.” And Activate Community Through Theatre presents “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at Woodlawn School Saturday.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ as well as “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Skyfall,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” And looking ahead: They’ll have a “Lord of the Rings” marathon on Dec. 8. Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus will sing 3 free concerts in December.

North Mecklenburg Community Chorus and its vocal jazz group Left@25 will give a series of free holiday concerts in the Lake Norman area in the coming weeks. The full chorus performs Dec. 10 and 15 in Huntersville and Dec. 17 in Davidson. The 8-member jazz group will sing at Christmas in Davidson this Friday night, and in Huntersville on Dec. 14. Details below.
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ACT presents an interactive “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at three locations in the coming weeks.

Looking for some theater this holiday season? You’ll find some good options in the area this year: Davidson Community Players will present the comedy “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘A Christmas Carol'” Nov. 29 to Dec. 16 at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson. And for kids, Activate Community Through Theatre will perform an interactive production for kids of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” over the first three Saturdays in December at venues in Mooresville, Charlotte and Concord. Also, Warehouse PAC in Cornelius will stage “Good Evening From Beyond The Fringe” by Dudley Moore and Peter Cook Dec. 6-16. Read the full story

Thanksgiving will keep most of us occupied this weekend, but if you’re looking to get out of the house, we’ve got a few ideas. On Thursday, you’ll find Turkey Trot races in Mooresville and Cornelius, and Summit Coffee in Davidson has live music two nights, including Jake Troth on Friday night. Saturday the Town of Cornelius starts a new tradition with a late-afternoon tree-lighting behind Town Hall.

Our Town Cinemas in Davidson has “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2″ as well as “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Skyfall,” and “Rise of the Guardians.” Check the showtimes at right on this page. Read the full story