Weekend Picks: Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 4

Posted on by Abigail Griffin
Mama Maisha is an Asheville-based nonprofit focused on preventing maternal death in Africa and developing nations. The organization has been saving lives and empowering women in Tanzanian villages. They are hosting a fundraiser and concert at Lexington Avenue Brewery on Friday, Dec. 2 at . Photo courtesy of Mama Maisha

December is underway, and there are plenty of holiday events to choose from. Whether you are interested in local holiday art and craft sales, Christmas theater shows or a jingle-bell themed 5K — this weekend has you covered. Check out this list of weekend highlights and visit the Mountain Xpress Community Calendar for a complete list of weekend events!

FRIDAY

Downtown Asheville First Friday Art Walks
downtownashevilleartdistrict.org
1st FRIDAYS, 5-8pm – Downtown Asheville museums and galleries open doors to visitors. Visit the website for participating venues and full details. Free to attend.

Christmas Twilight Tour
wnchistory.org
FR (12/2), 6-8:30pm – 50-minute twilight tour with the theme of “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Registration required: 253-9231. $25/$20 members. Held at Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road

Mama Maisha Benefit
facebook.vom/mamamaisha
FR (12/2), 7-10pm – Proceeds from this “Celebrate Safe Motherhood” fundraiser featuring live music by Emma’s Lounge and The Freewheeling’ Mamas benefit Mama Maisha for women’s health in Tanzania. Free to attend. Held at Lexington Ave Brewery (LAB), 39 N. Lexington Ave.

‘Snowbound’
254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org
FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS (12/2) until (12/18) – Snowbound. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2:30pm. $12-$18. Held at Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St.

Asheville Choral Society: Yuletide Candlelight
232-2060, ashevillechoralsociety.org
FR (12/2), 7:30pm & SA (12/3), 4:30pm – “Yuletide Candlelight,” concert. $25/$10 students. Held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St.ACDT_Nutcrkr_MsKing16a (002)

Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents ‘The Nutcracker and The Mouse King’
254-2621, acdt.org
FR (12/2) & SA (12/3) – “The Nutcracker and The Mouse King.” Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sat.: 2pm. $28/$23 seniors and students/$20 children. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 S. Pack Square

SATURDAY

Jingle Bell Run
jinglebellrunasheville.kintera.org
SA (12/3), 8am – Proceeds from this holiday themed 5K run benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Registration: jbr.org/asheville or 704-705-1798. $25/$15 children. Held at Montford Recreation Center, 34 Pearson Drive

UNC Asheville's Department of Art and Art History will hold its annual Holiday Art Sale from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, located on the ground floor of Owen Hall on campus.
UNC Asheville will hold its annual student and faculty Holiday Art Sale from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, located on the ground floor of Owen Hall on campus.

UNC Asheville Student Art Sale
art.unca.edu
FR (12/2), 4-7pm & SA (12/3), 10am-2pm – Student art sale with handmade, affordable works. Free to attend. Held in the Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall.

A Winter’s Tail at the WNC Nature Center
298-5600, wncnaturecenter.com
SA (12/3), 10am-4pm – “A Winter’s Tail Festival,” with crafts, games and wild encounters. Admission fees apply. Held at WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road

‘A Celtic Christmas’
693-0731, flatrockplaghouse.org
THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS (12/1) until (12/18) – “A Celtic Christmas,” music concert. Thurs.: 7:30pm. Fri. & Sat.: 8pm. Thurs., Sat. & Sun.: 2pm. $28. Held at Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown, 125 S. Main St.

Downtown Brevard Christmas Parade & Twilight Tour
SA (12/3), 3pm – Christmas parade and twilight tour. Free. Held in Downtown Brevard

Photo from 'Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular' courtesy of The Magnetic Theatre.
Photo from ‘Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular’ courtesy of The Magnetic Theatre.

Riverview Station Holiday Market
riverviewstation.com
SA (12/3), 4-8pm – Holiday art and craft market with over 30 artists. Free to attend. Held at Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St.

‘Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular’
279-4155, themagnetictheatre.org
THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS (12/1) until (12/23), 7:30pm & WE (12/21), 7:30pm – Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular. Saturday, Dec. 10 & 17 also have 10pm shows. $24. Held at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St.

A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories
669-0930, blackmountainarts.org
SA (12/3), 7:30pm – “A Slice of Life,” storytelling by Connie Regan-Blake, and her “Taking the Stage” workshop participants. Hosted by Storywindow Productions. Free. Held at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St.

‘Happenchance,’ an exploration into unknown interiors
350-8484, blackmountaincollege.org
SA (12/3), 7:30pm – “Happenchance,” dance work in progress by choreographer Kathy Meyers Leiner. $8/Free for members & students. Held at Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 56 Broadway

IMG_0856
Authentic Native American wampum and silver Jewelry by Cherokee master jeweler will be on exhibition and sale Fridays and Saturdays until Dec. 18, at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Traditional Hands Native American Jewelry & Art.

Traditional Hands Native American Jewelry and Art Exhibition and Sale
258-6101, traditionalhands.com
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS (12/2) through (12/17) – Native American jewelry and art exhibition and sale. Free to attend. Held at Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave.

SUNDAY

Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina 5K
713-3132, gotrwnc.org
SU (12/4), 9:30am – Proceeds from this family-friendly, non-competitive 5K walk and run benefit Girls on the Run WNC scholarship fund. $20/$15 advance. Held at Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Road

Toe River Arts Open Studio Tour
682-7215, toeriverarts.org/studio-tour/
FR (12/2) until SU (12/4), 10am-5pm – Self-guided tour through artist studios is Mitchell and Yancey county. For more information or studio maps visit the website. Free to attend.

The Big Crafty Holiday Sale
thebigcrafty.com/, crafty@thebigcrafty.com
SU (12/4), noon-6pm – Juried holiday arts and crafts sale. Free to attend. Held at US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St.

RockArtOfLevyPaperCrownslowresweb
Poster art by Joshua Marc Levy courtesy of the artist

The Rock Art Of Joshua Marc Levy w/ the Paper Crowns
225-5851
SU (12/4), 6-9pm – The Rock Art Of Joshua Marc Levy, featuring live music by The Paper Crowns. Free to attend. Held at PULP, 103 Hilliard Ave.

‘Heaven in Your Pocket’
692-1082, hendersonvilletheatre.org
FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS (12/2) until (12/11) – Heaven in Your Pocket, musical. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. $26/$20 students/$15 under 18. Held at Hendersonville Community Theatre, 229 S. Washington St.

Lake Julian Festival of Lights
684-0376, david.blynt@buncombecounty.org
FR (12/2) through FR (12/23), 6-8pm – Drive through holiday light show featuring animated and stationary light displays. Twenty percent of ticket sales benefit the Buncombe County Special Olympics. $5 per car/$10 per van/$25 per motor coach. Held at Lake Julian Park, 406 Overlook Road, Ext.

Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concert
257-4530, dwtheatre.com
SU (12/4), 6pm – Proceeds from this concert featuring Valorie Miller, Ian Ridenhour, Jamie Laval, Laura Blackley, Kevin Smith, Planefolk and Blake Anthony Ellege benefit Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Free to attend. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 S. Pack Square

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