Looking to deck the halls, sing a carol, give a gift, take a stroll, see a play, make a craft or pass a wish list on to a man in a red suit? Here’s where to do all of those things. For more ideas, visit the Community Calendar and mountainx.com.
• The FTW Burlesque Christmas Spectacular promises to be “filled with all things merry and magical.” The show, featuring Deb au Nare and Dahlia Vee, takes the stage at The Mothlight on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 9 p.m. $15. themothlight.com
• Here’s how to celebrate the longest night of the year in style: Head to The Grey Eagle for a honky-tonk X-mas with The Silent Knights and local surf-rock/psychobilly outfit the Krektones. Sunday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m. $8. thegreyeagle.com. Want a double (or even triple?) dose of the Krektones? The band covers holiday classics as part of The 5th Annual Lazoom Krektones Kristmas Bus Tour Friday, Dec. 19, at 8 and 9 p.m. lazoomtours.com. And the Krektones’ new record is also out, available at Static Age Records and krektones.com
• Local poet James Navé performs A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, who would have been 100 this year. Navé has shared the famous poem each year since 1988 and will do so again at The Black Mountain Center for the Arts on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. By donation. BlackMountainArts.org
• Dig out your loudest, spangliest, most seasonally atrocious knitwear (or borrow one from your Aunt Gertrude): Mustacheville holds its inaugural Ugly Christmas Sweater Holiday Party Fundraiser. The evening includes performances by Endymion Is the Moon, DJ Ganjourn and ElectroChemical, and a raffle of art and prizes. Proceeds benefit Eliada Home. Held at One Stop on Friday, Dec. 19, at 9:30 p.m. $5 at the door or free with a donation of a gently used coat or blanket. ashevillemusichall.com
• If you’ve already attended an installment of storytelling series Listen to This, you know that host Tom Chalmers takes some cues from the likes of The Moth but also instills his events with local personalities sharing tales around a theme. Coming up, Chalmers brings Over The Railing and Through The Woods: An Evening of Holiday Travel Travails to the stage at The Orange Peel. Thursday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. $10. theorangepeel.net
• While the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly visitors is well-known, what about Scrooge’s deceased business partner, Marley? That character is the focus of the behind-the-scene show, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. “This irreverent, funny and ultimately deeply moving story retells Dickens’ classic with warmth and infectious zest,” says press for the production at N.C. Stage Company, which stars Michael MacCauley. Shows run Dec. 16-28, Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. $15/$22/$28. ncstage.org
• Celtic-Appalachian band Noonday Feast holds an album release party and yuletide celebration at The Crow & Quill. Saturday, Dec. 20, at 9 p.m. By donation. thecrowandquill.com
• What’s better than an evening of improv comedy? How about two evenings? Reasonably Priced Babies (Tom Chalmers, Mondy Carter, Karen Stobbe, Josh Batenhorst and musician Aaron Price) presents Instant Christmas, “a series of comedic sketches created through games, made up on the spot thanks to audience suggestion,” according to a press release. Held at The Front Porch Theatre at The Black Mountain Center for the Arts on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. $15. BlackMountainArts.org
• Just because it’s the shortest day of the year doesn’t have to mean extra indoor hours. The Environmental and Conservation Organization offers up a night hike to Hooker Falls in celebration of the winter solstice. “In the dark of night we’ll create soft moonlight by shining flashlights upon the falls, creating a quiet moment to celebrate the return of the sun to the Northern Hemisphere,” says a press release. Bring a flashlight and a warm drink to toast. Meet at the Hooker Falls parking lot on DuPont/Staton Road in DuPont State Forest on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. Free. In case of inclement weather, a message regarding cancellation will be on the ECO answering machine by 10 a.m. Call 692-0385 for info. dupontforest.com
• Musicians Al Petteway, Amy White and Robin Bullock return to the Diana Wortham Theatre for A Swannanoa Solstice, their annual holiday concert. They’ll be joined by joined by Doug Orr, Sheila Kay Adams, The Twisty Cuffs, Matthew Bell and The Piper Jones Band featuring E.J. Jones. Sunday, Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m. $40 general/$35 students/$15 children/$10 student rush. dwtheatre.com
• St. Matthias Church (1 Dundee St., Asheville) rounds out its holiday concert series with two final offerings. The Lenoir Sax Quartet presents a candlelight Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.; and Musicke Antique gives a gala Christmas concert, in costume, on Renaissance instruments on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m. Both performances are by donation. stmatthiasepiscopal.com
• The Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church (171 Beaverdam Road, Asheville) claims the title of oldest Methodist church in Western North Carolina. Fittingly, it offers a historical 1800s Christmas Eve candlelight service “the way it would have been in the 1800s — complete with period music, attire, liturgy and decorations,” according to the Rev. Curtis Goforth. The service begins with period hammered dulcimer music. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 5:30 p.m. asburymethodist.org
• Local visual artist John Nebraska holds a show and sale of original works and hand-finished prints at his Haw Creek Studio (90 Alpine Way, Asheville). Nebraska has been making art for the past three years, according to his bio, and worked as an illustrator for three decades prior. “Please stop by for holiday mirth, art and refreshments,” he says in a press release. Saturday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. jnebraskastudio.com
• Global roots outfit Rising Appalachia returns to The Orange Peel for its annual solstice show. “Sisters Leah and Chloe tear into sound with sensual prowess as stages ignite,” says the band’s bio. “Listen to their beautiful sound for strong poetic vocals, soul singing, spoken word rallies, banjos, fiddles, many beats of drums, kalimbas, beat box, eclectic instrumentation, groove and dance parties alike.” Climbing PoeTree opens. Saturday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. $18 advance/$20 day of show. theorangepeel.net
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