SPENCER — The Spencer Hometown Holidays tree lighting celebration at the Spencer Library Park on Fourth Street will take place at 6 p.m. Friday.
Many community volunteers have worked together on this event, now in its fifth year.
Once again over five hundred luminaries will be lit at dusk to illuminate the festivities.
Local performers will provide entertainment and The Eastern Star, with the assistance of the Spencer Masonic Lodge, will be serving hot chocolate.
Performers include several dance teams from Stepping Out Dance Company, the North Rowan High School Glee Club, singer and musician Adam Broyles and the Circus Train performers from Central United Methodist Church.
The town Christmas tree will be lit at 7 p.m.
For more information on upcoming events including the Candlelight Tour of Churches, visit spencerhometownholidays.com.
SALISBURY — Kick off the holiday season with the annual tree lighting and candy cane hunt at 6 p.m. Friday at City Park Lake.
The Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department will host the event, including carols, a countdown to the tree lighting, hot chocolate, cookies and a candy cane hunt on the playground.
Livingstone College’s music and theater students will treat the public to “Miracle on Monroe Street,” a Christmas concert complete with members of the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and a live nativity scene that’s guaranteed to bring out the holiday spirit in everyone at 5 p.m. Sunday.
After the concert, a tree lighting ceremony will be held on campus, for which ornaments can be purchased for a nominal fee through the Office of Institutional Advancement by calling 704-216-6044.
Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for seniors citizens and children ages 12 and under and free for Livingstone students with valid ID.
The Center for Faith & the Arts, 207 W. Harrison St., will present a retrospective of James Donaldson’s work titled “Journey of an Artist” Works from 1970-2013.
The Gallery reception will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec.12.
James will lead a gallery tour at 7:30 p.m.
The Center for Faith & the Arts is located in the lower level of Haven Lutheran Church.
Visit faithart.org or call 704-647-0999 for more information
Piedmont Players Theatre announces auditions for “The Count Of Monte Cristo,” which will consist of cold reading from the script.
The play is classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas and is one of his most popular, along with “The Three Musketeers.”
Open auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Callbacks will be Wednesday, if necessary.
Performance dates are Feb. 13-22, 2014. The Meroney Theater is located at 213 S. Main St.
For more information, contact Josh Wainright at 704-633-5471 or md@piedmontplayers.com
The Dr. Josephus Hall House, 226 S. Jackson St., will be filled with Christmas finery when the museum opens for tours beginning Saturday.
Christmas tours have been held every year since Historic Salisbury Foundation purchased the house in 1972.
Rooms are decorated by volunteers and change from year to year. This year’s theme is “Toyland, Toyland!”
The new retail space at the Hall House makes a great place to find holiday gifts for friends and family too.
Regular tours will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29. A special evening tour is held from 6 to 8 p.m. Christmas Eve.
The cost of weekend tours is $5 per person. Admission to the Christmas Eve Tour is by donation.
For more information, call 704-636-0103.
The museum will be closed during the months of January and February, while a new exhibit is installed. The 2014 tour season will open on Saturday, March 1.
The best things in life are free, and the Rowan Public Library has a special line-up of “best things” for you and your family to do this holiday season. Programs include:
• RoBoJo Holiday Theatre Troupe — 2 p.m. Saturday. A readers theatre performance of a special collection of childhood holiday favorites for children of all ages by Mr. Robert and friends. Stanback auditorium, Headquarters, 201 W. Fisher St., Salisbury, 704-216-8228;
• Stories By The Fireplace — 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Enjoy a Saturday morning of holiday stories and crafts with the East Children’s staff and a very special guest. Hint: Ho Ho Ho. For children of all ages. East Branch, 110 Broad St., Rockwell, 704-216-7838;
• Excerpts from the Nutcracker by the Salisbury Symphony — 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Enjoy excerpts of this holiday favorite by members of the Salisbury Symphony and ballerinas from Piedmont Dance Theater. For children of all ages. Headquarters.
• Christmas Storytime for ages 5 and under — 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. A special holiday Storytime with crafts. Co-sponsored by Smart Start Rowan. Headquarters.
Visit rowanpubliclibrary.org for more information.
Salisbury Art Station will host an evening of painting and laughter for adults at least 21 years old.
Grab your friends and a beverage for “Rocking around the Christmas Tree” and join in the painting of funky and fun Christmas trees.
The cost is $25 for the class which runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.
Pre-register by visiting the Salisbury Art Station, 215 Depot St., calling 704-754-0853 or emailing art.notions@yahoo.com
The Salisbury Art Station December schedule also offers “kid-free” time for parents. Contact SAS or see the Roundabout listings under CLASSES.
Soul Resurrection Music, LLC recording artist and Salisbury native Meek is having her first CD release event at 7 p.m. Friday.
The event will be held at Remnant in Christ Outreach Worship Center, 627 Newsome Road.
The release will be hosted by Christian comedian Carlos ‘Big Los’ Massey. Also performing will be Christian singers Raymond and Kim and Christian hip hop artist Quiet Storm.
The event is free. There will be a freewill offering collected as well as canned goods for Rowan Helping Ministries. Food and vendors will also be available.
Early tickets for First Night Masquerade Ball to be held at the Courtyard by Marriott are available at a 5 percent discount if bought by Friday, Dec. 13.
The First Night Masquerade Ball is a masked ball to aid services at Saving Grace Farm.
All tickets are sold in advance; tickets and more information are available at savinggracefarm.com/first-night-masquerade-ball.
Call 704-638-2339 for questions.
Tickets may also be purchased at Saving Grace Farm, 565 Trexler Loop.
When the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and Piedmont Dance Theatre collaborate once more to present the family classic “The Nutcracker,” audience-goers will see new sets, new costumes, even new dancers.
Performances are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday Dec. 21 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at Keppel Auditorium at Catawba College.
Reserved seating is offered, and tickets can be purchased at tickets.salisburysymphony.org
For more details, visit salisburysymphony.org or call 704-637-4314.
A group of Rowan County residents will perform “A Christmas Tradition” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17 at the Norvell Theater, 135 E. Fisher St.
Narrator Karl Hales, vocalists Neal Wilkinson and Leslie Dunkin and pianist Susan Trivette will provide the stories and music of Christmas for the ninth year in a row.
The free performance is their gift to the community — in exchange for gifts.
There is no admission charge, but those attending are being asked to bring at least one canned food item for Rowan Helping Ministries. In the past, the event has raised hundreds of pounds of food for the community ministry.