Scrooge’s Christmas Trolley Tour — Live-theater interactive trolley ride recreates scenes of Dickens’ classic 1843 tale “The Christmas Carol.” . Weekends through Dec. 20. See www.visitsalisburync.com for schedule and ticket information.

Charlotte Motor Speedway holiday light show — 6-10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30 except for Christmas Day.  $20 per car on nights when the Christmas Village is open and $15 per car on nights when it is closed. Group rates available. 5555 Concord Parkway S, Concord, enter at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s main entrance. www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

Denton FarmPark sixth annual Country Christmas Train — Dec. 4-7; 11-14; 18-23; 26-27: Gates open at 4:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday nights and 5 p.m. other nights.  4259 Handy Road, Denton, 336-859-2755 or www. countrychristmastrain.com. 40 minutes from Salisbury.

The Concert Choir’s Holiday Concert — 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5: Seasonal pieces as well as the entire Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah and of course, the Halleluia Chorus. The Choir will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra. The evening will also include a prelude and interlude performed by the Rowan Youth Orchestra. Held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, downtown Salisbury.

Lessons and Carols Service at Hood Theological Seminary — 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5: Hood Theological Seminary celebrates the Holy Season of Advent through the observance of the Service of Lessons and Carols. Open to the public. The Aymer Center on the campus, 1810 Lutheran Synod Drive.

Victorian Christmas at the Hall House — 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in December: The theme at the Dr. Josephus Hall House will be “Nutcracker.” $5 admission. Also, Christmas Eve 6-8 p.m. by donation. www.historicsalisbury.org

The Arc of Rowan annual Festival of Trees — 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. At the F&M Trolley Barn, 127 E. Liberty St., free and open the public. For details visit www.thearcofrowan.org or call The Arc of Rowan, 704-637-1521.

‘Christmas at Beechtree Place’ — Friday through Sunday, Dec. 5, 6 and 7: Broadway’s Best’s final production for 2014, a Christmas revue. Musical favorites from popular to classical and Broadway to religious Christmas favorites. Show times 7:30 p.m. for evenings and 2 p.m. for the matinee. Adult tickets $15; students tickets $10 at www.broadwaysbest.biz or 336-575-4446. 103 Beechtree Place, near the intersection of I-40 and Farmington Road, Exit #174, in Davie County.

Tree lighting ceremony and candy cane hunt — 6-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5: Annual Tree Lighting and Candy Cane Hunt. Bring your flashlight to participate in the candy cane hunt around the playground. City Park Lake, no fee. www.salisburync.gov/PLAY

RoBoJo Holiday Show — 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6: RoBoJo Theatre Troupe returns to Rowan Public Library for the 15th annual presentation of their Holiday Theater. An hour-long variety show of skits, songs, readers’ theater, and audience participation.    Free of charge.  Call 704-216-8234 for more information. RPL headquarters, 201 W. Fisher St.

Fulton Heights Holiday Home Tour — 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6: Fulton Heights tour sites • 229 Maupin Ave., W.T.R Jenkins House, Craftsman bungalow 1925 • 522 Maupin Ave., George Ellis House, Neo-classical square plan cottage 1925 • 301 Maupin Ave., L.L. Poole House, Craftsman bungalow 1925 • 406 Mitchell Ave., G.R. Klutz House, brick Craftsman bungalow 1925 • $10 suggested donation. Info: 704-754-2536.

5th annual lighted Christmas ball workshop — 10 a.m. Saturday Dec. 6: At John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 1620 Brenner Workshop is free. For each ball you wish to make, bring 200 mini-lights. All other materials supplied by JCPC. Also bring canned food to donate to Rowan Helping Ministries. Pics at http:// lightedchristmasballs.blogspot. com/

Cystic Fibrosis Holiday House — 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6: Helen and Ralph Brown and Linda and Derby Holshouser host a Country Christmas tour of the Holshouser’s 1910 farmhouse on highway 150. Homemade goodies, beverages, door prizes. Tickets $5 at 101 Pottery, Spencer Doll Museum, Anne Roland Furniture. All proceeds from tickets sales go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For information call Helen Brown at 704-636-5902.

Brunch with Santa — 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec 6: Food, crafts, games, photos, more. All ages welcome. $20 per family of four or $6 per person. Pre-registration required at www.salisburync.gov/PLAY. Held at the Salisbury Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

Cookies with Santa at Morgan Ridge — 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7: $5 includes homemade cookies, milk, craft station, photo opportunities; personal cameras welcome. Morgan Ridge Vineyards, 486 John Morgan Road, Gold Hill, 704-639-0911, www.morganridgevineyards.com

‘Sing We Now of Christmas’ — 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7: St. John’s Men’s Chorus Christmas concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., free concert will benefit Rowan Helping Ministries. 704-636-3431.

Annual gingerbread house workshop —  Dec. 7, 1 to 4 p.m. in the Messinger Room of Rowan Museum. $35 per child includes ONE attached adult. RSVP to schedule your arrival time of 1, 2 or 3 p.m.  at 704-633-5946 or email rowanmuseum@fibrant.com

Piedmont Dance Theatre ‘Nutcracker’ program for children at RPL — 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9: Dance selections from Piedmont Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker Ballet performed to live music by members of the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra.  704-216-8234 for more details. RPL headquarters, 201 W. Fisher St.

Cabarrus County seniors Christmas party — 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9: “It’s a Cowboy Christmas,” free admission for senior citizens. Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 N. Carolina 49, Concord, 704-920-3976, www.cabarrusarena.com

‘Christmas in the Country: Country Music Show’ — Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 11-13, at 7:30 p.m. Seats added.  Country-style Christmas with Matthew Weaver, Graham Carlton, Mary Gillespie, Carol Harris, Tripp Edwards. At Lee Street theatre, 329 N. Lee St. Tickets $15+tax at 704-310-5507 or www.leestreet.org

St. Philips African Moravian Church lovefeast — Noon, Thursday, Dec. 11: Christmas Lovefeast at St. Philips African Moravian Church at Old Salem. Free, open to the public.

‘A Seussified Christmas Carol’ — Whimsical reinvention of Dickens’ beloved Christmas story. See story page 6D.

Christmas in the Village — Dec 12-14 – Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Sights and sounds of an old-fashioned Christmas in the Historic Village of Gold Hill. Email vivian@ historicgoldhill.com or visit www.historicgoldhill.com

OCT youth perform ‘On the First Worst Day of Christmas’ — Performance dates Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 2:30 p.m. Can Adam with the help of his friends save the traditionally simple and beautiful pageant that they have grown up performing each year? Tickets and info at www.ocytnc.org

Piedmont Chamber Singers celebrate Christmas — • 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12: Christmas program “Snow.” Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 1200 Lewisville Clemmons Road, Lewisville. Bring donations of new or gently used coats and blankets • 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14: Annual holiday gift to the community with Carols by Candlelight at Historic Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem • General admission tickets $15, $5 students. Children free with paying adult.

UNCSA’s production of The Nutcracker — Dec. 12-21: University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 405 W. Fourth St., Winston-Salem. Ticket and time information at uncsa.edu/nutcracker

‘Christmas Movie Classics’ — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society’s annual holiday concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church,  Downtown Salisbury. Free, bring new unwrapped toys to be donated to families in need. www.salisburyrowanchoir.com

Santa & the Grinch antique fire truck rides — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: 126 E. Innes St., in front of Okey Dokey. Downtown rides, weather permitting. Also refreshments and  DIY ornaments.

Festive show at Horizons Unlimited — Saturday, Dec. 13: Show times: 3:30-4:30 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. and cost: $2.  http:// www.rss.k12.nc.us/ horizons-unlimitedmargaret-c-woodsonplanetarium

The Salisbury Swing Band — 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13: Appearing at the Carolina Mall in Concord with a program of Christmas favorites for your shopping pleasure. Dr. Steve Etters, directory; Laura Millspaugh, vocalist. Information 704-209-4157 or www.salisburyswingband.com

Ecumenical Choir of Salisbury — On Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m. the Ecumenical Choir of Salisbury under the direction of Dr. Phillip E. Burgess will present “The Glory of Christmas” at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury.  This annual holiday event draws choristers from over 30 churches in the Salisbury/Rowan community and has quickly become a community tradition.  The hour long performance will feature choral selections, holiday readings and vocal solos featuring Teresa Moore-Mitchell, Dr. Grant Harrison, Phyllis Partee and Rebecca Stinson.  The choir and soloists will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra. A reception for all will follow the concert in the church parish hall. St. Luke’s Episcopal church is located at 131 W. Council Street in Downtown Salisbury. For more information  contact 704-633-3221.

The Piedmont Prime Time Community Band — 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14: Annual Christmas holiday concert at Living Water Church of God, 166 N. Little Texas Road, Kannapolis, Dr. Laurence Marks, director. Selections include Westminster Carol by James Hosey, O Magnum Mysterium, by Morten Lauridsen, an arrangement of carols and selections from the Nutcracker by David Lovrien. Assistant conductor Charles Emerich conducts Fantasia on Christmas (based on Carol of the Bells) by Elliot del Borgo plus a novelty piece featuring Latin percussion instruments. Also a traditional sing-a-long. $5 admission, children under 13 and senior citizens over age 65 free.

10th annual ‘Music and Stories of the Season’ — 7 p.m. Dec. 15-16: A Christmas Tradition with Karl Hales, Neal Wilkinson, Leslie Dunkin and pianist Susan Trivette. Cost of admission is one canned goods to benefit Rowan Helping Ministries. At the Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., 704-633-5471.

Winter Arts Christmas Concert — 3 p.m. Dec. 18: Harp and flute concert with Helen Rifus and Gay Tatman. Afterward, guests may view a display of Winter and Christmas artwork from local older adult artists who attend art classes at the center. Refreshments will be served. There is no charge for concert. at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.

The Community Travelers bus trip to Christmas City: McAdenville —  Dec 20. For information and reservation call Brenda Cowan at 704-633-9073.

Salisbury Symphony presents ‘The Nutcracker’ — 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. www.salisburysymphony.org for tickets and information.

Victorian Christmas Eve at the Hall House —  6-8 p.m. Dec. 24: The theme at the Dr. Josephus Hall House is “Nutcracker.” Admission by donation. www.historicsalisbury.org

 Old Christmas at the Old Stone House — Dec. 27-28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and noon-4 p.m. Rowan Museum 30th annual Old Christmas. Old Stone House, 770 Old Stone House Road. www.rowanmuseum.org

Old Courthouse Theaters’s 24th annual New Year’s Eve murder mystery dinner theatre — Dec. 31, www.oldcourthousetheatre.com

New Year’s Eve at the Bell Tower — Dec. 31, corner of S. Jackson and W. Innes.

Woodleaf’s New Year’s Eve Big Tomato Drop — Dec. 31: Woodleaf’s first ever New Year’s Eve drop at Unity Presbyterian Church, 885 Woodleaf Barber Road. Festivities begin indoors at 9 p.m. with music, beverages, food available.  704-278-4248.Information 704-209-4157 or www.salisburyswingband.com