Cleveland Christmas Parade — 2 p.m. Dec. 1, rain or shine

CLEVELAND — The 46th annual Cleveland Christmas Parade will be presented on Saturday, rain or shine. Come be a part of the family-fun parade which will include antique vehicles, community and school group floats, a marching band, horses, and candy. The parade will begin at the previous West Rowan YMCA/RA Clement High School building and travel west on Main Street, ending at School Street. For more information, call 704-278-2252.

 

Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 2 p.m. Dec. 9
Spend an old fashioned Christmas at “The Sleigh Ride Home,” with the Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society and new director Hunter Safrit.
The two free concerts will be presented on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Church of Christ, 207 West Horah St., and on Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at Milford Hills United Methodist Church, 1630 Statesville Blvd.
Seasonal songs include “There’s No Place Like Home For the Holidays,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas, “ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Grandma’s Christmas Secret” and the traditional English carol “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day.”
Attendees are invited to bring a new unwrapped toy for children served by Rowan Department of Social Services.
Concert supported by Rowan Arts Council and NC Arts Council; funded by the state of North Carolina and National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information, call 704-796-9683 or visit https://www.facebook.com/Salisbury.Rowan.Choral.Society/

 

Catawba College’s 31st annual Service of Lessons & Carols  — 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 6
Prelude music at 6:30 p.m., Service of Lessons and Carols at 7 p.m. at Catawba College’s Omwake-Dearborn Chapel. Tickets are not required.
A shuttle will run to and from the Chapel from Robertson College-Community Center or Abernethy Physical Education. Call 704-637-4396.
The Service of Lessons and Carols is based on the historic ritual that originated in 1918 at King’s College in Cambridge, England. The readings, prayers, and hymns first used in 1918 are still used today.
30 minutes of prelude music begins at 6:30 p.m. by the Catawba Chamber Brass, Dr. Stephen Etters, director; Stephen Stringer, organist.
The combined choirs of Catawba College are under the direction of Dr. Phillip E. Burgess. The concert offers traditional hymns sung by the congregation, and music by Catawba’s PopAC and Catawba’s Chamber Choir with student conductors Gregory Florio and Katie Zobel.
Jacob Hahn and Stephen Stringer will accompany; Dr. Kenneth W. Clapp, chaplain and senior vice president, is worship leader.
See the live stream broadcast of the Dec. 6 service on the College’s YouTube channel beginning with prelude music at 6:30 p.m.

 

Third annual ‘Swing into Christmas’ benefit concert  — 7-10 p.m. Dec. 1

The third annual “Swing into Christmas” benefit concert for Rowan Helping Ministries will be at the Salisbury Civic Center on Saturday.
The Salisbury Swing Band covers classic holiday tunes from the 1920s to today under the direction of Catawba College’s Dr. Stephen Etters and featuring award-winning vocalist Laura Millspaugh. The 18-piece ensemble plays Gershwin, Sinatra, Count Basie and more.
Admission is $5 at the door and 100 percent of the proceeds directly benefit Rowan Helping Ministries. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Canned food drive raffle at the door with prizes. Each canned item earns one raffle ticket; 15+ cans enters you into a grand prize drawing. Light refreshments will be served. Info at 704-798-5840.

 

FirstARTS presents the Triad’s Bel Canto Company — 8 p.m. Dec. 6
FirstARTS at First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St., continues its 11th season of concerts on Dec. 6 with “Joyful Noël!”, a performance by Bel Canto Company, the Triad’s premier professional chorus. Under the direction of Dr. Welborn Young III, Bel Canto Company will sing music by Bob Chilcott, Giovanni, Gabrieli, excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah” and carol and Christmas spiritual arrangements.
Bel Canto is an Italian phrase that translates as “beautiful singing.” Over the course of its 34 years, the Bel Canto Company has performed for prestigious music festivals and conferences throughout the Southeast including Washington Cathedral’s Summer Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, and the American Choral Directors Association, Southern and NC Division Conferences, The American Guild of Organists Southeast Regional Convention and the National Endowment for the Arts “American Masterpieces: Choral Music” programs.
The Company has performed with the American Boychoir, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, and the Carolina Chamber Symphony, and has been featured on National Public Radio.
Concert sponsors: Gerry Hurley and Traci & Brad Williams.

 

Piedmont Choral Society — 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9

CONCORD — The 60-voice all volunteer Piedmont Choral Society will present its annual free Christmas concerts on Friday at 7 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. at Forest Hill UMC, 265 Union St N. The group is directed by Joseph Judge, associate professor of choral music at Pfeiffer University and accompanist is Dr. Don Simmons, organist/music director at Kimball Lutheran Church in Kannapolis and adjunct professor of music at Pfeiffer.
Familiar favorites and carols will be accompanied by a professional orchestra. A reception will follow. PCS is sponsored in part by the NC Arts Council and the Cabarrus Arts Council. An offering to help offset costs will be accepted.
Learn more at 704-699-6053 or www.piedmontchoralsociety.com