Parades
Mebane Christmas Parade. December 3 at 7:00 p.m. This is the county’s only night parade and features professional floats, local bands, handmade floats, and much more. Downtown Mebane, Clay Street, and Center Street/Highway 70. No pets. No alcohol.
Graham Christmas Parade. December 4 at 10:00 a.m. This annual holiday tradition includes floats, bands, and plenty of Christmas cheer. Downtown Graham, Main Street.
Gibsonville Christmas Parade. December 11 at 2:00 p.m. The town’s streets are festively decorated. Holiday Craft Market follows at 4:00 p.m. Downtown Gibsonville, Main Street.
General Community Events
Holiday Invitational at Alamance Arts. The annual Holiday Invitational at Alamance Arts, 213 South Main Street in Graham, continues through Christmas Eve, December 24, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday – Saturday. There will be works of 150+ local and regional artists overflowing with thousands of unusual gifts, stocking fillers, and decorations at prices worth celebrating! Find the perfect gift or conversation starter for the holiday with 70 percent of your purchase price going to support local and regional artists. Find new ornaments to add to your family’s collection this year.
Downtown Graham’s Ice Skating Rink. November 26 – December 22 (weather permitting). Front lawn of Alamance Arts, 213 South Main Street in Graham. Admission is free, excepting as noted. 45-minute sessions begin on the hour. This event features an outdoor synthetic ice skating rink and multiple special events. Real ice skates are used on synthetic ice. Skate rentals are free. Wearing thick socks is recommended. Maximum of 40 participants on the ice (capacity may change pending COVID-19 and Executive Order Phase Guidelines). Special Events Skate with the Characters Cost: $5 per skater, skate rentals are included (no refunds) – tickets can be purchased at the ice rink during operational hours. Thursday, December 2 – Characters: TBD Thursday, December 9 – Characters: TBD Thursday, December 16 – Characters: TBD Campfire Nights Every Friday & Saturday Beginning at 5:00 p.m.; S’mores: $1.00. The City of Graham Fire Department may even stop by for a special lesson in fire safety! Theme Nights are Friday, December 3 – Flannel & Frost Night; Friday, December 10 – Festive Headwear Night; Friday, December 17 – Ugly Christmas Sweater Night (It’s National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!). Inclement Weather Updates or Any changes in schedule and/or cancellations will be posted on the Graham Recreation & Parks Facebook page. For more information call (336) 513-5510.
Elon University Festival of Lights/Downtown Luminaries. November 30, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Downtown Elon. Hot chocolate, carol singing, and hundreds of luminaries lining the walkways are part of Elon’s annual Festival of Holiday Lights tradition. Elon University will hold their Festival of Lights also on Tuesday, November 30. In support of the Festival of Lights, Downtown Elon will be lit up by luminaries that will line the first two blocks of downtown. Come downtown for dinner and this wonderful Festival. Rain date for the event is Wednesday, December 1.
Christmas Caroling in Historic Glencoe. December 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Textile Heritage Museum, 2406 Glencoe Street in Burlington. Come to Historic Glencoe at the Textile Heritage Museum to celebrate Christmas with Caroling by students and faculty of Alamance Community College. Hot cocoa and treats will be served. Coloring books will be given to the first 100 children who stop by the museum. For more information contact Sherri Singer at sherri.singer@alamancecc.edu
Christmas in Beth Schmidt Park. December 3, 6:00-8:30 p.m. The Town of Elon will celebrate its annual tree lighting at Beth Schmidt Park, 2150 Elon Park Drive in Elon. Santa will arrive at 6:00 p.m., and there will be entertainment, and crafts. The lighting of the tree will include the magical moment that the entire park is set aglow with lights. Free to all ages. Bring your camera. Pets are welcome too. We will be collecting food for the Town of Elon Fill the Deere Food Drive, and pet food, blankets, toys and leashes for the Old North Canine Rescue.
Hold You in the Light Festival of Lights. December 3-4 and 10-11, 5:00-10:00 p.m., at Snow Camp Outdoor Theater, 301 Drama Road in Snow Camp. Admission will be $5 per person. There will be live musical performances, food trucks, and other festivities.
Carolina Christmas in Historic Downtown Mebane. December 4, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in downtown Mebane. Santa will be setup at Sweet Grace Market at Melville Trading Co. for everyone to come visit and take a photo from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. “Love & Valor” bluegrass band will be performing at The Go Girl Shoppe.
Lane of Lights at Twin Lakes. December 4 and December 5, 5:30-9:00 p.m. Twin Lakes community will be decorated with lights for Christmas for drive-through visitors. Enter the display on Westbrook Avenue off University Drive in Elon. Requested admission is monetary donations for the benefit of the Salvation Army and Meals on Wheels. Through Lanes of Light over 244 tons of food has been given to local food ministries. Checks may be made out to Twin Lakes Community, The Salvation Army, or Alamance County Meals on Wheels.
Run at the Rock. December 4, 9:00 a.m. Alamance County Recreation and Parks department will host the annual Run at the Rock at Cedarock Park, 4242 R. Dean Coleman Road in Burlington, starting at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Fees are listed online for both the 7-mile course and the 14-mile course. All participants will receive the following: Custom Run At The Rock Beanie, Hooded Sweatshirt*, Professional race photos, Chip timed event, Famous Post-race soup, Awards for top age group finishers and Cardinal Chiropractic and Sports Recovery providing free stretching and muscle work, as well as demo of Normatec Recovery boots. This is a great race for beginner trail runners too, as we offer a 7-mile distance or give our 14-mile distance a try! Our staff makes sure that ALL racers have a great experience. *You must register at least 2 weeks before the race to guarantee a sweatshirt. Registration is available online at www.runattherock.com until full. Call 270-5124 for more information.
Saxapahaw Holiday Market. Saturday, December 4, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 5, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Haw River Ballroom, 1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road in Saxapahaw. Like the Holiday Markets of old, visit with more than 80 local artists and vendors in a beautiful Holiday setting. Peruse locally produced and handcrafted wares including paintings, jewelry and pottery, antiques, gift baskets, art, woodworking and more. Get all of your holiday shopping done while supporting local artisans! The two-day Market will include free performances by local musicians, and great food! Due to COVID-19, all vendors and attendees will be required to properly wear a mask while inside the Ballroom. For more information visit http://www.hawriverballroom.com/ or call (336) 525-2314.
Santa Fun Fest. December 4, 5:00-7:00 p.m. in downtown Elon by the downtown Christmas tree on West College Avenue. The unique fun of the Santa Fun Run returns! Our short obstacle course is designed to get your blood pumping in anticipation for the Downtown Tree Lighting. With obstacles like the marshmallow toss, glitter me stockings, and run the ropes, everyone can participate and enjoy themselves. Open to all ages and skill levels. Join us for some festive fun! Following the run, we will light the Downtown Christmas Tree with carolers, s’mores stations, and hot chocolate. To make the holidays special for those in need, we are asking attendees to bring a canned food item to support the Fill the Deere food drive. All items will go to the Salvation Army’s Food Pantry. For more information call (336) 586-1009.
A Community Christmas Sing-Along. December 5, 5:00 p.m. Kinnett Baptist Church, 1106 E. Morehead Street in Burlington. There will also be a music/laser light show and banners inside.
City of Graham Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. Sunday, December 5, 5:00–7:30 p.m., at Graham City Hall, 201 South Main Street in Graham. Tree lighting ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks following the lighting of the tree. Free for all ages. Tree is decorated with over 3,000 lights.
Food Drive. Now through December 22. The Town of Elon is holding a Community Food Drive. Fill the Deere with Holiday Cheer at 104 South Williamson Avenue, in the blue bin next to the John Deere Excavator or inside Town Hall in the designated box. Canned goods and non-perishable items will be accepted. Make sure they have not passed their “sell by” date. All donations go to the Salvation Army of Alamance County’s food pantry. Also being collected: pet food, blankets, toys and leashes for the Old North Canine Rescue.
Christmas at Alamance County Historical Museum. Saturday, December 11, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 12, 1:00–4:00 p.m. The Alamance County Historical Museum, 4777 NC Highway 62 South in Burlington. Come for homemade cookies and cider as you browse the Holiday Bazaar for Williamsburg-style Holiday Plaques made with fresh Fraser fir greenery and fruit, Live Orchids, Amaryllis, Poinsettias, and Cyclamen, Vintage-style Christmas Ornaments, French Market Tea Towels, Holiday Soaps, Linen Totes, Caspari Holiday Cards Napkins and Wrapping Paper, Felted Snowmen and Cute Little Elves, Antique Porcelains and many other items perfect for Holiday Gift Giving. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. Masks Required. For more information call (336)226-8254.
Holiday Magic downtown. December 11, 4:00-7:00 p.m., in downtown Burlington. Free features will include: visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the princesses from “Frozen”, live music and dance, kids’ activities, and more.
Seagrove Orchids and Lunch. Tuesday, December 14 – Thursday, December 16, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Captain White House, 213 South Main Street in Graham. Exclusive shopping opportunity for heirloom and unique orchids. On Tuesday, December 14, Noon until 1:00 p.m., bring a bag lunch and enjoy a drink and dessert provided as Linda Thorne of Seagrove Orchids talks about the beauty and care of orchids. You can purchase orchids as well. Reservations are requested, since seating is limited. Call (336) 226-4495.
Love Feasts
Moravian Love Feast. December 5 at 5:00 p.m. Elon Community Church, 271 North Williamson Avenue at the corner of Williamson and Haggard Avenue, Elon. Brought from Germany to Old Salem, North Carolina, by early Moravian settlers, this traditional Christmas candlelight service includes a simple fellowship meal of coffee and a Moravian bun. There will be traditional English, American, and Moravian Advent and Christmas music for choirs, brass, handbells, and organ will be offered.
Musical Performances
Bel Canto Company Holiday Concert. November 29, 7:30 p.m. Front Street United Methodist Church, 136 South Fisher Street in Burlington. 48 well-trained singers from the Greensboro area will sing familiar songs, songs from the past, and new music, too. Admission is free (and it is the only concert that Bel Canto performs that isn’t ticketed), but a love offering will be collected to help defray costs. Masks will be required regardless of vaccination status
Live Nativities
December 19, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Historic Providence Christian Church, 819 N. Main Street in Graham, will present a live drive-through nativity. The live nativity will include live animals along with a live musical ensemble. Christmas treat bags will be given out to the first 200 cars coming through.
