Durham Happening: December 2023

SHOPPING

Saturday, December 2, 10am to 1pm: Inclusive Business Holiday Market
At Extraordinary Ventures (200 S Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill)

Part & Parcel Durham will have exclusive and unique items available at this market and will be alongside over 15 other businesses who prioritize employment of people with disabilities.

Saturday, December 2, 12-4pm: Mystic Distillery Art-n-Soul Market
(1413 Stallings Rd, Durham)

Mystic Distillery hosts the Art-n-Soul Market year round, however, this weekend will be holiday- themed with Santa available for pictures. Food trucks will be there. Music will be playing. Make a whole afternoon of it with tastings and cocktails.

Wednesday, December 6, 6-9pm: The Durham Hotel Annual Holiday Market (315 E ChapelHill St, Durham)

There will be 25+ vendors this year along with some festive drinks. Tickets are $10 and proceeds go to the Y Learning Program of the Durham YMCA. Tickets will be sold for two different times to space out shoppers.

Thursday, December 7, 5-9pm: Durham December Holiday Night Market at American Tobacco Campus
(318 Blackwell St, Durham)

The American Tobacco Campus will once again host a holiday night market featuring local handmade artists, food trucks, games on the lawn, entertainment, and fun for the whole family! Friendly dogs are welcome on leash.

Sunday, December 10, 10am-4pm: Durham Craft Market Holiday Show at Durham Central Park Pavilion
(501 Foster St, Durham)

Shop local and handmade for your holiday gifts! This event will have over 50+ arts vendors.

Saturday, December 16, 11am-3pm: Holiday Market at Boxyard RTP
(900 Park Offices Dr, Durham)

Organized by Triangle Pop-Up, shop a selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts, and more by local artists & makers.

WORKSHOPS

Sunday, December 3, 10am-12pm: Holiday Wreath Making Workshop with MamaSprings Farm and Wolfberry Hawthorn Farm
(2503 Joyner Rd, Durham)

Jason of Wolfberry Hawthorn and Carolyn from MamaSprings Farm will use vine wreaths and teach participants how to decorate them with evergreens such as cedar, pine and holly, along with a variety of other holiday inspired natural items. Participants will then get to make a wreath and bring it home. The workshop is $60 (plus $30 if making a second wreath).

Saturday, December 9, 1-2pm: Holiday Flower Arranging Class at Bull City Ciderworks Durham
(305 South Roxboro St, Durham)

Grab a friend, put on your best ugly sweater, and learn the basics of floral design with local NC blooms at Bull City Ciderworks! This class will have bold and bright holiday colors, also including fun little additions like glittery ornaments and ribbon. Guided instruction will teach you all the tips and tricks you need to make a beautiful arrangement to bring home with you. Ticket price ($35) includes containers, one cider, and all floral supplies. Design tools are provided.

Saturday, December 16, 4-6pm: Winter Wonderland Drink & Design at Congress Bar & Cafe
(471 S. Driver St, Durham)

Join local chef Dash of Daya Co. for an afternoon of painting and sipping. Not only will you be able to paint a canvas but there will be gingerbread decorating, a s’mores station, and drinks. Tickets are $45 and can be bought HERE.

PERFORMANCES AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES

November 22 to December 31, Wool E Bull’s Winter Wonderland at Durham Bulls Athletic Park
(409 Blackwell St, Durham).

Wool E Bull’s Winter Wonderland is happening now! It runs from November 22 til December 31 and features a market, a sledding hill, igloos, the Bulls Express Train, light installations, and a full bar. General admission tickets are $11 with additional costs for sledding and the train.

Friday, December 1 and December 8, 5:30-9pm: Christmas by Candlelight at Duke Homestead State Historic Site
(2828 Duke Homestead Rd, Durham)

For $8 (kids under 3 are free), you can experience Christmas as it was in the 1870s with Duke Homestead. There will be costumed interpreters, live Christmas music, dancing, singing, and holiday cookies. Candlelit tours depart from the Visitor Center every 10 minutes. You will purchase tickets for a specific tour time.

Friday, December 1, 5-8:30pm: Santa Paws at the Durham Armory
(212 Foster St, Durham)

Durham Parks and Recreation invites residents to bring their canine friends to the Durham Armory to ring in the holidays with an ugly sweater contest, shopping, pictures with Santa, and a toy and canned food drive. Photos with Santa will be $10 per session. All proceeds are being donated to Carolina Boxer Rescue.

Friday, December 1, 8pm: A Very Darren Crissmas at The Carolina Theatre
(309 W. Morgan St, Durham)

Anyone who watched Glee or A Very Potter Musical will recognize Darren Criss. Enjoy a performance of an eclectic collection of big band Christmas classics, modern-day folk-pop ballads, and novelty tunes from Criss& recent holiday album.

Saturday, December 2, 7-10pm: Holiday Pops Concert and Silent Auction Fundraiser at the Durham Armory
(212 Foster St, Durham)

Join Maestro William Henry Curry, the Durham Symphony, and Emcee Anthony Wilson (WTVD- ABC 11) for an unforgettable evening of festive music at the Holiday Pops Concert and Silent Auction Fundraiser! This family concert is one of our most popular and long-standing events, featuring classical works and music honoring Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukkah, and the upcoming New Year! The dessert buffet, carol sing-along, and silent auction fundraiser add to the fun and are a great way to kick off the holidays. Santa will join at 6 PM for visits and FREE photos with friends and families.

Saturday, December 2, 8:30-11am, First Saturday Birding at Brumley North with Triangle Land Conservancy
(Brumley North Parking Lot, 3620 Old State Hwy 10, Chapel Hill)

Prefer to do outdoor activities in the winter? The Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) offers guided hikes throughout the year. On this weekend, TLC will be joined by the New Hope Audubon Society on a 1.5 mile birding hike through Brumley North, the #2 birding hotspot in the state! It’s a free event but pre-registration is required.

Friday, December 8, 7-10pm: A “Honky Tonk” Christmas Line Dance Party at Mystic Distillery
(1212 N. Mineral Springs Rd, Durham)

From 7 to 8 PM, Carolina Crew Line Dancing's Sue Jennings will provide on and off instruction on various dances and remain through the event for individual instruction! Come on out and cut loose with delicious cocktails and lively music. Tickets are $13.

Friday, December 8, 8pm-2am: Camp Bliss Onesie Ball at The Fruit
(305 S Dillard St, Durham)

Wear a onesie or holiday outfits. Santa will be in the building. Doors open 8 and the show starts at 9pm. $20 at the door. It’s also a toy drive. Admission will be $5 off if you bring a toy.

Saturday, December 9, 2pm and 7pm: Triangle Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The Carolina Theatre
(309 W Morgan St, Durham)

A holiday tradition since 1995, the Triangle Youth Ballet has two performances at the Carolina Theatre on Saturday, December 9. With a cast of over 100 and live music by the Tchaikovsky Virtuosi, Triangle Youth Ballet invites you to experience this joyful holiday classic.

Saturday, December 9, 10am: Durham Holiday Parade
(Downtown Durham)

Floats. Bands. Mascots. Come on down to Main Street in downtown Durham to see a city holiday tradition. Taking place rain or shine, this is a free activity that the whole family can enjoy! The procession will conclude with a guest appearance from Santa.

December 13-17: A Christmas Carol – Presented by Theatre in the Park
(DPAC, 123 Vivian St, Durham)

It is the 50th anniversary of this Triangle tradition. A Christmas Carol will run for six performances at the Durham Performing Arts Center with prices starting at $28.50.

December 15-17: Black Nativity Durham at Hillside High School
(John H. Gattis – Wendell Tabb Theater, 3727 Fayetteville St, Durham)

Based upon Langston Hughes’ version of the Christmas story, Triangle Performance Ensemble will be performing this gospel celebration at Hillside High School. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $17 for seniors, students and children. Proceeds will support the Jeanne H. Lucas Scholarship Fund at Hillside High School.

Wednesday, December 20: The Nutcracker at DPAC
(123 Vivian St, Durham)

Experience the extraordinary international cast and Ukrainian Principal Artists performing at the peak of classical European Ballet. Be transported by the magic of jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger than life puppets and stunning hand-crafted sets and costumes. Don’t miss this chance to experience the wonder of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet. Dancing alongside the full international professional cast are local Durham children from Durham School of Ballet and the Performing Arts, and Spotlight Dance Company.

For more events around the Triangle, check out Triangle on the Cheap.

With these many events and markets going on, remember to pace yourselves and have fun! Whatever you celebrate, enjoy this month and we hope you are able to spend time with the people you care about.