Nov. 23–Dec. 23
Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity by Preston Lane. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A musical and storytelling journey for the entire family as the story of the birth of Jesus is told with an Appalachian setting. $10–42. 336-272-0160. Triad Stage at the Pyrle Theatre, 232 S. Elm St. triadstage.org .

Nov. 29–Dec. 15
Plaid Tidings. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. A four-part harmony group sings the songs of the holidays as they pay a hilarious tribute to The Ed Sullivan Christmas Spectaculars, the Chipmunks, and more. $20/ $17/$10. 336-292-2285. Open Space Café Theatre, 4609 W. Market St.

Dec. 1
Greensboro Jaycees
Holiday Parade. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Holiday parade featuring marching bands and Macy’s-style balloons. Free. 401 N. Greene St. jaycee.org .

Dec. 1–30
Christmas at Blandwood. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 2–5 p.m. Sunday. Tour Blandwood Mansion decorated as the Morehead family would have had it in the 1840s. $5/$4/$2. 336-272-5003. 447 W. Washington St. blandwood.org .

Dec.2
Annual Holiday Open House. 1–4 p.m. Enjoy a day of special re-enactments, music, refreshments, and activities. Free. High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave. highpointmuseum.org .

Dec.2–31
Winter Show. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Wednesday; 2–5 p.m. Sunday. Annual winter exhibition featuring work from more than 100 North Carolina artists, including painting, sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, and more. $5 donation is requested. Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, 200 N. Davie St. greenhillcenter.org .

Dec.5–8
11th Annual Flannel Shorts. 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sophomore BFA acting students and playwrights perform original 10-minute plays. $12/$10/$8/$7. 336-334-4TIX. Taylor Theatre, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 450 Tate St. uncg.edu/the/theatre.html .

Dec. 6
Handel’s Messiah. 7 p.m. The 54th annual presentation of Handel’s masterpiece by the Greensboro Oratorio Society. Free. War Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro Coliseum Complex. greens borosymphony.org .

Dec.8
Hanukkah Celebration. 10 a.m. – noon. Join the Greensboro Children’s Museum for a special Hanukkah celebration with music, art, dance, stories, and Hanukkah treat taste tests. Free with museum admission. 336-574-2898. Greensboro Children’s Museum, 220 N. Church St. gcmuseum.com .

Dec.9
Christmas Open House. 1–5 p.m. The Museum and campus at Historic Palmer Memorial Institute are open to visitors. Dr. Brown’s campus home, Canary Cottage, is decorated as it would have been for Christmas in the 1940s. Free. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, 6136 Burlington Rd. nchistoricsites.org .

Dec.11
It’s a Wonderful Life. 7 p.m. A 1946 classic, It’s a Wonderful Life is the story of an angel who helps a frustrated businessman realize what the world would have been like had he never existed. $5. 336-333-2605. Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St. carolinatheatre.com .

Dec.13, 15, 16
The Nutcracker. A family-friendly holiday tradition. $35/$25/$20/$15. 336-333-7480. Greensboro Ballet Studios, Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St. greensboroballet.com .

Dec.14
Sealy/Fox 8 Holiday Concert. 20th anniversary performance of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert benefiting the Salvation Army. Appearances by Summit Figure Skating Club of Greensboro, Lisa Dames, Burlington Boy’s Choir, and others. Admission and parking are free with a donation of nonperishable food items. 336-335-5456. Greensboro Coliseum Arena, 1921 W. Lee St. greensborosymphony.org.

Dec.14
Celebrate Kuumba: A Kwanzaa Celebration. 7 p.m. A Kwanzaa youth performance recognizing the impact of Hurricane Katrina. 336-373-5881. Caldcleugh Multicultural Arts Center, 1700 Orchard St.

Dec.14–23
Christmas Castle at Castle McCulloch. 6–8:30 p.m. A one-hour inside and outside walk-through show featuring Santa, specialty crafters, 40 singers, 15 acres of lights, Elfland, and more. $9/$6. 336-887-5413. Castle McCulloch, 3925 Kivett Dr. castlemcculloch.com .

Dec.15–16
Pastimes in the Park: Bread and Butter Making. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday; 1–4 p.m. Sunday. Watch costumed interpreters bake bread and make butter in the 1801 Hoggatt House. Free. High Point Museum and Historical Park, 1859 E. Lexington Ave. highpointmuseum.org .

Dec.29
Kuumba African Dance Company Performance. 11–11:45 a.m. Celebrate Kwanzaa and see various forms of authentic African dance with an interactive performance by the Kuumba African Dance Company. Free with museum admission. 336-574-2898. Greensboro Children’s Museum, 220 N. Church St. gcmuseum.com .

Dec.31
Freddy Cole. 8 p.m. Ring in 2008 with a New Year’s Eve event featuring a vocal and piano performance by Freddy Cole, brother of Nat “King” Cole. Part of the season-long Carolina POPS series. $36/$31/$29/ $21. 336-335-5456. War Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro Coliseum Complex. greensborosymphony.org.