Weekend “Top Ten” Planner

Our top picks for the weekend are here – don’t miss these great events in Chapel Hill and Orange County!

Miracle on Hillsboro St. – Saturday, 2pm – 6pm

See the trial of the century on Saturday, December 17th at the historic Chatham County Courthouse, where Santa Claus is on trial. Enjoy audience participation, local actors and the real Kris Kringle! Performances will be at 2pm & 6pm. Admission is a $5 donation to benefit Chatham County Partnership for Children, or give five non-perishable food items to benefit CORA Food Pantry. Children under 6 are free.
Seating is limited, so advanced ticket purchase is encouraged.

Get Elf’d Up Holiday Bar Crawl – Saturday, 5pm – 2am

Get those ugly sweaters and holiday attire out of your closet, it’s time for the first ever Get Elf’d Up, Holiday Bar Crawl! The Ronnie Mac Pack, the young professionals organization that supports the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, are hosting their inaugural Get Elf’d Up Holiday Bar Crawl in Downtown Chapel Hill. All proceeds will support the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. Visit eight local bars throughout the night with plenty of specials. Buy your tickets here and see the full line-up of bars.

Donald Davis Storytelling –  Saturday, 11am & Sunday, 2pm 

Donald Davis is returning to The Fearrington Barn on Saturday, December 17th at 11am and Sunday, December 18th at 2pm to delight us with his stories!  Donald has been visiting The Fearrington Barn to spin his tales for over 20 years and is one of the foremost storytellers in the country. He has been featured at the World’s Fair, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Storytelling Festival, and as guest host on NPR’s “Good Evening.” In lieu of admission, donations of canned goods to CORA and gently used Children’s Books to Book Harvest will be accepted.

Lego Engineering Workshop – Saturday, 3:30pm – 5pm 

Get the kids out for this great workshop at the Kidzu Museum at University Place! If you have some future engineers in your family or children who like to build stuff then let their imaginations run wild with tens of thousands of LEGOs! They will build boats, bridges, mazes, motorized cars, and their own unique designs. Explore the endless creative possibilities of the LEGO building system with the guidance of an experienced Play-Well instructor. Geared for ages 5-12. $20 per child per workshop. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Star Families: The Milky Way – Saturday, 3:30pm 

Gather the family and come explore astronomy! The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has the largest fulldome planetarium in the southeastern United States. The Star Families series is designed for children (ages 7-12) accompanied by their families.

Brunch with Santa – Saturday, 10:30am – 12:30pm

Santa is coming to the Carolina Inn this Saturday, and you and your family can join the jolly old man for brunch. Magicians and face painters will be on hand to entertain everyone. Each child is welcome to sit on Santa’s lap and share their Christmas wish list. Every child will leave with a holiday treat. $40 Per Person, Complimentary for Children 3 and Under

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides – Saturday & Sunday, 12pm – 4pm

Take in the sites of Chapel Hill as you ride around in a horse drawn carriage. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult. Carriage Ride Runs Every 30 Minutes, Noon until 4pm. Tours Leave from The Carolina Inn’s Main Entrance. Limited Seating, 8 people per carriage. Reservations Required.

Mimosas, Tarot  Cards, and Giveaways –  Sunday, 12pm – 4:30pm 

Come out to Franklin St. Yoga Boutique this Sunday. Enjoy an afternoon of magic including tarot card readings, mimosas, crystals, and giveaways! 5 card reading for $10 and 10 cards reading for $10.

Christmas with CLAWS and Wild Birds Unlimited –  Sunday, 1pm – 4pm

Celebrate the Holiday season with CLAWS, inc. at Wild Birds Unlimited. CLAWS is the only all volunteer run rehabilitation facility in the Triangle that rehabilitates all species. On Sunday they will have hawks, owls, falcons, and of course, Grip the African Raven will be there to take selfies. This is also a great time to do some last minute Christmas shopping. You can buy your favorite bird lover something amazing from Wild Birds Unllimited or snag one of the homemade items CLAWS will be selling. And there’s no better gift than to make a donation to CLAWS in a loved one’s honor or to even sponsor one of their permanent animals!

Music in the Galleries  – 4th Annual Holiday Hum-Along –  Sunday, 2pm – 3pm

Join your friends, neighbors, and members of the Ackland’s staff for this annual FREE celebration in song during their monthly Family and Friends Sunday – Sing, hum, or clap along to the *live music* of your favorite seasonal tunes. Jingle bells encouraged!  All ages and musical abilities are welcome!