SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.
All events featured were scheduled as of Thursday; however, it’s wise to check in ahead of attending any one. Inclement weather, changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances may shift for organizers at the last minute.
Thursday, Dec. 21
‘Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity’
Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Drive • Tickets: $14
Local musicians including Benny Hill, Brian Mason, and Annie Jewell are coming together for a holiday performance on UNCW’s campus.
The program, titled “Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity,” includes music written and arranged by Anne Phillips, Bob Kindred and Dave Brubeck. It essentially tells the Christmas story through the jazz medium. Musicians and the Chancel Choir of Wrightsville United Methodist Church dress as kings, shepherds, and angels as they perform.
Opening will be the Wrightsville Ringers handbell group. The show, directed by Julia Walker Jewell, takes place at 7 p.m.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Tallis Chamber Orchestra Christmas Concert — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (16 North 16th St.) is hosting a Baroque Christmas Concert to benefit the Good Shepherd Center. The Tallis Chamber Orchestra will perform music by Schiassi, Bach, Valentini, Victoria, and more, also featuring soprano soloist Sara Westermark and harp soloist Christina Brier. Pre-concert music will be performed by the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy. It’s free though donations will be accepted for the Good Shepherd Center, which works to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and help them find housing.
Bellamy Mansion Nights of Lights — Enjoy Wilmington’s antebellum historic music decked out for Christmas with lush Victorian decorations, including festooned mantels, gasoliers, and several ornately decorated Christmas trees. The three levels of the mansion and the site’s original slave quarters include historically accurate decorations. The mansion’s upper level bedrooms are creatively adorned by the mansion’s volunteers, who take tourists through the space and explain the inspiration. The event is open house-style on both Thursday and Friday, and opens at 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.; it’s suggested for visitors to arrive by 7:30 p.m. Baked goods and hot chocolate are sold in the carriage house. Cash is preferred, but credit cards accepted for $5 or above. Donations are appreciated.
Friday, Dec. 22
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $15
It’s become a holiday tradition: screening Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” at downtown’s historic Thalian Hall every year the week of Christmas.
Capra — whose grandson Frank Capra Jr. helped found EUE/Screen Gems studio in Wilmington, now known as Cinespace — filmed the Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed classic in 1946. It has since been remastered and follows the tale of George Bailey who is visited by an angel, Clarence, who shows him what life would look like in Bedford Falls if George wasn’t around.
There are two showings on Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
ArtWorks Fourth Friday Gallery Night — From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., ArtWorks, located in the South Front Street District at 200 Willard St., is celebrating the holidays with festive music and drinks for purchase. There also will be artists’ works for sale in various media: ceramics, wood, mixed media, pyrography, pottery, oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, metals, jewelry, fiber, glass and more.
Zainab Johnson — Harlem stand-up comedian, actor and writer Zainab Johnson has been hailed by Variety as one of the Top 10 Comics To Watch. And she is coming to Dead Crow Comedy Room for four shows this weekend. Johnson, one of 13 siblings reared in a Muslim family, often talks about her upbringing in her act. “You know what we don’t have? We don’t have a gay kid. … Statistically, 1 in 5 Americans are gay. … We should have two and half, two and a bisexual.” Currently, Johnson performs as Aleesha on the Greg Daniels Amazon series “UPLOAD” and has hosted Netflix’s 100 Humans, a social experiment where 100 individuals take part in interactive experiments exploring sex, happiness, torture and all the other aspects of being human. She performs at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday; tickets are $20-$30.
Saturday, Dec. 23
Howliday Party
Ruff Draft, 2144 Wrightsville Ave. • Free
No need to leave the pups out of the holiday celebrations.
Wilmington’s only dog bar, Ruff Draft, is hosting a party that was rescheduled from last week. There will be an ugly sweater contest for the dogs, as well as pictures with Santa. Plus, a make-your-own-ornament station will be set up and there will be vendors on site selling wares.
The event takes place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and winners for the sweater contest will be announced at 5 p.m.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Claus — The final hours have arrived to make sure those wish lists are in with the big guy. The Carolina Beach Pier is hosting breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The breakfast includes Santa and reindeer pancakes for the kids, as well as visits to each table from the two guests of honor, to take pictures and for kids to turn over their Christmas lists. The space, 1800 N. Carolina Beach Ave., is decorated for the holidays and overlooks ocean views. Call 910-636-3075 to see if reservations are left.
Comin’ Home for Christmas Cabaret — To put some saucy fun into the holiday, The Eagle’s Dare has planned a Christmas cabaret, featuring Velvetina Taylor and her friends James Godwin, Mike Tavares, and Duke Ladd. The live band will have a holiday singalong, plus there will be a burlesque performance from Meka La Creme. The event takes place in the back room of The Eagle’s Dare, the halls decked out for the performance. Tickets start at $15.
It’s a Fermental Christmas — The Cargo District’s bottle shop is hosting its annual holiday party with live music, seasonal beers, holiday wines, food, and more. Plus it will be a fundraiser for The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, to help food-insecure people locally and across the region. Fermental will be collecting nonperishable food items, paper products, basic cleaning essentials, and personal hygiene donations for the local Food Bank. Live music will be performed by Max Levy and The Hawaiian Shirts at 4 p.m., followed by the Jay Killman Jazz Trio at 7 p.m., a collection of regional artists performing jazz standards, traditional compositions, and a handful of improvisational jams and holiday treats. Dona Elva’s Authentic Mexican Food truck will be onsite at 4 p.m. Holiday attire encouraged; the party is pet-friendly.
Santa vs. Grinch Skate — Looking for a fun family Christmas Eve Eve event? Scooters Family Skating Center (341 Shipyard Blvd.) is hosting a Christmas event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Skaters are encouraged to wear red for Santa and green for the Grinch. There will be fun games and prizes to add to the Christmas spirit. Admission is $8 and skate rentals are $4.
Holiday Train Expo — The only chance to catch the train expo at Independence Mall, 3500 Oleander Drive, this weekend is Saturday. Annually, the Cape Fear Model Railroad Society sets up a holiday display in the Dillards wing of Independence Mall to showcase the wonderland of the holidays. There will be 12 layouts featuring more than 30 trains, dressed for the season. The expo is open beginning Black Friday, Nov. 25, and remains open on Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. It’s closed Christmas Eve and Day but will reopen Dec. 26-30 during the same hours. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-12, and free for 3 and under.
Sunday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Church Services
Various locations
Christmas Eve falls on Sunday this year, so naturally churches are primed to celebrate. Below are a few suggestions, but by no means an exhaustive list:
- Basilica of Saint Mary, 412 Ann St.: Christmas mass will be held multiple times throughout the day, including at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. ‘Kidnight’ mass takes place at 5 p.m. with overflow in the school cafeteria at 5:05 p.m. The adult mass happens at 7 p.m., with overflow in the school cafeteria at 7:05 p.m. The Spanish mass will beat 9 p.m. and midnight mass gets underway at 12 a.m.
- The Bridge Church, 2101 Market St.: Services will be held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- Brookfield Church, 131 Elliott Drive: Candlelight service at 10 a.m.
- First Baptist Church, 411 Market St.: 11 a.m traditional service (no Sunday school), a 5 p.m. modern service, and a 7 p.m. traditional service
- First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Third St.: Worship at 11 a.m., family-friendly service at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve prelude at 8:30 p.m. and Christmas Eve service at 9 p.m.
- Grace United Methodist Church, 401 Grace St.: Fourth Sunday of Advent, services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Christmas Eve candlelight communion services at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; arrive 20 minutes prior to each service to hear the special organ pre-service music
- Life Church, 5216 Oleander Drive: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. candlelight service, with carols plus snow outside for the kids
- Port City Community Church, Leland and Wilmington locations: Services at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Second Mile Church, 2223 Blockbuster Road: At 9 a.m. a one-hour service will be held in the Point 14 — Stone Theaters. The service will celebrate Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and will be interactive, with Christmas carols and candle lighting.
- St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market St.: 10 a.m. advent worship, 3 p.m. candlelight contemporary, 4 p.m. Living Nativity on 15th Street lawn — active until 6:30 p.m. — and 5 p.m. candlelight service with communion
- St. Andrews on the Sound Episcopal Church, 101 Airlie Road: Advent and holy communion service takes place in the Parish Hall at 10 a.m. Christmas Eve services take place later in the day with holy communion and soloists performing at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. services, followed by holy communion, choir and candlelight service at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Music by Back, Bates, Near, Purvis, Rutter, Schaik, Shepherd and Wilberg will be performed, with Justin Smith on organ
- St. Jude’s Metropolitan Community Church, 19 N. 26th St.: 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. service
- St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 608 S. College Road: Service celebrating the birth of Christ and the Christmas story will take place at 10 a.m. There also will be the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom celebrated at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, the eve of Christ’s birth
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 16 N. 16th St.: Christmas Eve services begin at 5:30 p.m. with a Family Eucharist, then the Christmas Prelude is hosted at 8 p.m., followed by the choral eucharist at 8:30 p.m. The services are livestreamed as well
- St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12 N. 6th St.: 10 a.m. service for Advent; 4 p.m. family service with communion; 8 p.m. traditional service with communion
- Venture Nondenominational Church, 76 Darlington Ave.: Family worship, interactive kids moment, candle lighting, teen choir, and cookies and cocoa at 10 a.m.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Christmas Eve Vegan Potluck — Looking to share in the holiday feast with other vegans? A plant-based potluck is being hosted from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve at South Front Apartments. Bring a 100% vegan dish to share, meaning it’s not prepared with meat, fish, butter, milk, beef, chicken, fish or turkey stock, honey, and the like. The goal is to connect with like-minded individuals and even bring a friend to introduce to the diversity of vegan cuisine. It’s encouraged to label the ingredients and share the recipes of your dish. The event is also trash-free, so bring your own utensils, bowls, plates, cloth napkins and drinks — please, only reusable items instead of single-use paper or plastic. Free parking is available in un-marked spaces at South Front.
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