Lucky you. You just found WStoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Winston-Salem each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)
Festivals
2025 WS Ambassadors Holiday Parade | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 4:45 p.m. | Downtown Winston-Salem | Free | Stroll along the street full of festive music, floats, and magical performances. Plus, stay after for the tree lighting ceremony.
Lewisville Civic Club Christmas Parade | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 3-4 p.m. | Shallowford Square, Lewisville | Free | Don’t miss the action featuring colorful floats, high school marching bands, dance teams, and more, starting at the intersection of Shallowford and Lewisville-Vienna Roads.
For the fam
Christmas at Bethabara | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 1:30-4:30 p.m. | Historic Bethabara Park | Free | Travel through time and explore 18th and 19th-century Christmas traditions in Old Town Bethabara, make seasonal crafts + let the sound of festive music inspire you.
Holiday Movie Night | Friday, Dec. 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Mary Alice Warren Community Center, Lewisville | Free | Put on your comfiest holiday pajamas or sweaters, and watch an eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone on Christmas Day.
Skate with Santa | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 1:15 p.m. | The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena | $25+ | Step into a winter wonderland, cozy up with a hot chocolate and delightful cookies in hand, plus take magical photos with Santa.
Art Crush: Holiday Market | Friday, Dec. 19 | 7-10 p.m. | Arts District | Free | Enjoy local art and performances, art-making, exhibits, plus discover local talents and organizations within the community.
Seasonal events
The Nutcracker 2025 | Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 7 | Times vary | Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, Greensboro | $49+ | The beloved holiday tradition draws a large crowd every year with jaw-dropping performances that bring the story of the Nutcracker to life.
2025 Spectacular Holiday Blooms | Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 21 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Ciener Botanical Garden, Kernersville | $5 | Stroll through the tulips and wander among illuminated trees as holiday lights cast a festive glow throughout the garden.
Joy of Christmas Evening Tours | Saturday, Dec. 6-Saturday, Dec. 20 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | The Boys School, Old Salem Museums & Gardens | $60 | Discover how Christmas was celebrated in historic Salem and immerse yourself in the evolution of these traditions over time. Tours last about an hour and run every 15 minutes.
5th Annual Sayso & Friends Winter Market | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Sayso Coffee | Free | Kick off your morning in a historic corner of downtown, browsing more than 20 local makers offering everything from coffee mugs to art prints and more.
Holiday Crafting: Ornament Making | Friday, Dec. 12 | 6:30-8 p.m. | STEM Beverage & Supply | Sip on cocktails while creating your holiday ornament to hang on your front porch. Supplies will be provided. Email 626stem@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Makers Market | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | West Salem Public House | Free | Discover local makers and finds that’ll make your gift stand out from the pack this holiday season, plus grab wine or coffee from the coffee shop after shopping.
German Christmas Market | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Körner’s Folly, Kernersville | Free | Shop, sip on hot chocolate, and don’t forget to snap a pic by the festive background at this indoor pop-up market.
Live music
A Motown Christmas | Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (Hanesbrands Theatre) | $30+ | Watch a perfect blend of traditional Christmas carols paired with the soulful sounds from such Motown celebrities as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5.
Winston-Salem Symphony Performs Handel’s Messiah | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Wake Forest University Wait Chapel | $45 | Let Handel’s melodies lift your spirit as you experience the glorious “Hallelujah” choruses that have been drawing crowds since the composition premiered in 1742.
Boogie Winter Wonderland Returns | Tuesday, Dec. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | The Ramkat | $40+ | Spice up your holiday season with a hit show that returns, combining holiday classics with funky and soul sounds.
Holiday Jazz with Martha Bassett and the Matt Kendrick Quartet | Tuesday, Dec. 23 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Piedmont Music Center | $25 | Get into the spirit with jazzy renditions of classics like Let It Snow, Blue Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Santa Baby, Jingle Bell Rock, and more favorites.
Theater
“Twas The Night Before Christmas” | Saturday, Dec. 6, Saturday, Dec. 13, Saturday, Dec. 20 | 11 a.m. | Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance | $12 | Bring the family and experience the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who visit the North Pole.
Winter Play: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” | Friday, Dec. 12-Sunday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Camel City Playhouse | $20+ | Witness the complexities of a 20-year marriage unfold when a college professor and his wife invite a young couple to their home for dinner.
A Christmas Carol Drone Light Show | Saturday, Dec. 20 |6:30 p.m. | Truist Stadium | $15+ | Experience 500 drones tell the classic holiday story in a dazzling, unforgettable display outdoors. Pro tip: Bring blankets to stay warm.
Try with friends
Winter Flavors: Macarons Class | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 9 a.m. + 2 p.m. | Bobby Boy Bakeshop @ Salem Bottleworks | $75 | Learn to master the perfect texture of this classic French treat while creating cranberry-orange and gingerbread-spice macarons. Email bobbyboybakeshop@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Winter Painting Pop-Up: Door Hanger Workshop | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 2-4 p.m. | Brouwerij DuBois | $35 | Grab a friend for a cozy afternoon of craft and choose between “Hello Winter” or “Winter Love” 12-inch wooden door hanger to decorate and add a festive touch to your home.
One Love One Voice NC Pop-Up Choir: “Hallelujah Mashup” | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 1-3 p.m. | Winston-Salem Wellness Collective | $15+ | Lift your voice alongside others in a heartfelt and empowering choir workshop, singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” — but reimagined.
Camel City Mahjong: Merry Mahjong | Thursday, Dec. 11 | 5-7 p.m. | The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel | $30 | Bring your own card to play and enjoy a festive evening + bring an unwrapped gift to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Piedmont Triad and enjoy a complimentary drink provided.
6th Annual Dirty Santa Gift Exchange and Potluck dinner | Wednesday, Dec. 24 | 5 p.m. | Old Nick Whiskey, Lewisville | Free | Bring a gift valued at least $30, a dish or dessert, and make new connections.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.