The reunited all-star Gaither Vocal Band -- Bill Gaither, Michael English, Mark Lowry, David Phelps and Wes Hampton
To help you plan your seasonal activities, the gazz has put together a guide of holiday-themed events in the Charleston area.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- To help you plan your seasonal activities, the gazz has put together a guide of holiday-themed events in the Charleston area.
In short, if you can't find something to do this holiday season, you're just not looking hard enough. Visit calendar.wvgazette.com for a full calendar of events, and check the gazz for a weekly print version of that calendar.
Ongoing
"TRAINS, TREES & TREASURES": Opens Friday and runs through Jan. 3. The Clay Center's annual holiday exhibit features model railroad displays, eight trees designed by local artists and displays from area collectors including Disney memorabilia, antique piggy banks, dreidels and more. Trees were created by Dominic Vigliotti, Cindy and Butch Walton, Mary Ann Bennett, Becky McLaughlin, Dan Connery and Phil Hainen, Anthony Jarrell, the Fioravante family and Chris Dutch and Robin Hammer.
Clay Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Special holiday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 21-22 and 28-29. Early 3 p.m. closing on Dec. 24 and 31. Admission is $7 for adults and $5.50 for children. Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
"RELICS HOLIDAY ART SHOW": Open through Dec. 19. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 301 Piedmont Road, has an exhibit of holiday gifts and decorations made from recycled materials by local artists and foreign exchange students from Turkmenistan, the Ukraine, Indonesia and China. Works will be for sale, with the ReStore receiving 50 percent of the profits. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 304-720-8733.
"REASON FOR THE SEASON": 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday through Jan. 3, beginning Friday. This Clay Center planetarium show takes viewers around the globe to discover the origin of different winter celebrations. The show is followed by a live seasonal star talk. Admission is $13.50 for adults and $11 for children (includes gallery admission). Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS OF COONSKIN PARK: 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, beginning Friday. This driving excursion has more than 500,000 lights and more than 75 lighted displays, including 20 new ones. A special display in the Columbia Gas Shelter features five scenes telling Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." There is also a patriotic display. A tree lighting ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Donations accepted to help sponsor Kanawha County Parks and Recreation programs. Call 304-533-5185.
ST. ALBANS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: 6 to 9 p.m. daily, Saturday through Dec. 27 except Dec. 24-25. About 300 displays light up St. Albans City Park including 36 new 4-foot Christmas trees leading from the entrance to the display area. Also new this year are the Smurf Village and a polar bear. Plus, LED lights are being phased into the displays, including in the two light tunnels, the peacock and the shark. Appearances by Santa nightly. Monetary or canned good donations accepted. Call 304-722-4625.
APPALACHIAN COAL TOWN CHRISTMAS: 5 to 9 p.m., Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. This festival consists of lighted decorations in the coal camp and underground mine, a bonfire for roasting marshmallows, horse-drawn wagon rides, arts and crafts, caroling and visits from Santa.
The mine is located at 513 Ewart Ave., in Beckley. Call for admission prices at 304-256-1747.
THURSDAY, Dec. 10
"THE GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER": 7:30 p.m. The Moscow Ballet's visually spectacular performance of the classic holiday ballet comes to the Municipal Auditorium. New this year are the characters of the Snow Maiden and Father Christmas. Young dancers from the River City Ballet will perform with the group. Tickets are $26 to $67. Call 304-342-5757 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
"JOY TO THE WORLD": 8 p.m. This popular annual holiday concert by West Virginia Public Radio features Bob Thompson of "Mountain Stage." This year's guest vocalist is Diane Marino, who attended New York's famous High School for the Performing Arts. Her most recent CD, "Just Groovin'," re-interpreted pop standards.
Advance tickets are $22.50, plus a service charge. The show often sells out early. If any tickets remain, they are $25 at the door. The performance is in the Culture Center Theater. Call 800-594-8499 or visit www.mountainstage.musictoday.com.
FRIDAY, Dec. 11
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- To help you plan your seasonal activities, the gazz has put together a guide of holiday-themed events in the Charleston area.
In short, if you can't find something to do this holiday season, you're just not looking hard enough. Visit calendar.wvgazette.com for a full calendar of events, and check the gazz for a weekly print version of that calendar.
Ongoing
"TRAINS, TREES & TREASURES": Opens Friday and runs through Jan. 3. The Clay Center's annual holiday exhibit features model railroad displays, eight trees designed by local artists and displays from area collectors including Disney memorabilia, antique piggy banks, dreidels and more. Trees were created by Dominic Vigliotti, Cindy and Butch Walton, Mary Ann Bennett, Becky McLaughlin, Dan Connery and Phil Hainen, Anthony Jarrell, the Fioravante family and Chris Dutch and Robin Hammer.
Clay Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Special holiday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 21-22 and 28-29. Early 3 p.m. closing on Dec. 24 and 31. Admission is $7 for adults and $5.50 for children. Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
"RELICS HOLIDAY ART SHOW": Open through Dec. 19. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 301 Piedmont Road, has an exhibit of holiday gifts and decorations made from recycled materials by local artists and foreign exchange students from Turkmenistan, the Ukraine, Indonesia and China. Works will be for sale, with the ReStore receiving 50 percent of the profits. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 304-720-8733.
"REASON FOR THE SEASON": 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday through Jan. 3, beginning Friday. This Clay Center planetarium show takes viewers around the globe to discover the origin of different winter celebrations. The show is followed by a live seasonal star talk. Admission is $13.50 for adults and $11 for children (includes gallery admission). Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS OF COONSKIN PARK: 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, beginning Friday. This driving excursion has more than 500,000 lights and more than 75 lighted displays, including 20 new ones. A special display in the Columbia Gas Shelter features five scenes telling Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." There is also a patriotic display. A tree lighting ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Donations accepted to help sponsor Kanawha County Parks and Recreation programs. Call 304-533-5185.
ST. ALBANS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: 6 to 9 p.m. daily, Saturday through Dec. 27 except Dec. 24-25. About 300 displays light up St. Albans City Park including 36 new 4-foot Christmas trees leading from the entrance to the display area. Also new this year are the Smurf Village and a polar bear. Plus, LED lights are being phased into the displays, including in the two light tunnels, the peacock and the shark. Appearances by Santa nightly. Monetary or canned good donations accepted. Call 304-722-4625.
APPALACHIAN COAL TOWN CHRISTMAS: 5 to 9 p.m., Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. This festival consists of lighted decorations in the coal camp and underground mine, a bonfire for roasting marshmallows, horse-drawn wagon rides, arts and crafts, caroling and visits from Santa.
The mine is located at 513 Ewart Ave., in Beckley. Call for admission prices at 304-256-1747.
THURSDAY, Dec. 10
"THE GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER": 7:30 p.m. The Moscow Ballet's visually spectacular performance of the classic holiday ballet comes to the Municipal Auditorium. New this year are the characters of the Snow Maiden and Father Christmas. Young dancers from the River City Ballet will perform with the group. Tickets are $26 to $67. Call 304-342-5757 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
"JOY TO THE WORLD": 8 p.m. This popular annual holiday concert by West Virginia Public Radio features Bob Thompson of "Mountain Stage." This year's guest vocalist is Diane Marino, who attended New York's famous High School for the Performing Arts. Her most recent CD, "Just Groovin'," re-interpreted pop standards.
Advance tickets are $22.50, plus a service charge. The show often sells out early. If any tickets remain, they are $25 at the door. The performance is in the Culture Center Theater. Call 800-594-8499 or visit www.mountainstage.musictoday.com.
FRIDAY, Dec. 11
"EBENEZER": 7 p.m. Also 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec.13. The Children's Theatre of Charleston stages this musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" at the Civic Center Little Theater. The score features music ranging from rock to blues to rap to ballads.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-18) and seniors. Call 304-346-0164 or visit www.ctoc.org.
GAITHER HOMECOMING CHRISTMAS: 7 p.m. The reunited all-star Gaither Vocal Band -- Bill Gaither, Michael English, Mark Lowry, David Phelps and Wes Hampton -- will bring several guest artists to Huntington's Big Sandy Superstore Arena for a show combining Christmas music and inspirational songs.
Tickets are $29.50 and $42.50. Call 304-342-5757 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
B.E. TAYLOR: 7:30 p.m. The soulful soft-rock singer and guitarist returns to Charleston for his popular annual Christmas concert. The show also stops at the WVU Creative Arts Center in Morgantown on Dec. 12 and the Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling on Dec. 22-23.
Tickets are $22 to $32. This show might sell out. Call 304-345-7469 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RIFFRAFF: 7:30 p.m. Also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 3 p.m. Dec. 13. The RiffRaff Players of Princeton perform familiar and not-so-familiar holiday songs at the Room Upstairs, 865 Mercer St., Princeton. Admission is $10. Visit www.theriffraff.net.
WEST VIRGINIA SYMPHONY: 8 p.m. Also 8 p.m. Dec. 12. The group's "Home for the Holidays" pops concert also features baritone Patrick Mason and a nearly 200-member chorus of singers from the Symphony Chorus, Appalachian Children's Chorus, Marshall University Chamber Choir, Parkersburg Community Chorus and WVU Parkersburg College Chorale. The program includes "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "What Child is This?", "Away in a Manger," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night," maestro Grant Cooper's "A Cup of Christmas Tea" and more.
Also, according to the symphony, "We have requested Santa's presence, and the Maestro will again do everything in his power to get him there -- including wearing his elf boots."
Tickets start at $9 for adults, $5 for children. Performances are at the Clay Center. Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.
SATURDAY, Dec. 12
SINGLES CHRISTMAS DANCE: 7 p.m. to midnight. SpeakEasy Singles sponsors its annual holiday dance with music by DJ Randy Justice. Holiday casual or dressy attire is encouraged.
Admission is $8 for SpeakEasy Singles members and $10 for nonmembers. Food is included, but drinks (nonalcoholic) are $1. The dance is in West Virginia State University's Wilson Student Union. Call 304-776-3205, 304-744-1955 or visit www.speakeasysingles.com.
SATURDAY, Dec. 19
"THE NUTCRACKER": 2 and 7:30 p.m. The Charleston Ballet and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra team up to present Tchaikovsky's classic holiday ballet at the Clay Center. The company of dancers includes Olivier Wecxsteen, Damien Highfield, Freddie Fourie, Kim Pauley, Rhiannon Turley and Angela Price. There also are several guest artists, a large chorus and, of course, the full orchestra. Tickets range from $9 to $48. Call 304-561-3570 or visit www.claycenter.org.
This list features holiday-related events only, but there are plenty of other things to do, too. Other December highlights are the Community Music Association program "From Italy with Love" on Dec. 6, Broadway in Charleston's "Cirque Dreams Illumination" on Dec. 9 and the Charleston Stage Company's "Under the Lintel" on Dec. 10-12.
Visit calendar.wvgazette.com for a full calendar of events, and check the gazz for a weekly print version of that calendar.
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