Irish Christmas, holiday lights top our weekend best bets

It is the final weekend before Christmas and that means the malls are going to be packed with shoppers hoping to score that perfect last minute gift. If you are still searching for something for that special someone on your list, check out our local gift guide featuring gifts for fashionistas, sports fans and even pets. We even have a guide for that hard to shop for person.

And if you want to take our holiday posts on the go, you can do that. The Out and About app for iPhone and Android lets you access our posts, see party pics and find music, restaurants and movie listings based on your location.

It is the perfect time to check out holiday lights. WRAL.com has a Holiday Lights guide, which has a map of holiday light displays across the Triangle.

One of our best bets this week is a light display for a great cause. The Winery at Iron Gate Farm in Mebane has a drive-thru display. Just bring four cans of food to gain entry. Enter on Lynch Store Road. The lights are on display through Sunday night.

If you are in the mood to hit the ice, there are several options in the Triangle, including the Winterfest rink in downtown Raleigh. Raleigh IcePlex off of Raleigh Boulevard will be holding a Holiday Skate night Friday which will include door prizes, skating lessons, hot chocolate and snow. Tickets are $10. 

Pink Martini, which combines a mix of classical, jazz, Latin, samba and traditional pop, will join the North Carolina Symphony for three shows this weekend at Raleigh’s Meymandi Concert Hall. The band will be playing selections from its acclaimed holiday album "Joy to the World." Shows are Friday night and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $18.

Tir na Nog in downtown Raleigh is hosting a special Irish Christmas event Saturday night, featuring traditional musicians, dancers and Irish traveling entertainer and comic Seamus Kennedy. Tickets are $10 in advance with proceeds going to the local chapter of the Gaelic Athletic Association. A traditional Irish dinner will be added to the menu.

The Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker completes its run at the Progress Energy Center this weekend. It moves to the Durham Performing Arts Center next week. Tickets start at $20. This was also a weekend family pick from our friend Go Ask Mom. Check out her weekend plans post for a list of fun events to bring the children to this weekend and also find out what museums are open and closed this holiday season.