Weekend Plans: Holiday parades, open houses, performances, festival, more

As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for many more ideas, including lots of opportunities to dine with Santa. Go Ask Mom’s Holiday Central also has lots of information about events this season. And a reminder: Pullen Park is closed through Sunday for the sold out Holiday Express.

Holiday performances: On stage this weekend is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts; Cinderella, a long-running holiday favorite, at Raleigh Little Theatre; the Carolina Ballet and City Ballet’s Nutcracker; and more. Go Ask Mom’s holiday show post has the details for these and other shows coming up.

Santa Trains are rumbling along the tracks at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and New Hope Valley Railway in southwestern Wake County. And holiday light shows, including Hill Ridge Farms’ Festival of Lights, are aglow.

Disney on Ice is at the PNC Arena from Thursday through Sunday. If you don’t have tickets yet, check out our ticket deal for select shows.

We have parades across the Triangle this weekend, including the Cary Jaycee’s Christmas Parade, Chapel Hill Carrboro’s parade, Wake Forest’s parade and Durham’s parade, which returns after a several year hiatus.

The State Capitol and Executive Mansion will host free open houses all weekend, including a special storytime with Santa at the State Capitol.

Just a few blocks away, Mordecai Historic Park will host a free open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. The open house is free, but tickets are required (and are limited) for Mordecai Holidays Lantern tours, which are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $5.

At 2 p.m., Saturday, a principal dancer with the Carolina Ballet will read from The Nutcracker at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh. You can enter to win a drawing for tickets to see The Nutcracker on stage. Storytime visitors also can see a Nutcracker costume on display and take home a special souvenir. Free. Best for ages 4 and up.

Levin Jewish Community Center will host a Hanukkah Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday. There will be music, food, games for the kids and a Hanukkah market.

In Raleigh, Marbles Kids Museum’s Gingerbread Jamboree, using the reusable gingerbread houses from The Candy Cottage (and featured in our Made by Mom Gift Guide), will be held during two sessions on Saturday. Tickets are $15 per person and $20 for the reusable house. Pre-registration is required.

In Chapel Hill, Kidzu Children’s Museum’s Gingerbread Workshop is 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. The cost is $25 per house (which two kids can share). Best for ages 4 and up.

Northgate Mall in Durham offers free ornament making from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday.

Make homemade gifts at Durham's The Scrap Exchange’s Nifty Gifty Handmade Holiday Gifts Workshop, which is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Participants of all ages and skill levels can make a variety of handmade gifts for family and friends with the assistance of the creative reuse center’s staff. There will be multiple crafting stations. Participants can complete prepared projects or their own original projects. Projects include mini yarn wreaths, felt koozies, braided fabric necklaces, and button napkin holders. All tools and materials are provided. Tickets are $10.

JellyBeans roller skating rink at 1120 Buck Jones Rd., Raleigh, will celebrate 20 years with free skating from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday.