Thursday, Nov. 21

Start your evening with Sip, Snack & Sparkle: Holiday Glam Tips at Adara Spa from 6:30-8 p.m. For $20 and up, enjoy snacks and beverages while a professional makeup artist helps you perfect your holiday look. Later, indulge in a Thanksgiving Wine Dinner at Cellar 55 in Fuquay-Varina from 7:30-9 p.m. Bring a friend for a Friendsgiving celebration featuring three expertly curated courses for $80. Alternatively, kick off the holiday season at the Village District Holiday Open House from 5-8 p.m. in the Village District Shopping Center. This free event offers holiday carolers, hot cocoa, photos with Santa, festive shopping, and more.

Friday, Nov. 22

Treat yourself at The Dessertery, running Friday through Monday, Dec. 23, at Kennedy Theater. Tickets are $30 for this annual holiday-themed dessert café. From 5-7:30 p.m., join the VIP Cigar Tasting at Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson for just $5 and enjoy a hand-picked cigar paired with a complimentary old fashioned. For a dazzling evening, attend the Carolina Ballet’s “Carmina Burana” at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Showtimes vary, and tickets start at $28. This stunning production blends breathtaking choreography with live music to tell the tale of a working-class man transformed by a lottery win.

Saturday, Nov. 23

Begin your day at the Raleigh Christmas Parade Viewing Party from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at The Avenue Raleigh. For $15 and up, enjoy themed cocktails and an extensive hot chocolate bar, with free entry for kids under 12. Later, visit the GRL MARKET at Transfer Co. Food Hall from 12-3 p.m., where you can shop from dozens of women-owned local businesses while sipping on mimosas.