Best Bets: Week of Dec. 4

From staff reports

Friday, Dec. 4

The 20th annual Holiday Pottery Sale at Winthrop University is noon to 6 p.m. in Rutledge Building G-10. This is a time to pick up great pottery pieces for a song. Proceeds from this year's pottery sale will pay for visiting artists, tools and additional items needed in the pottery studio. Call 803-323-2323.

Life is never dull in Tuna, Texas, and the Chester Little Theatre is sharing the holiday fun this weekend with shows t 8 tonight and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday of “A Christmas Tuna,” where radio station OKKK news personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on various Yuletide activities, including hot competition in the annual lawn display contest.

Stroll the streets of Sharon and enjoy the luminaries, lights, decorations, music, tours and food during Christmas in Olde Sharon from 6 to 9 p.m. Look for Santa to arrive by fire truck at 7 p.m., and lend an ear to the caroling in the park.

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra pops conductor Albert-George Schram leads this annual Charlotte holiday tradition “Magic of Christmas” for the first time. Fa la la la la. Come hear the Oratorio Singers and other special guests. Shows are 8 p.m. today, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 5, and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6, and it's at Belk Theater. Tickets are $20 to $77. Call 704-372-1000.

Rappers Omarion, Hurricane Chris, Marques Houston, New Boyz, Waka Flocka Flame, Clipse and Juvenile unite for WPEG-FM's annual holiday hip-hop extravaganzaWinter Fest. The party kicks off at 7 p.m. at Charlotte's Bojangles' Coliseum. Tickets are $22.25 at www.powerfm98.com.

Saturday, Dec. 5

The Fort Mill parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Unity Cemetery and travel down Main Street. Lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. Information: 803-547-2116.

The Hickory Grove parade begins at 3 p.m. near the old Oxford plant and travels down Wylie Avenue to the VFW building. The parade is sponsored by the Hickory Grove Fire Department. This year's grand marshal is Margaret B. Pridmore. Lineup begins at 1:30 p.m. No entry fee.

The Original Kings of Comedy star/host Steve Harvey brings his stand-up act back to the Queen City, along with Nephew Tommy, for a 8 p.m. show at Bojangles' Coliseum. Tickets are $40.50 to $47.50. Check out www.bojanglescoliseum.com.

Sunday, Dec. 6

The Tirzah holiday parade begins at 3 p.m. near Nivens Road and travels down Tirzah Road to S.C. 161. Lineup begins at 2 p.m. No entry fee.

They prance. They dance. They delight. The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions will be at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena at 3 p.m., celebrating 40 years of equine ballet. Cost is $24.50 to $34.50. Call 704-688-9000.

Monday, Dec. 7

You better not cry. You better not pout. That's because “Santa Claus is Comin' to Town” is back for another airing and the mean ol' Burgermeister Meisterburger needs to be dealt with again. 8 p.m., ABC.

“Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special” has the country superstar performing holiday favorites and some of her hits. Joining her on stage are Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Kristin Chenoweth and David Cook. 8 p.m., Fox.

Tuesday, Dec. 8

The Rock Hill High School Band of Distinction will offer a concert of holiday music at 7 p.m. in the school's auditorium. The Jazz Band also will perform selected pieces.

Friday, Dec. 11

There's a Community Christmas Concert with the Ball Brothers and Roy Webb at 7 p.m. at the Harold C. Johnson Middle School, 400 E. Jefferson St., York. Tickets are $ 10, but children 10 and younger get in free. For more information, please call 803-524-6173 or visit theballbrothers.com

Neil Patrick Harris and Jennifer Love Hewitt lend their voices to “Yes, Virginia.” It's an animated special that revisits the tale of a girl's dogged mission to find out if Santa really exists. 8 p.m., CBS.

Saturday, Dec. 12

The Fort Lawn parade begins at 2 p.m. where U.S. 21 South begins, travels down Main Street and ends at Municipal Drive. Rain date is 3 p.m. Dec. 13.

The 21st annual “Lights on the Lake” begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Buster Boyd Bridge at T-Bones.

The Lancaster holiday parade begins at 6 p.m. and runs from North Main Street to South Main Street. This year's theme is “Christmas Dreams.” The Richburg parade begins at 11 a.m. at Old Richburg Road, travels up Main Street and ends near the fire station.

Come hear The Singing Christmas Tree at 3 p.m. Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte. Tickets are $16 to $26. Check www.ovensauditorium.com. The production celebrates its 55th anniversary with Carolina Voices singing popular Christmas songs and carols, from “The Christmas Song” and “Winter Wonderland” to “Little Drummer Boy.”

Sunday, Dec. 13

The Clover holiday parade begins at 3 p.m. at Old North Main Street, travels down Main Street and ends near Ultra Avenue. This year's theme is “an Old-fashioned Christmas.” State Rep. Herb Kirsh, D-Clover, will be the grand marshal.