Y’all. Mercury’s in the microwave again, and I’m already going through it. Right in time for the holidays. So, I apologize for getting this list to you so late and for missing last week’s. If I’m behind on these, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m behind on my Christmas shopping. Luckily, there are plenty of events this weekend to get me back on track. Hopefully, anyway. Here’s a sampling of what you can find around the Coastal Bend:
HOT YOGA, COLD BEER
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Nueces Brewing Company
Are you feeling a little downward dog? Mercury got your chakras all out of alignment? Do you feel a little more limber with some liquid help? This donation-based class is held weekly in the brew room of Nueces Brewing. Grab a cold one for some hot yoga, and we promise you, you’ll feel like a happy baby in no time. 
PINTS AND PRESENTS
Friday, 6 p.m. at Nueces Brewing
Saturday, 6 p.m. at Lazy Beach
’Tis the season to give back. Join Tailor-Made Realty Group for a night of giving and good cheer: Bring a gift for any age and receive a free pint. All gifts and cash donations will benefit the Purple Door. So, raise that pint glass for a good cause! Plus, stick around for door prizes.
HOLLY-DAYS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
Friday, 6-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
South Texas Botanical Gardens
Before that holiday blues becomes EVERGREEN, maybe it’s time to SPRUCE up your weekend with a trip to the Botanical Gardens! Check out the gardens’ tree and light displays, as well as environmental artist Sheila Rogers’ “Eco Christmas Tree.” This family-friendly event features photo opportunities with parrots (reservations required) and Santa, a hayride and a petting zoo. Grab some s’mores and cocoa and slither over to the reptile room. The good time won’t be around FIR long: the Holly-days run through Dec. 23.
THE NUTCRACKER
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 3 p.m.
Selena Auditorium
You won’t need to put on your dancing shoes to get visions of sugar plum fairies dancing around your head. Just gather the family for the Corpus Christi Ballet’s annual performance of “The Nutcracker.” (No, not those kinds of nuts, ya filthy animal.) Get your tickets now.
WINTER WONDERETTES
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Aurora Arts Theatre
Are you ready for the Christmas season? Kick it off with a showing of the ‘Winter Wonderettes’ at Aurora Arts Theatre. Jam along to the ’60’s versions of your favorite holiday classics, like “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Run, Run, Rudolph,” as the Wonderettes go on a search to find Santa when he turns up missing. This family-friendly show runs through the holiday season.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Harbor Playhouse
Don’t Scrooge around and miss out on this timeless holiday classic. Tiny Tim will never forgive you if you don’t grab a ticket and catch a showing of the Harbor Playhouse’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” Don’t let the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future show you what you missed out on this holiday season.
BAD SANTA PARTY WITH TRIPTONITE
Friday, 10 p.m.
The Exchange
Let’s get a little naughty this weekend with Triptonite: don your ugliest sweater for their ugly sweater contest – winner takes home $50. Party with the jamily and snap selfies with the bad man of the season while you’re there. Band hits the stage at 9 p.m.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Saturday, 9 a.m.
Ingleside Fire Department
Even Santa needs the most important meal of the day (surely, a diet of only cookies and milk can’t be sustainable). Join the merry man himself at Ingleside Fire Department for a free breakfast of regular or chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage. The whole department will have the halls decked for this delicious event.
UGLY SWEATER PARTY
Saturday. 1 p.m.
Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson
Don we now our ugly apparel, fa la la la la la la laaaaaaa. Cruise over to Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson for an Ugly Sweater party, featuring T&K Smoke Shack, live music by the Palacios Brothers, free drinks and a 50/50 raffle with CC HOG.
FOR CHICKS, BY CHICKS: A FALL MARKET
Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Annex
It’s a woman’s world: Stop by the Annex on Saturday for a market featuring women-owned small businesses and vendors. Support local, support women, and knock off some of your Christmas gift list.
SOLD OUT: ABUELITA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2:30 p.m.
Aurora Arts Theatre
“She’s no George Bailey. She’s no Ebenezer Scrooge! She’s a little bit spicier: She’s Rosita, aka ‘Abuelita!’” OK, yeah, we’re sold. For one day, and one day only, Alex Garza returns to the Aurora Art’s Theatre on Saturday. His one-man play, written about his maternal grandmother, includes wacky characters … including a pig ghost named Agapito. With a description like that, who wouldn’t want to ring in the holidays with this Tex-Mex classic?
CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKET
Saturday, 5 p.m.
Cotton Branch Farms
The stars at night are big and bright: Head on down to the farm to mark off your Christmas list and see those holiday lights twinkle. Check out the 100+ vendors, grab dinner from a food truck, enjoy live music, get rustic with the fam and more at the Market at Cotton Branch Farms.
THE MOST GRAND OPENING
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Riley’s Pub
Head down to Riley’s Pub to celebrate THE MOST as the Most Comida hosts their grand opening! You know ‘em, you love their Rick Rolls, and now you can find your favorite food truck parked inside Riley’s. I’m already salivating thinking of The Most Burger.
PUBLIC ZOO $1000 RAP BATTLE
Saturday, 8 p.m.
House of Rock
Can you go with the flow, daily and nightly? Spit rhyme with the best of them? Then get ready to rock the mic like a vandal at Public Zoo’s $1000 rap battle on Saturday. Winner takes all. Special performances by Zoo members and El Dusty.
WATER STREET FARMER’S MARKET
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Water Street Market
Kick off your Sunday Funday by supporting local vendors and restocking your pantries with fresh veggies, and more, when you head down to the only Sunday farmer’s market at Water Street Market.
PEPPERMINT LANE HOLIDAY MARKET
Sunday, 2 p.m.
Downtown
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … shopping! Grab some hot cocoa and shop local with dozens of vendors and small businesses at the Peppermint Lane Holiday Market. Snap some selfies with Santa and the Grinch while you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones … or while you’re treating your ‘elf’.
6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Sunday, noon
BUS
Let’s give it up for the downtown staple and celebrate six years of partying under the sun at BUS! Get your Christmas shopping started (if you’re me) or find the perfect gift from local vendors at the BUS shop, groove to live music and grab a drink from your favorite bartenders. Nosh on their Tasty Bites, or get your art on with Paint and Picnic’s painting class. Sounds like a perfect recipe for a Sunday Funday.
WITCHY THINGS HOLIDAY FAIR
Sunday, noon
MagiaBella’s Witchy Things at Communitea
Grab the perfect gift for your witchy friend at MagiaBella Witchy Things’ last holiday fair of the month this Sunday. Find crafts, crystals and anything else that’ll warm a witch’s – or just an astrology or spiritual lover’s, or anyone’s really – heart. The event will feature vendors like Dragonfly Exchange, Kats Krafts, AstroVibrant, Rene Reiki & Healing, and more.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
Dec. 18 through Dec. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
American Bank Center
Strap on some skates and glide through American Bank Center’s winter wonderland. Bring the whole family to grab your holiday photos with Santa. Warm up (after skating or after braving the arctic blast outside) with hot cocoa. Don’t procrastinate (like I’ll probably do with my Christmas shopping) and miss out – this event only comes once a year.
Hey besties! Help a girl out and let me know of any events coming up for the holidays, please! Want your holiday fun run to run up our list? Know of a great market for some Christmas shopping? Is Santa Claus coming to your town? Drop this events writer a line at diandraspicak@gmail.com, or find me on Instagram @deeanndruh or on Facebook. And, as always, email us at righton@rightoncorpus.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @rightoncorpus, and DM us there, too! We’re always looking for new things around the Coastal Bend.
