COWPARADE NC: UNC campus. Through January 2013: Artist-rendered cow sculptures on display. Cows will be auctioned Jan. 26, 2013. Proceeds benefit the N.C. Children’s Hospital. cowparadenc.com

MUSIC

CAT’S CRADLE: 300 E. Main St., Carrboro. Nov. 24: Post-Turkey Day Jam. Nov. 25: Om, Daniel Higgs, Solar Halos. Nov. 29: Anoop Desai, Phive. Nov. 30: Steep Canyon Rangers, John Howie & The Rosewood Bluff. Dec. 1: Pentatonix, Alexander Cardinale. Dec. 3: All Time Low, Divided by Friday. Dec. 8: Bowerbirds, Mount Moriah. Dec. 14: Southern Culture on the Skids, New Town Drunks, Fanstastico! Dec. 15: Of Montreal, Foxygen. Dec. 17: The Chorus Project and KidzNotes. Dec. 18: Concrete Blonde. Dec. 28: The Hackensaw Boys, Danny Barnes. 919-967-9053, catscradle.com

THE CAVE: 452 1/2 W. Franklin St. Nov. 24: Blood Red River, Pagan Hellcats. Nov. 27: Saskatchewan. Nov. 28: Matthew Pop. Nov. 30: The Moon and You. 919-968-9308, caverntavern.com

THE CRUNKLETON: 320 W. Franklin St. First Thursdays: Jazzbeau. 919-969-1125

FIVE OAKS CLUBHOUSE: Dec. 8: Onyx Club Boys. fortyacres.org

KRAKEN: 2823 N.C. 54 W. Dec. 7: North Columbia and Laura Thurston with Stuart McNair.

LOCAL 506: 506 W. Franklin St. Nov. 23: Writer, Tragic Magic, Lions to Lambs. Nov. 26: Water Liars, Mechanical River, JPHONO1. Nov. 27: Moon Taxi. Nov. 28: The Mantras, Big Daddy Love. Nov. 29: American Aquarium, The Mike Roy Show. Nov. 30: WXYC 90s Dance. Dec. 1: Some Army, Estrangers, The Evil Tenors. Dec. 4: Mr. Gnome. The Record. Dec. 5: Will Hoge. Dec. 6: Pussy Mountain, The Mercators, Stop Motion. Dec. 7: Desert Noises, Magnolia Collective. Dec. 8: Ben Davis and the Jetts CD Release Party. Dec. 10: Rachael Yamagata, Ed Romanoff, Adrien Reju. Dec. 14: Almost People Album Release Show, Red Collar, Drag Your Chains. Dec. 15: Local H, Scott Lucas. Dec. 16: Crushed Out, The Ill Family. 919-942-5506, local506.com

MEMORIAL HALL: Cameron Ave., UNC campus. Nov. 27: The Chucho Valdes Quintet. Dec. 7: “Jazz for the Holidays,” NC Jazz Repertory Orchestra with John Pizzarelli. 919-843-3333, carolinaperformingarts.org

NIGHTLIGHT: 405 1/2 W. Rosemary St. Nov. 25: Hiss Golden Messenger, Daniel Bachman, Mark Fosson. nightlightclub.com

THE STATION: 201-C E. Main St., Carrboro. Nov. 23: Alex Bowers and Friends. Nov. 26: Open Mic. Nov. 29: Doug Largent Trio. Nov. 30: Alex Bowers and Friends. 919-967-1967, thestationcarrboro.com

RECEPTIONS/OPENINGS

BURWELL SCHOOL: 319 N. Churton St., Hillsborough. Nov. 21. Opening of “Santa Collection,” paintings by Philip G. Metz. Show runs through Dec. 16. 919-732-7451, burwellschool.org

THEATER/DANCE

ARTSCENTER: 300-G E. Main St. Dec. 1: “Holiday Musical Extravaganza,” Transactors Improv. Dec. 7-9 and 13-16: “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.” Dec. 15: Chuckle and Chortle Comedy Show; No Shame Theatre. Dec. 16: “The Art of Deception,” by Keith Burridge, presented by “Almost Ready: A Series of Plays by NC Writers.” 919-929-2787, artscenterlive.org

DSI COMEDY THEATER: Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro. Nov. 23: Improv Slam, Harold Night, Mister Diplomat. Nov. 24: Improv Slam, Ladies Night, Pork. Nov. 29: 5 Dollar Preview, House Party . Nov. 30: Improv Slam, Harold Night, Mister Diplomat. 919-338-8150, dsicomedy.com

MEMORIAL HALL: Cameron Ave., UNC campus. Dec. 1-2: “The Nutcracker,” Carolina Ballet. 919-843-3333, www.carolinaperformingarts.com.

PLAYMAKERS: Center for Dramatic Art, UNC campus. Nov. 28-Dec. 16: “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” Jan. 26-March 3: “A Raisin in the Sun” in rotating repertory with “Clybourne Park.” April 3-April 21: “Cabaret.” 962-PLAY, playmakersrep.org

PRC2: Center for Dramatic Art, UNC campus. Jan. 9-13: “And God Created Great Whales.” April 24-28: “Spring Training.” 919-962-PLAY, playmakersrep.org

ST. MATTHEW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: 210 St. Mary’s Road, Hillsborough. Dec. 13-14: “A Christmas Carol,” Allan Gurganus and Michael Malone. 919-732-7451.