Coming Up in COMO: 52 Things To Do
Coming Up In COMO is a brief peek at concerts, plays, art exhibits, events for families and kids, and more. You may now add your events directly to our online calendar at this link.
You may also send your event notice to [email protected]. Please put “Coming up in COMO” in the subject line. Include the date, time, a brief description, and website or Facebook page (or phone number) for your event.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8
Shelter Gardens Winter Wonderland. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Shelter Gardens, 1817 W. Broadway. FREE.
The Tasting Room After Dark Series ft Noah Earle. 6-8 p.m., Les Bourgeois Vineyards, 12847 MO-BB, Rocheport.
Fretboard Comedy Jam. 6-9 p.m., Fretboard Coffee, 1013 E. Walnut St.
Annual Christmas Handbell Choir. 7 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 123 S. Ninth St.
A Christmas Carol: The Musical. 7:30 p.m., Stephens Performing Art at Warehouse Theater, 104 Willis Avenue.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9
Columbia Winter Farmers Market. 8 a.m., MU Health Care Pavilion at Columbia’s Agriculture Park,
Cheese & Sauerkraut 10 Miler. 8:30-11 a.m., McBaine Trailhead, Katy Trail. Event by Columbia Track Club.
Breakfast With Santa. 9-11 a.m., St. Thomas More Newman Center, 602 Turner Avenue. Bring the whole family – and your camera! A portion of the proceeds will go to parishioners in need at Sacred Heart Church and Newman Center.
Central Missouri Mini Comp-December. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Cosmo Park, 1903 Business Loop 70W. See the link for entry fee, classes, scoring, and more.
City of Refuge – Holiday Market. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 10 N. Garth Ave. Showcasing local and refugee artisan work. Food, hot beverages, entertainment. All proceeds benefit City of Refuge refugee care and programs.
Hat Bar and Cotton Candy Pop Ups. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 108 Corporate Lake Drive. .
Friends of the Columbia Public Library Book Sale. Noon-3 p.m., Columbia Public Library, 100 E. Broadway.
Santa at the River. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Missouri River Center, 8825 W. Sarr St. $25 donation per group/family.
Cookies With Santa. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Joe Machens Toyota, 1180 Vandiver Drive. Cookies, snacks, activities. Bring your own camera.
TRYPS Theater: Live at Eleven. 11 a.m., Columbia Public Library, 100 E. Broadway.
No COP Cop-Out! rally for strong climate action. 12-1 p.m., meet at the Keyhole outside Columbia City Hall, 701 E. Broadway. Event by Peaceworks, Renew Missouri, and others.
Christmas with the Chordbusters. 2 p.m., Missouri Theater. Tickets $20; students/groups $10; kids 5 and under FREE.
Black Owned Business Expo. 2-5 p.m., The Armory Sports Center, 701 E. Ash St. FREE event by Columbia Parks & Recreation to celebrate Kwanzaa. Entertainment, food, refreshments, local vendors.
Hallsville Community Development Association 2nd Annual Festival of Trees. 1-5 p.m., Hallsville Fairgrounds, 500 Hwy OO. A walk through indoors Christmas Lights event. Christmas themed lighted displays local nonprofits and businesses. Lights, music, and snacks; pictures with Santa from 3-5 p.m.
The Arcade District’s Arcade Market. 4-8 p.m., inside ono the first floor of the three-story building at 709 Fay St. And inside Six-Mile Ordinary.
A Christmas Carol: The Musical. 7:30-9:30 p.m., Macklanburg Playhouse, 100 Willis Avenue.
Night Visitors Concert with Show-Me Opera and CAAM. 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1112 E. Broadway. FREE.
Billy McDow with Schuyler Pregner at Dive Bar. 8-11 p.m., 1206 Pannell Street. No cover; kitchen open late.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
Breakfast with Santa. 8 a.m., The Atrium on Tenth. $18 adults, $9 kids, 3 and under FREE. Eclipse Catering.
Storytime with Mrs. Claus. 1-3 p.m., Speckled Frog Toys & Books, 16 S. Ninth St. A story and a craft at the Creation Station. FREE.
Tunes at Two. 2 p.m., Columbia Public Library, 100 E. Broadway.
Santa Jingle Bell Jam. 3 p.m., Bonkers, 3812 Buttonwood Drive. $25.
Boone County GOP Christmas Party. 3:30 p.m., Shakespeares Pizza
Holiday Jazz and Art Festival, music by Double Helix. 4-7 p.m., Serendipity Salon & Gallery, 1020 E. Walnut St. Family-friendly and FREE.
Chanukah Through the Decades. 4-7 p.m., Congregation Beth Shalom.500 W. Green Meadows Rd.
Sunny Sundays – Cafe Berlin. 5-11 p.m., 220 N. Tenth St. Happy Hour 5-7 p.m., no cover.
Intergenerational Rock Band Choir: A Compass Showcase at The Blue Note. 6 p.m., 17 N. Ninth St. $8 day of show; $10+ tables.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
Adult Art Club. 5-6 p.m., Columbia Art League, 207 S. Ninth St. (second Monday of the month). Free to members; $40 for non-members (four sessions).
Reading to Rover. 5:30-7 p.m., Columbia Public Library Children’s Program Room. Children will read for 15 minutes to one of Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet Therapy Dogs. Kindergarten age and older.
Extra Credit: Breakfast at Tiffanies. 6 p.m., Ragtag Cinema, 10 Hitt Street. FREE for Ragtag Cinema members.
Jokes Against Humanity Comedy Show. 6 p.m., Hexagon Alley, 111 S. Ninth St. FREE comedy open mic.
Auditions: The Revolutionists. 7 p.m., Talking Horse Productions, 210 St. James Street.
The Trans-Siberian Experience: The Prophecy Show. 7-10 p.m., Jesse Auditorium, Ninth and Conley. Tickets $42-$59.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
Memory Cafe – Cookies and Poetry. 10-11:30 a.m., Columbia Public Library Friends Room. For adults experiencing dementia accompanied by a personal care partner who will also participate. Please register.
Author Talk “This Place of Promise: A Historian’s Perspective on 200 Years of Missouri History.” The State Historical Society of Missouri, 605 Elm Street. The State Historical Society of Missouri’s History on Elm noon series will close out the year with a presentation by SHSMO executive director Gary Kremer, who will connect the past to the present in his latest book,
Open House Supporting Thompson Foundation and Love Coffee. 5-7 p.m., Love Coffee, 15 Business Loop 70 E. Donations encouraged to the organizations’ CoMoGives campaigns.
Shop With A Hero | First Responder Support. 5:30 p.m., Walmart, 1201 Grindstone Parkway.
Evening Family Story Time. 6-6:30 p.m., Columbia Public Library Children’s Program Room, 100 E. Broadway. Ages 13 to 5 years with an adult. Stories, songs, activities for your family.
December Song Swap at Dive Bar. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1206 Pannell Street. Featuring music by six local singer/songwriters. (Every second Tuesday of the month.) Never a cover charge.
A Winter Celebration at First Baptist Church: Columbia Handbell Ensemble. 7 p.m., 1112 E. Broadway. This is a ticketed event.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
Columbia Chamber of Commerce Civic Appreciation Breakfast. 7-9 a.m., Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, 2601 S. Providence Rd.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14
Jazz Lunch with Pack Matthews. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Serendipity Salon & Gallery, 1020 E. Walnut St. Every Thursday. Bring your sack lunch and enjoy good jazz and beautiful art. (And strong wifi if you need it.)
MOSY Celebrity Bartender at DogMaster Distillery. 4-8 p.m., 210 St. James St., Suite D. Celebrity bartenders: Trash Rash, executive director, MOSY; Wilbur Lin, music director, MOSY; Barbie Banks, employer relations coordinator, University of Missouri; others TBD. FREE, $10 donation suggested.
End of Year Local Leaders Party. 5:30-7 p.m., Cafe Berlin, 220 N. Tenth St. Event by DowntownCOMO. RSVP at link, please.
Central Neighborhoods Planning Kick-Off Public Forum. 6 p.m., Columbia City Hall, 701 E. Broadway.
Boone County Democrats Holiday Party. 7-9 p.m., Top Ten Wines, 111 S. Ninth St.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
16th annual Lighted Tractor Parade. 7 p.m., Centralia City Square. Starts at MFA. See parade route at the link.
Ponies Improv Comedy – Dashing Through. 7 p.m., 210 St. James Street. An improv event for the whole family. $15 at the door.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17
Coffee With Queers Brunch. 10 a.m., The Center Project, 805 Fairview. Every third Sunday.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18
Auditions: Miss Lulu Bett. 6 p.m., Talking Horse Productions, 210 St. James Street. Guerl-illa Theatre, performed with scripts in hand and after one week of rehearsal.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19
Inside the Broadway Diner for history and fun. 7 p.m., Broadway Diner, 22 S. Fourth St. Come and hear owner Dave Johnson share about the history of the diner. This free event is part of CoMo Preservation’s holiday celebration and will include light refreshments.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21
A Frame Jazz Jam @ Cafe B – every third Thursday. 7-9:30 p.m., Cafe Berlin, 220 N. Tenth St.