A calm stillness settles over UNC Greensboro as the excitement and intensity of final exams and Commencement fade, marking a time when students can ease into a well-deserved winter break.
But there’s no shortage of activities for Spartans looking for something to get them through the cold months. Want to get in the holiday mood? Want to keep busy between classes? Need a fun outing to enjoy with local friends?
Check out what’s popping around Greensboro this December and mark your calendars for new opportunities when classes resume in January.
Hit the Ice
Grab a few friends for an afternoon on the ice. Piedmont Winterfest at LeBauer Park is open now through Feb. 1. You can skate your worries away Wednesday through Sunday for only $15 a day. On Mondays and Tuesdays, you can watch the Greensboro Curling League or, better yet, inquire about forming your own curling team.
In January, students can share the ice with fellow Spartans. Activities & Campus Events has reserved the rink for Jan. 15, 4–10 p.m.
Catch a Classic Film
The Carolina Theatre of Greensboro counts down to Christmas Day with festive classic films. Bring your student ID and save a dollar on your ticket. And if you bring your friends, you may be eligible for a group discount.
Get tickets for your favorite holiday flicks in the movie lineup:
- Dec. 17: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Dec. 18: Home Alone
- Dec. 19: Elf
- Dec. 20: The Muppet Christmas Carol
- Dec. 22: It’s a Wonderful Life
- Dec. 23: White Christmas
Take a Walking Tour
Lace up your walking shoes and bundle up. Greensboro’s historic walking tours don’t stop when it’s cold. Make history come alive and appreciate the people who made the Gate City a hub of culture and innovation in North Carolina.
- Historic Downtown Walking Tours: This guided tour will provide an in-depth look at Greensboro’s unique contributions to the Underground Railroad, the textile industry, women’s education, and more.
- African American History Tours: Discover more about Civil Rights figures, explore the origins of Green Book hotels, the development of church communities, and the establishment of educational and business institutions.
- True Crime Tour: Interested in the more morbid side of history? Explore some of the city’s most infamous true-crime locations and stories.
Other walking paths make you feel like you’ve dropped into a wintry wonderland. The Greensboro Science Center never ceases to impress with its seasonal show, featuring millions of lights that encircle its aquarium, zoo, and museum.
Or you can wander among the holiday balls that turn the Sunset Hills neighborhood into a place out of a fairy tale. Hundreds of homeowners have participated in this tradition since the 1990s. It’s become the course for an annual charity 5K, “The Running of the Balls,” created by firefighter and UNCG alumnus Nick Loflin ’01, ’23 M.A.
Choose Your Own Beat
What’s better than a night of live music? How about live music with food?
Listen to jazz and piano tunes while enjoying food truck faves at Grapes and Grains Tavern’s “Funky Fridays” or roast s’mores at their firepit. Rock out with a live DJ in between bowling strikes at Bourbon Bowl. Enjoy the sweet notes of chanteuses each Sunday at The Quarter. If you’re a fan of the Borough Coffee station at the Weatherspoon Art Museum, you should check out their Double Oaks location this winter and hear live music, including performances by the UNCG jazz program.
Warm up on the dance floor with line dancing at Arizona Pete’s or take a West Coast swing class at the Greensboro Cultural Center.
And if you don’t sing or dance, you’re still in luck. Greensboro caters to bookworms and other nerdy interests. The Abbey Tap House hosts the Pages & Pints Book Club on the third Wednesday of every month. Joymongers hosts Taproom Bingo weekly, and Boxcar Bar + Arcade tests your knowledge each week during Trivia Night, pizza included. Pick out a new book to read while jamming out to bands at Scuppernong’s holiday show.
Get to the Game
Here at UNCG, Athletics won’t be slowing down for the holidays. Please show your support for men’s basketball inside Bodford Arena, where they will take on Lynchburg on Dec. 21, followed by a New Year’s Day scrabble with Chattanooga.
The women’s basketball team is also hoping for another stellar season. Their next home game is against South Carolina State on Dec. 22. Then, they will kick off 2026 playing Carolina University on New Year’s Day.
If you want to check out the pros, Greensboro’s First Horizon Coliseum can hook you up with hockey and basketball. Cheer on the Gargoyles, deep into its inaugural hockey season. The team goes up against Wheeling this week. You can also root for the Swarm, Greensboro’s NBA G League, in the Coliseum Complex’s Novant Health Fieldhouse.
Start 2026 Strong with Campus Winterfest
UNCG will welcome back students in January with a range of activities that cater to both thrilling and relaxing interests, ensuring something for everyone’s taste. Campus Activities & Programs has filled out the Spartan Connect calendar with cozy ways to start the new semester.
Frosted Flannel Fest
Jan. 13, 6–9 p.m.
EUC, Cone Ballroom
Flannel fits, fuzzy socks, and hot cocoa reign supreme. Whether you’re jamming, lounging, or hanging out with your favorite people, this night is all about the snow-side of fun.
First Time Climbers Clinic
Beginning Jan. 13, 6–7 p.m.
Kaplan Center Climbing Wall
Join Recreation and Wellness for a guided introduction to rock climbing. Each participant will learn how to wear a climbing harness and utilize the Kaplan Center’s top-rope and bouldering walls. Sessions run through January.
EnVision Your Wellness
Jan. 14, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
EUC, Willow Room
Create vision boards centered around the eight dimensions of wellness. Spartan Well-Being will help students set intentions for the new year. Journaling supplies, planner templates, and customizable goal-trackers will be provided. Snacks are included.
Winter Involvement Fair
Jan. 14, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Elliott University Center
Want to get more involved on campus next semester? Student organizations will set up tables to tell Spartans about their offerings and opportunities for the new year.
Your First Year Success Series: New Year, New Me
Jan. 14, 3:30 p.m.
Academic Achievement Center
Start the semester with intention and good energy. New Student Transitions and First Year Experience will help students create vision boards to map out their goals and dreams, connect with other students, and build community and camaraderie.
Get Ahead of the Game: Syllabus Reviews
Jan. 15, 1–4 p.m.
Academic Achievement Center.
Meet with coaches to review your syllabi, formulate questions to ask your instructors, and organize important dates in your planner or calendar.
Plan Ahead to Serve
Exploring Greensboro takes on a special significance for Spartans, who are passionate about giving back. Right now, many of them look forward to the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 17.
The University-wide event, led by the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement, honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student volunteers divide into groups and go out into the community. Past projects have included stocking food pantry shelves, tidying up gardens, and filling backpacks for children.
It’s so popular that registration is already full, but you can add your name to the wait list for 2026.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
