Need holiday gift ideas? UofL has you covered

A friendly reminder that it’s almost December (already) and your shopping window for holiday gifts is getting smaller. If you’re at a complete loss, don’t stress – UofL has a bevy of gift opportunities that would make even Santa jealous.

On Nov. 30, stop by the Red Barn from 12-3 p.m. for the UofL Farmers’ Market Holiday Bazaar and load up on locally grown and handmade holiday gifts from 17 different local artisans, farmers and food producers. Gifts for sale include jams, salsas, honey, baked goods, holiday decorations, soaps, crafts, jewelry, stoneware, pottery, UofL apparel and more.

On Dec. 1, take advantage of an all-day shopping extravaganza. UofL and the Louisville Independent Business Alliance will take shoppers on a whirlwind tour of local shops and restaurants during the annual Holiday Cards “Buy Local” Shopping Tour.

The tour includes stops at locally-owned businesses in a several Louisville neighborhoods such as Butchertown, Nulu, Frankfort Avenue and downtown. The $40 registration fee includes opening and closing receptions, door prizes and transportation. Door prizes this year include a gift basket and certificate from NOVA Salon, tickets to the Derby Dinner Playhouse, passes to the Kentucky Derby Museum, Slugger Museum and Frazier Museum, a stadium blanket from the UofL Campus Store, a Cooking at the Cottage gift card, gear from UofL Athletics and Louisville FC, and more.

Also, each participate will receive one free pass for a future tour at Copper and Kings Distillery in Butchertown ($15 value).

Activities begin with festive drinks and a light breakfast at the University Club on Belknap Campus at 8 a.m.

Shoppers will board the bus at 9 a.m. to begin a day of shopping, and the group will return to the University Club for a closing reception from about 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with drink samples, hot hors d’oeuvres and door prizes. Register online.

Are your loved ones into ceramics? Handcrafted ceramics by University of Louisville student and faculty artists will be available for purchase during the annual Ceramics Sale, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2. The sale will be held the ceramics studio in the Studio Arts building, 2314 S. Floyd St.

Many items will be available in the $10 to $30 range, including plates, mugs, bowls and other tableware. Additional items, such as large vases, serving bowls and platters, will also be available.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the UofL Hite Art Institute’s Ceramic Arts Organization and help fund free public workshops with visiting artists and student travel to art conferences.

Prefer to give a handmade gift? Join the Garden Commons Workshop on Dec. 1 from noon to 1 p.m. for wreath making. Harvest some herbs and combine them with other plant materials to make a fragrant holiday wreath. Tools and gloves are provided for the workshop, held at the Cultural Center Garden Commons.

You can always treat your loved ones to an entertaining experience, too. UofL’s Jazz faculty and students will host “A Jazzy Christmas” Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Derby Dinner Playhouse, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville, Indiana. The cost, including dinner, is $40, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the UofL School of Music Scholarship Fund.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 5:45 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Finally, take in a holiday tradition as the University of Louisville Dance Theatre hosts its 22nd annual performance of “Clara’s Dream,” Dec. 1-3 at the School of Music’s Comstock Hall.

“Clara’s Dream” is the familiar story of “The Nutcracker” from the time that Clara starts dreaming of snow and the land of sweets. There are cotton candy angels and toy soldiers, as well as the variations from foreign lands and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy appears. Her dream takes the audience along for a joyful ride through fantasy.

Directed by Cynthia Bronner and Chuck Bronson, UofL Dance Theatre is the elite level of the UofL Dance Academy. About 50 dancers from all levels of the academy will have roles in the show.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 13 and adults older than 65. Group rates are also available.

Finally, on Dec. 3, the Cardinal Singers will be part of the Holiday Choral Festival presented by 90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville. The concert will be held at St. Stephen Church, 1018 S. 15th St. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. 

The University of Louisville Cardinal Singers is a select chamber choir in the School of Music conducted by Kent Hatteberg. The group joins the J.W. Tiggs Chorale, Floyd Central A Capella Choir and Western Middle School for the Arts Advanced Choir for the performance.