January 2026 Can't-Miss Events

January in Winston-Salem may be chilly outside, but the city is heating up with an exciting lineup of events. Catch a thrilling Wake Forest basketball game, cheer on the Carolina Thunderbirds hockey team, or enjoy a captivating music performance at a local venue. January is also the perfect time to try something new, whether that’s an art class, beer school, ice skating, or yoga.

Here's a look at January events happening in and around Winston-Salem. You can also jump to recurring monthlong events here.

Jan. 2–3 — Frosty Fifty Trail Races
8 a.m. Sponsored by the Twin City Track Club, this annual racing event at Salem Lake is one of the top trail races in North Carolina, with five distances. The distance races on Saturday, Jan. 3, include a 50K, 25K, 12.5K, and 50K relay, while the 5K is held on Friday night, Jan. 2. Registration is open now and closes Dec. 31; see the event listing for signup details.

Jan. 3 — Blazin’ Keys Dueling Pianos
7–10 p.m. Enjoy an all-request dueling piano showdown as Blazin’ Keys brings high-energy musical fun to Breathe Cocktail Lounge in downtown Kernersville. Doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m., so come early for a seat and a bite to eat. Tickets are $25; VIP seating is available on the lounge’s website.

Jan. 8 — Bookmarks: Book Talk with Jennifer Niven
6:30–8:30 p.m. Bookmarks welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Niven for a free in-store conversation about her newest novel, Meet the Newmans. A book signing will follow, and attendees are welcome to bring favorite titles from home or purchase books on-site. Copies pre-purchased with registration can be picked up at the event. Free.

Jan. 9–11, 16–18 — Theatre Alliance: Little Women
Fri–Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2 p.m. Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance presents this timeless coming-of-age story based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, following the four March sisters as they grow from childhood to adulthood amid the backdrop of the Civil War. Tickets are $25 for adults and $23 for students, seniors, and military.

Jan. 9, 23 — Taste of Art at Sawtooth
These popular one-night classes invite participants to spend an evening creating a take-home work of art in mediums such as glass, ceramics, jewelry, fibers, and more. Taught by local artists, classes are typically held Friday evenings at Sawtooth School, with additional weekday classes at the Generations Center studio (114 W. 30th Street). View the Winter 2025 class schedule here for all upcoming sessions.

Jan. 10–11 — C&E Gun Show
9 a.m.–5 p.m. Held at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena, C&E Gun Shows are among the country’s most professional and ethical gun shows. Visitors will find a large selection of guns, ammo, knives, and more. Tickets are $12 (free for kids 12 and under) and sold at the door.

Jan. 11 — Book Fair for Grownups at Bookmarks
10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Relive the joy of school book fairs—this time with wine. Bookmarks bookstore in downtown transforms into a grown-up browsing experience with curated book displays, fun merch, and exclusive swag. Tickets are $15 and include a drink ticket, 10% off coupon, and other book-fair-themed swag. Note: Bookmarks is closed to the public during the event.

Jan. 17 — A Night at Hogwarts: The Music of Harry Potter
7:30 p.m. Step into the wizarding world as the Winston-Salem Symphony performs iconic music from the Harry Potter films, featuring scores by John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat. Expect magical sounds, thrilling moments, and plenty of cosplay fun. Held at Reynolds Auditorium and suitable for all ages. Tickets start at $10.

Jan. 24 — YOGA(mmunity) at Foothills Tasting Room
11 a.m. Relax and refresh during this hourlong, all-levels yoga class held monthly at the Foothills Brewing Tasting Room (3800 Kimwell Drive); outdoors in warmer months and indoors during winter. The cost is $12 and includes a pint of beer or a non-alcoholic beverage after class. No pre-registration; simply pay at the bar upon arrival.

Jan. 24–25 — Bookmarks Annual Movable Feast
3 p.m. Hosted each year by Bookmarks, Movable Feast brings together 20 authors for a lively “author speed-dating” experience. Attendees sit at tables while authors rotate every 10 minutes, offering an intimate way to discover new voices and hear from well-known favorites. Held at the Milton Rhodes Center in downtown. Individual tickets are $60 for one day or $115 for the weekend; group discounts available.

Jan. 25 — UNCSA Concert: “Happy Birthday, Mozart!”
3–5 p.m. Celebrate Mozart’s 270th birthday with this annual UNCSA tradition featuring faculty artists performing a sweeping selection of the composer’s chamber works. Held in Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students.

Jan. 29–Feb. 8 — The Seagull at Camel City Playhouse
Thu–Sat at 7 p.m.; Sun at 2 p.m. Camel City Playhouse stages Chekhov’s influential 1896 drama exploring unrequited love, artistic ambition, and the tangled relationships of life on a country estate. Still celebrated as one of the greatest plays ever written. Held Camel City Playhouse, Downtown Arts District. Tickets are $20.

Jan. 30 — Triad Trolleys: Comedy + BrewPub Excursion
7 p.m. Hop aboard the jolly trolley for a BYOB comedy ride featuring rotating comedians and a stop at a local craft brewpub for a tasting. Tours typically run on the last Friday of the month and last just over two hours. Pickup locations vary in and around downtown. Chilled water is provided; gratuities are not included. Tours start at $36.99 for large groups.

Jan. 31–Feb. 1 — NASCAR Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
It’s a NASCAR weekend at Winston-Salem’s legendary Bowman Gray Stadium as the Cook Out Clash returns to open the 2026 NASCAR season. Following last year’s sold-out success, the exhibition event brings two days of high-octane action to the Madhouse and will be broadcast on FOX Sports. The Clash consists of two events held on back-to-back nights:

• Sat., Jan. 31: Practice, Qualifying, and Madhouse Classic Modified Race
  Practice and qualifying for the Cook Out Clash, plus the Madhouse Classic Modified Race featuring Bowman Gray racing stars. Time TBD.
• Sun., Feb. 1: NASCAR Cook Out Clash Main Event
  The 2026 NASCAR season-opening exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium. Time TBD.

Throughout the Month

Jan. 3–31 (various dates) — Wake Forest Basketball
The Wake Forest men’s team kicks off ACC play with four home games at the Joel Coliseum: Virginia Tech (Jan. 3), Miami (Jan. 7), SMU (Jan. 20), and in-state rival NC State (Jan. 31). For tickets and start times, visit the WFU ticketing website.

Jan. 7–31 (various dates) — WSSU Basketball
The Rams kick off CIAA play this month in the always-raucous C.E. Gaines Arena. Matchups include Bluefield State (Jan. 7), Elizabeth City State (Jan. 10), Virginia State (Jan. 13), Johnson C. Smith (Jan. 28), and Livingstone College (Jan. 31). Tickets are sold online and at the box office on game days and include admission to both the women’s and men’s games, held back-to-back.

Jan. 10–24 (various dates) — Concerts at The Ramkat
Downtown’s biggest music venue will feature a number of regional and national headliners this month. Highlights include Tom Petty tribute legends Somewhat Petty (Jan. 10), beloved alt-rockers Sister Hazel (Jan. 22), JUMP – America’s Van Halen Experience (Jan. 23), and high-energy party band Black Pearl (Jan. 24). Find more shows and purchase tickets on The Ramkat website.

Jan. 10–31 (Saturdays) — Cobblestone Winter Farmers Market
9 a.m.–noon. This wintertime market is held downtown each Saturday morning at the Cobblestone Market venue (1007 Marshall Street SW). Shoppers can choose from local produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and more. For a look at participating vendors and weekly happenings, visit the market’s Facebook page.

Various dates — Ice Skating at the Fairgrounds
Winter brings the return of public ice skating at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex. Sessions are offered throughout the month with varying daily times. Admission is $10; skate rentals are $3. Special “No School Skate Days” take place Jan. 2 and 19. Full schedules and details are available on the Fairgrounds website.

Want more events this month and beyond? Explore our online Events Calendar for dozens more local happenings.