Hallmark Countdown to Christmas at Philips Farms, Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade, Holiday Cocktails
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN. The Hallmark Channel is extending its Countdown to Christmas by taking the celebration on the road to Phillips Farms in Cary, located at 6720 Good Hope Church Road, on Saturday, December 3 (10 a.m.–6 p.m.) and Sunday, December 4 (1–6 p.m.) Enjoy Hallmark-branded festivities while searching for the perfect Christmas tree and grabbing some holiday goodies.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING. Tickets are still available for Holiday Market at The Durham on Wednesday, December. 7, 7:30-9 p.m. The shopping event features 25 North Carolina artisans and makers with gifts including succulents, jewelry, fashion, artisan foods, candles, dinnerware, books and more. Tickets are available online, with proceeds benefiting Y Learning from the Durham YMCA. Photo courtesy of The Durham Hotel.
Big Spoon Roasters hosts shopping events on Saturday, December 3 and Saturday, December 10, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. The nut butter and snack bar company invites shoppers to sip apple cider while sampling the entire catalog of Big Spoon Roasters products before building their own nut butter gift sets. The event takes place at the company’s new headquarters and production facility at 500 Meadowlands Drive in Hillsborough.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. The North Carolina Museum of History celebrates 120 years of preserving, protecting and exploring history this Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The birthday celebration will feature free admission to the museum’s newest ticketed exhibition, “The Power of Women in Country Music;” live on-site broadcasting from the Triangle’s country music station, WQDR; birthday treats; a birthday promotion in the Museum Shop, and more. Learn more here.
GIVEAWAY! Introducing Cafe Root Cellar in Pittsboro, the reimagined sister spinoff of The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering in Chapel Hill. Chef Sera Cuni re-explores American cuisine and showcases the “go big or go home” seasonal dishes she loves to create. Cafe Root Cellar offers indoor and patio dining for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and brunch on Sundays, as well as takeout services. Fill out the form on our Midtown or Cary Living giveaway pages for a chance to win a $50 gift card from Cafe Root Cellar. We’ll select a winner Wednesday, December 7.
PARADE FUN. The Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce kicks off the holiday season with several festive events. The annual town tree lighting takes place in the Fuquay Business District on Thursday, December 1 at 6 p.m. The event also includes a ticketed sleigh ride. Then it’s Breakfast With Santa at Zaxby’s, at 1341 North Main Street, on Saturday, December 3 at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Enjoy chicken and waffles and get a family picture with Santa. Complete the weekend with the Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade in historic downtown on Sunday, December 4 at 4 p.m.
NEW IN TOWN. Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe will open a Holly Springs location at 108 Grand Hill Place in Holly Springs Towne Center in late December. The café will feature a beer and wine menu, al fresco patio dining and a convenient pickup area for third party and to-go orders. For information on hiring opportunities, text “TAZJOBS” to 31063.
PURCHASE A PUP. Perfectly Imperfect Pups (PIPs) is reducing the adoption fee for select long-term foster dogs by $50 through Saturday, December 17. PIPs has 11 dogs that have been in their foster homes for more than 400 days, and PIPs wants to see them in their forever homes for the holidays. There remains a surge in surrendered dogs, creating overcrowded shelters.
NEW MAGAZINE! Have you heard the news? The parent company of Midtown and Cary Living has teamed up with the previous editorial team from Carolina Parent magazine to publish Triangle Family magazine, a high-quality, glossy parenting guide. Triangle Family will debut in March/April and will be distributed on a bimonthly schedule to parents across Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties. Learn more here.
CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS. The Durham Sports Commission presents the NAIA Senior Football Classic at Durham County Memorial Stadium on Friday, December 16 at 7 p.m. and the NAIA Football National Championship on Saturday, December 17 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the One Team, One Durham Fund that awards grants to offset the rising cost of youth sports.
FESTIVE FUN. Taylor Whitworth from Oakwood Cookie Co. hosts a holiday cookie decorating class at The Mayton in Cary on Wednesday, December 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets include six cookies to decorate, along with icing, sprinkles and a take-home box for decorated cookies. Photo by Kajakiki/GettyImages.
The annual Joel Lane Christmas Open House will take place upon museum grounds at 160 South Saint Mary’s Street in Raleigh on Saturday, December 3, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Enjoy a walk through the oldest house in Raleigh and speak with costumed re-enactors and volunteers. The event includes kids crafts, educational tables and 18th-century toys and games. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
