Above: Christmas tree in Fenton Square. Photo courtesy of Fenton.
Learn How Cary Celebrates the Holiday Season—and Where to Buy Delicious Baked Treats
BY JUDITH COOKIE RUBENS
There is plenty of holiday cheer around the Town of Cary this winter. The most popular events date back decades—one even recalls Victorian Christmases of old. But newer shopping and dining complexes are adding activities that promise to become family favorites. Here’s a sampling of holiday events in Cary.
Bringing in the Holidays
On December 7, downtown Cary brings in the holiday season with a day full of events. From 2–5 p.m., visitors can enjoy an event unique to Cary: the Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker, which takes place at the historic Page-Walker Arts & History Center. Carolers dressed right out of Dickens’ time will entertain visitors with song and storytelling, while guests enjoy refreshments by candlelight in the historic former hotel. After enjoying Victorian fun, walk to the nearby downtown Cary Park, where food, entertainment and performances will lead up to the evening’s towering Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Lanterns and Lights
The tree lighting is only one of many celebrations of lights to be enjoyed in Cary this holiday season. One of the Triangle’s most sought-after holiday tickets is the stunning North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, back for a ninth year at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre from November 16–January 12. The 8-week run promises more than 40 new features in the Chinese tradition of magical lantern displays. Think larger-than-life dragons, vibrant animals and flowers of all kinds. As part of the event, Chinese cultural arts performances will take place nightly on the Koka Booth main stage.
Visitors and residents love strolling downtown Cary on a clear night, enjoying the lit-up trees along South Academy Street and vivid holiday light displays in and around Downtown Cary Park. While walking, look for Gifting Trees—the town’s annual themed Christmas trees decorated by local groups and businesses. Vote on your favorites on the town website. The tree with the most votes wins a donation to the nonprofit group of their choice, courtesy of The Mayton.
On Christmas Eve, a glow illuminates many Cary residential neighborhoods as paper bag lantern luminaria line the curbs. Local Girl and Boy Scout troops distribute the lanterns as a service project fundraiser, a tradition that has been embraced by many Cary residents.
The end of December brings the Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at 5:30 p.m. on December 30. This downtown celebration features treats, children’s activities and holiday music. Late December will also include the town’s annual Kwanzaa Celebration, honoring African American heritage through live performances and visual art. Light your kinara (the traditional Kwanzaa candelabra) and join the fun!
Holidays on Stage and Screen
Cary celebrates the season through dance, music, theater and film. One of Cary’s longest-running holiday events is the 50-year-old Cary Community Choir’s production of the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah.” This free event is set for 7:30 p.m. December 8 at Westwood Baptist Church. “The Motown Sound of Christmas,” a soulful celebration with new music, will take place at the Cary Arts Center on December 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Onstage, enjoy Cary Ballet Company’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” which will take place this year December 20–22 at the Cary Arts Center. For a new twist on an old tale, you can also catch the Cary Players solving a “Dickens” of a mystery in “A Sherlock Carol,” December 5–9, also at the Cary Arts Center.
Those wanting a more interactive viewing experience can join other classic movie buffs for the annual Cary “White Christmas Sing-Along” at The Cary Theater. Families can also enjoy the Will Ferrell classic, “Elf” at The Cary—complete with a snowball fight (snowballs provided!).
Jaycees Christmas Parade
This season marks 45 years for the famous Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade, happening from 2–4 p.m. on December 14 this year. Filled with classic cars, homemade floats, local bands and costumed entertainers, the parade marches through downtown, ending at Downtown Cary Park, where holiday entertainment continues until 9 p.m.
Shopping and Dining
Local businesses offer an eclectic variety of holiday fun this year. Browse the creatively sculpted gingerbread houses on display at local businesses from December 7–15 as part of the town’s Gingerbread House Competition. Find special gifts from local makers and sip on mulled wine or spiked cocoa at The Mayton Holiday Market from 2:30–5:30 p.m. on December 22 at Cary’s The Mayton.
Seeking a North Pole–themed dining experience? Sample delicious Brooklyn-style pizza pies from Di Fara Pizza Tavern from the warmth of a private heated igloo on the patio. (No need to rush with this one—you can enjoy these cozy dining spots from December 1–February 28.)
The fast-growing Fenton district welcomes the return of its popular ice skating rink from November 7–February 7 with themed skate nights and kids’ skate mornings. Fenton lights its tree square from 3–7 p.m. on November 23, with ice skating and old-fashioned carriage rides around the property. Santa will be there, too, in his very own igloo—ready for family photos or pictures with the family pet.
Check out stories from around the Western Wake at 5westmag.com.
Where to Go: Cary Bakeries
Annelore’s German Bakery
This authentic Bavarian-style pastry house makes Old World breads, delectable pastries and other confections. Owners Annelore and Norbert Gstattenbauer import German flour and chocolate while sourcing nuts, fruit and honey locally. The bakery is known for its Brötchen bread rolls, layered sponge cake and cream Donauwelle and, of course, authentic Bavarian pretzels.
308 W. Chatham Street, Cary
Asali Desserts & Cafe
This award-winning cafe and coffeehouse specializes in Mediterranean-style pastries and desserts. Guests can enjoy savory items like spinach or cheese pie or breakfast pastries made with eggs. They can order desserts, from exquisitely decorated tarts and napoleons to small pots of tiramisu, mousse and pudding. The cafe also offers a bounty of sweet, flaky pastries like baklava, lady fingers and kullaj. Enjoy your treats with an artistically designed espresso drink or a pot of blooming tea. Custom-order cakes and other pastries are also available.
107 Edinburgh South Drive, Suite 106-A, Cary
Baghdad Bakery & Market
Family-operated for a decade, Baghdad Bakery often samples its warm samoon, a diamond-shaped Iraqi bread, straight from a brick oven. This bakery/market in Chatham Square stocks the best brands from the Middle East, plus dried fruits and dates, flour, rice and spices.
742 E. Chatham Street, Cary
Brecotea Bakery & Café
Brecotea is a standout Asian-style bakery and boba tea shop boasting modern décor, fun hangout vibes and fresh-baked Taiwanese delights. Flaky chocolate Danishes and berry-and-cream-filled croissants sit alongside more unusual but savory options like butter pork floss buns or purple yam ube bread.
1144 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
La Farm Bakery
This year, internationally acclaimed French baker Lionel Vatinet celebrates 25 years of serving artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and specialty products to the Triangle. La Farm’s signature loaf is a light sourdough (a three-day recipe) in a five-pound boule, as enjoyed in the French countryside. Look for seasonal Linzer challah, snowman-shaped loaves and chocolate yule log cakes (bûche de Noël).
4248 NW Cary Parkway, Cary (original location)
220 W. Chatham Street, Cary
5055 Arco Street, Cary (inside Whole Foods)
Once in a Blue Moon
Bakery & Café
A Triangle custom cake shop for 25 years, this homey downtown spot bakes elaborate wedding cakes, pies, cheesecakes, cookies and sweet breads. Pie lovers won’t find fault with three kinds of apple, not to mention a sweet potato pecan delight and chocolate chess pie.
115-G W. Chatham Street, Cary
Panaderia Guadalajara
The goodies baked fresh daily at Panaderia Guadalajara represent some of Mexico and Latin America’s most popular sweet breads. These pan dulce are a breakfast pastry known to have hundreds, if not thousands, of recipe varieties. Look for fun takes on concha (Spanish for seashell), a cookie-topped crust atop a sweet roll. Pan dulce are best enjoyed dipped in coffee or hot chocolate.
1379 SE Maynard Road, Cary
