November 17th - 30th Triangle 2016

by Pam & Michael Davison

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the holiday buzz is in the air! This weekend officially kicks off the holiday season in the Triangle with parades and seasonal events.

This newsletter will cover two weeks to help you plan out your holiday. If you are staying in town and are looking to get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine before or after your Turkey feast, there are plenty of wonderful parks in the area. Do be aware that several local county and city parks (the ones with gates) will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Neighborhood playgrounds, greenways and state parks are all great destinations to run off some energy or extra calories.

Come to Yates Mill Saturday to kick off your holiday shopping at the Yates Mill Associates' Holiday Sale and learn about the Historic Trades, the Butcher, Baker & Candlestick Maker. They need your help on Sunday to solve a History Mystery and on Wednesday, Park Tales will explore the First Thanksgiving as you learn how it took one woman four decades to earn Turkey Day a spot as a national holiday.

Do you have visitors coming into town? Historic Yates Mill County Park will be presenting Corn Milling Demonstrations both Saturday and Sunday. You are invited to take a Saturday at the Old Mill Tour on November 26th and Mill Heritage & Local History Tour on Sunday the 27th.

Thursday, November 24th they will be making Creative Crafts throughout the Holidays at Hill St. Community Center.

The Raleigh Christmas Parade & More Holiday Fun!

Bundle up and head downtown early Saturday morning to get a great spot to watch the Annual Christmas Parade in downtown Raleigh. The event is expected to draw more that 60,000 spectators to see the the largest parade between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The parade is also broadcast live on WRAL starting at 10:00am.

Once you are downtown, you can head over to The North Carolina Museum of History for the Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration. Come celebrate North Carolina's American Indian heritage at this exciting festival featuring music, dancing, storytelling, hands-on activities and food. There will be members of the state's eight recognized tribes sharing their heritage and demonstrating their skills at pottery, basketry, beadwork and stone carving. Its a great event to learn about the history of the American Indian that took place right here in North Carolina.

You can also lace up some skates and enjoy a few laps on the Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink. The rink opens Saturday following the parade. The rink will be open in Raleigh's City Plaza through January 29th and $10 includes both admission and skate rental. Click through for all the special themed days and open skate times.

Find creative, locally handmade gifts of art for everyone on your holiday list at the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market this Saturday and Sunday.

Many local farmers markets are closed for the season, but the Winter Market will be making its indoor debut for the season inside the Holly Springs Cultural Center Saturday morning. Click through for information on how you can even pre-order.

Raven Rock State Park invites you to join them Thanksgiving Morning for a 3 to 6 mile Hike for Your Health before the eating begins.

November is Pecan Pickin' Month at Historic Oak View County Park. Come explore the 19th century historic farmstead that includes a restored home, pecan grove, plank kitchen, cotton field, cotton & boll weevil exhibit, tenant house and farm history center.

Fun Family Activities after Thanksgiving

Kick off your shopping after Thanksgiving and get into the festivities with the Annual Christmas Carousel Holiday Festival at NC State Fairgrounds. Featuring live holiday music, Santa, cooking demonstrations, original artwork and crafts, Christmas decorations, prints, pottery, candle making, jewelry and more.

The NC Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Regency Park Friday, November 25th and runs through January 15th. The evening festival will include more than 20 ALL NEW displays, each one comprised of hundreds of parts, and thousands of LED lights. In what proved to be a fan favorite last year, the spectacular Chinese Dragon on Symphony Lake will return to mesmerize visitors.

Kick-off the Holidays at the Chapel Hill Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony Sunday, November 27th. Along with the Tree Lighting, there will be caroling and visits from Santa & Mrs. Claus.

Art and Culture!

The Carrboro Film Festival is a celebration of the film and video creativity we have in Orange County. All filmmakers from beginner to well established professionals will be featured both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday, November 20th is another Durham Community Day at the Museum of Life & Science. Durham County residents with ID can get into the Museum for free! The next community Day will be Thursday, December 1st.

Both this weekend and next you are invited to join a guided tour at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Meet Your Museum Tours of the 164 acre campus, and Weekend Family Friendly Tours are given on both Saturdays and Sundays. This weekend, you are invited to enjoy a Family Fun Saturday entitled Deco the Walls. Join them with your kids for a gallery tour plus family workshop. Also Saturday, Richard Guy Wilson will present a lecture Defining Art Deco.

Art in the Evening returns Friday, November 25th with the band Peter Lamb and Wolves Trio and a Sound Bite on Streamlined for Reflection.

Free Birds will be the featured film the Holly Springs Cultural Center Monday, November 21st and Rango will be shown Monday, November 28th,

Along with the holiday craft fairs coming to the Fairgrounds after Thanksgiving, this weekend, you can check out all the critters at the Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, the RMI Raleigh Benefit Hunter/Jumper Show and the Turkey Circuit Quarter Horse Show next Saturday.

Beginners and experienced singers are all welcome to participate in the Shape Note Sing this Sunday afternoon at Mordecai Historic Park. Singers in this tradition sing a cappella and sit arranged by vocal part in a "hollow square," facing one another across the square and taking turns at leading.

The Triangle Troglodytes will be holding their monthly lecture Tuesday, November 22nd at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The meeting will cover a sampling of Australian show caves based around a trip a member took in August.

They will celebrate Final Friday at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on November 25th with an exploration of Those Naughty Germs - Bacteria. Join them for short films, germ related science stations and a presentation by NC State biologist and author Rob Dunn.

Fun at the Parks

Blue Jay County Park invites you to their annual Night Owls and Candle Magic Family Event Saturday after dark. Come on out to enjoy the magic of a stroll along their luminaria-lined trail as you learn about the late fall seasonal activities of local owls.

Hike to the rarely visited Camp Whispering Pines where the wildlife is abundant and the area beautiful on a Rambling Ranger Hike Saturday afternoon at Umstead Park.

Come and learn about Occoneechee Mountain's geologic wonders. Explore the pyrophyllite quarry Saturday afternoon with a real geologist on a Geology Hike.

Learn about our native Squirrels and make a fun squirrel craft Saturday at Harris Lake County Park.

Before you venture out into the woods, learn about the Dangerous Plants and Animals you should be cautious around at Falls Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday.

Join a Jordan Lake Ranger for a Canoe Hike down the White Oak Creek Sunday afternoon.

Shinrin-yoku is Japanese for a visit to the forest for relaxation or Forrest Bathing. Occoneechee Mountain invites you to try Forest Bathing on a Nature Hike Wednesday afternoon.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area will host an Animal Camouflage Hike Sunday, November 27th. Learn

Cyclists, join them for a Night Ride at Umstead State Park Wednesday, November 30th.