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December 7th - 13th 2017 Triangle

by Pam & Michael Davison

This is the second weekend of holiday festivities throughout the Triangle! If you missed out last weekend or just can't get enough, there are more tree lightings and parades this weekend.

I encourage you to take a moment from the excitement of the Holidays and enjoy the peace that parks offer this time of year. There is something special about the warm sunshine on a crisp winter day and all the sounds that winter brings. Listen for a scurrying squirrel or the chirps of a cardinal. Its times like these that melt away stress and allow you to take on whatever challenges the rest of the day may bring.

Do you have plans for New Years? ParkGeek.com is proud to be a sponsor of First Night Raleigh. An $11 All Day Pass gives you access to nearly 100 performances in over 35 locations across Downtown Raleigh as well as the DIY Festival and the midnight Acorn Drop. Advanced tickets are available at several Triangle locations and online.

Holiday Events

The Tree Lighting Ceremony at the North Carolina State Capitol took place Wednesday night, but the Open House continues through Saturday with music and Santa returning on Saturday. The Executive Mansion will also be open for tours to see all the holiday decorations.

The Holly Springs Community Band will be playing a Happy Holidays Concert Thursday evening at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. Come back to the Cultural Center Monday morning for the movie A Very Merry Muppet Christmas.

Come out and see the Mordecai house decorated for Christmas! Each room will be decorated according to a different time period that the Mordecai family resided in the home. The free Holiday Open House will run Saturday and Sunday. Friday evening, they will also offer Holiday Lantern Tours with the Burning Coal Theater. Tours sell out so call to reserve your ticket early.

The Town of Carrboro will celebrate the season Friday night with music on the lawn and tree lighting.

Christmas by Candlelight is back again this Friday at the Duke Homestead Historic Site. Celebrate an 1870 Christmas during the evening candlelight tours of the Homestead. After the tour, enjoy caroling, hot apple cider, and other goodies while you take in the period decorations.

A Main Street Christmas, a traditional-style celebration, with Christmas carols, hayrides and other festivities culminating in a tree lighting ceremony at the Holly Springs Cultural Center Friday night that will get you in the mood for the Happy Holly Days Christmas Parade through Downtown Holly Springs Saturday.

The Wake Forest Christmas Parade will be marching through Downtown Wake Forest Saturday.

Saturday afternoon brings the Cary Christmas Parade.

The Chapel Hill - Carrboro Holiday Parade marches through town Saturday morning.

At the American Tobacco Campus, you can check out the Tree of Bikes until December 14th.

Annual Halle Hall of Wreaths and Trees are on display at the Halle Cultural Arts Center through December 20th.

More Festive Fun!

Like the wonderful Christmas Markets of Europe, the St. Nicholas European Christmas Market will feature food and gifts from Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia, The British Isles, Scandinavia, and Italy along with unique, handmade, collectible, and vintage gifts, baked goods, piroghi and kielbasa, delicious Slavic foods, and entertainment including, Irish Step Dancers, old fashioned caroling Friday evening and The Little German Band and Dancers mid-day on Saturday, children"s activities, and even a visit from the real St. Nicholas both Friday and Saturday at the State Fairgrounds.

Kids 6-12 are invited to take a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt at Powell Drive Park Friday evening.

Shop Local Art on the ArtWalk with live music, food & drinks, and other art related entertainment Friday night in Carroboro.

Both Saturday and Sunday, the North Carolina Museum of Art will be offering Weekend Family Friendly Tours and Meet Your Museum Tours.

Bond Park will host a Grinch Candy Cane Hunt Saturday. Outsmart the Grinch who has discovered that elves have hidden red and white candy canes and find them before he turns them green!

Kick off the Estrella de la Esperanza (Star of Hope) campaign Saturday evening at the Herb Young Community Center. They will celebrate a tree lighting along with a potluck dinner of Latin American holiday dishes. The Three Kings will lead a parade of community groups and members of the public in parade filled with music, dance and colorful costumes around the Town Hall campus.

The NC Chinese Lantern Festival continues at Regency Park through January 14th.

The annual Christmas Open House at West Point on the Eno Park will take place Sunday featuring hot cider & cookies, grinding demonstrations, free samples of homemade hush puppies, and traditional 19th century decorations in the Mangum House.

Tuesday morning, bring the kids over to the Carrboro Century Center for Kids, Cookies & Candy Canes. Join them for cookies, crafts, balloon sculpting and a children's show.

Parks offer Outdoor Activities

Come on out to Crowder Park Friday evening to explore the Mysteries of the Moon at Crowder by Night. Sip on hot cocoa as you listen to stories people have told about the moon then learn about the moon through hands-on activities and crafts.

Come see, explore, and learn the history of the colonial Piper Cox Home Saturday afternoon at Eno State Park.

Santa will take time out of his busy schedule to join them at Harris Lake on Saturday for a cup of hot cocoa and a ride on their wagon to explore the back roads of the park.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area Rangers will hold a Prescribed Fire Talk Saturday afternoon.

Doc Ellen will talk about the Jordan Lake Bald Eagles and the winter migratory birds that visit the park during a Winter Surprise Program both Saturday and Sunday.

Bring your binoculars and join them at Eno River State Park Saturday morning for a relaxing morning outing Birdwatching.

Take a Discovery Walk on American Tobacco Trail Sunday afternoon.

Celebrate the arrival of a new season at a Welcome Winter Party at Durant Nature Preserve Tuesday morning.

Come view the Geminid Meteor Shower of 2017 with staff and volunteers from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS) and Raleigh Astronomy Club (RAC) for a free skywatching program at Dorothea Dix Park Wednesday night.

 

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