November 25th - December 1st

by Pam & Michael Davison

Happy Thanksgiving! If you have stayed 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 a great destination to run off some energy or extra calories.

Fun at the Fairgrounds

The State Fairgrounds is hosting some fun events this weekend. If you are ready to jump into Christmas, you won't want to miss the Christmas Carousel Holiday Festival. A complete holiday experience for the entire family. Featuring live holiday music, Santa, and cooking demonstrations. To start or finish your holiday shopping, there will also be original artwork and crafts, Christmas decorations, prints, pottery, candle making, jewelry and more for sale by artisans.

Also the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Crafts Show takes place this weekend and gives the public the opportunity to see and purchase a diverse selection of jury-selected, one-of-a-kind fine crafts. Fine crafts displayed at this year's Show will include pottery, clay, sculpture, wearable fiber, blown glass, jewelry, metal work, wood work, furniture, photography, printmaking and mixed media.

If you are not quite ready for reindeer yet, maybe you will enjoy the Cat Show. The event sponsored by the Tarheel Triangle Cat Fanciers will feature an all- breed championship and a household pet show.

Lastly, for all you horse enthusiasts, you will want to check out the Turkey Circuit Quarter Horse Show.

All of the events this weekend at the fairgrounds, except the horse show, do have an admission fee, so make sure to click through for information on prices and available discounts.

A Little More Fun

William B. Umstead State Park is a jewel here in the Triangle. It is a great destination to get everyone outside and enjoying the fresh air after the big meal and one of my favorite spots for our family holiday picture.

Jordan Lake invites you to join them Thursday on the Bald Eagle Observation Deck. The ranger will even be out on their new eagle observation deck with a spotting scope from 11am-12pm.

Friday, you can join a ranger for a nice leisurely walk on the Pond Trail at Seaforth Recreation Area for a Bird Walk.

Saturday, you can view the park from a new perspective on a Canoe "Hike".

Sunday at Jordan Lake, you can learn the history of the lake, Ebenezer Church and other interesting tidbits while enjoying a leisurely walk on Ebenezer's Church Trail during a History Hike.

Historic Yates Mill Pond is another awesome destination if you have visitors from out of town. As the only remaining grist mill in Wake County, it is a fascinating experience for young and old. This weekend, they will be running the wheel and offering Mill Heritage Tours.

Step back in time with musician and multi-instrumentalist David Giuseppe as he plays songs from the North Carolina and American traditions at a Front Porch Music Concert at the North Carolina Museum of Art. There will be three free concerts offered Saturday afternoon.,