November 20th - December 4th 2019

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 seasonal events.

This newsletter will cover through Thanksgiving 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.

Take a night off from cooking dinner and bring the whole family to enjoy Pizza & a Movie at the Halle Cultural Arts Center Thursday, November 21st. The featured flick will be Toy Story 4.

Join them for lunch at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh on Friday, November 22nd for Colossal Collard Day including free samples, recipes and plenty of local, fresh collards for your holiday table.

Head to Downtown Durham on Saturday, November 23rd for an Architecture & the Urban Landscape Walking Tour. Learn about how Durham has grown and changed as it has transformed itself from an industrial center to the City of Medicine.

Do you have visitors coming into town? Historic Yates Mill County Park will be presenting Saturday at the Old Mill Tour on November 23rd and 30th or a Mill Heritage & Local History Tour on Sunday the 24th and December 1st.

Starting Wednesday, November 27th and running through December 1st, come be a part of their Thankfulness Project - a collaborative community art project. While you are there, drop off some non-perishables to contribute to their Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Free Birds will be the free movie at the Holly Springs Cultural Center Monday November 25th.

The Raleigh Christmas Parade & More Holiday Fun this Weekend!

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.

Before the parade, head to Moore Square Friday night for the S'Moore Square Party featuring a bounce house, imagination playground, crafts, roasting over firepits and s'mores.

Saturday night, head back over to Moore Square for the Global Holiday Festival and Market. Join dozens of ethnic communities from across the Triangle for a day of food, shopping, entertainment, and community engagement.

Also after the parade Saturday, join the Downtown Raleigh Alliance for the annual Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts. The event will include live performances, a Marbles Kids Museum Booth, local food vendors, unique downtown retail, local beer and wine, and free activities for every age.

The Holiday Express will be pulling out of the station at Pullen Park both December 4th-8th and 11th-15th, but you will want to get your tickets in advance.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation invites you to Art in the Arboretum Sunday and learn why leaves change color while making artwork with natural materials.

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 Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Show returns to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds November 30th - December 1st.

Finally Friday returns to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Friday, November 29th with the film Gremlins.

Prairie Ridge Ecostation invites families to play some Outdoor Games on Sunday, 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. On Friday nights, you are invited to enjoy Iris after Dark, their new weekly event featuring small plates, special drinks and local DJs and musicians.

The NC Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Regency Park with spectacular light displays and the fan favorite Dragon.