📫Wake County's Holiday Sparkle This Weekend | A Daughter’s Whisper Amid Thanksgiving Chaos | Tree Lightings That'll Make Your Heart Glow📍

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Hello friends!

The Christmas season has officially begun, and we are excited to help you celebrate! Our team is dedicated to bringing you the latest holiday events and news across the area. With over 100 events already on our calendar, there’s something for you and your family to enjoy every day.

We update our events daily, so be sure to check the calendar at the bottom of the newsletter regularly for the newest happenings, special activities, and festive fun. From light displays to holiday markets, parades, and family-friendly shows, we’ve got your holiday plans covered!

Start planning your festive season today and make the most of all the holiday cheer in our community.

See you out there in beautiful Wake,
Diane

—Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

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📍 Today’s Chuckle 📍

Why does Santa go down chimneys on Christmas Eve?
Because it soots him! 🎅🔥

📍 Trivia 📍

• Origins of the Name: “Black Friday” originally referred to the heavy and disruptive traffic in Philadelphia the day after Thanksgiving. Later, retailers reinterpreted it as the point when stores went from “in the red” to “in the black,” meaning profitable.

• First Black Friday Sales: Large-scale Black Friday sales began in the 1950s and 1960s as stores tried to attract holiday shoppers with big discounts.

🎄 Celebrate the Holidays in Wilmington, NC ❄️

Looking for a holiday getaway that blends historic charm, coastal beauty, and festive cheer? Wilmington, North Carolina, is the perfect destination to enjoy the season with family, friends, or a romantic escape. This picturesque port city transforms into a winter wonderland each holiday season, offering a mix of scenic strolls, sparkling lights, and memorable experiences.

Why Visit?
Wilmington’s historic downtown is brimming with character, featuring cobblestone streets, boutique shops, and beautifully decorated buildings. During the holidays, the city comes alive with seasonal lights, music, and festive decorations that make every visit feel magical. Its coastal setting adds a unique twist to the holiday experience — crisp sea breezes, riverfront walks, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Holiday Activities & Must-Sees:

• Holiday Parades & Festivals: Many local organizations and neighborhoods host parades and events to celebrate the season, complete with floats, marching bands, and visits from Santa.

• Airlie Gardens Holiday Lights: Stroll through this historic estate’s enchanting gardens, illuminated with thousands of sparkling holiday lights. (airliegardens.org)

• Downtown Riverwalk: Take a leisurely walk along the Cape Fear River and enjoy seasonal decorations, waterfront views, and charming shops for holiday gifts.

• Historic District Tours: Explore Wilmington’s antebellum architecture, museums, and historic sites dressed up for the holidays — perfect for a scenic, festive afternoon.

• Local Dining & Coastal Cuisine: Savor fresh seafood, Southern favorites, and seasonal dishes at Wilmington’s many restaurants, many of which offer cozy atmospheres and special holiday menus.

Whether you’re looking for dazzling light displays, festive parades, scenic strolls, or just a cozy coastal escape, Wilmington, NC offers the perfect combination of charm, beauty, and holiday spirit. Make this season unforgettable with a trip to Wilmington, where the coast meets Christmas cheer.

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Food Recalls: Boar’s Head Cheese and Fish Products

•  Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese (6 oz, UPC 0-42421-05858): Recalled due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination; best-by dates Nov. 21, 2025–March 12, 2026. No illnesses reported. Details

•  Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Cheese Wedges (7 oz, UPC 0-42421-15160): Withdrawn out of caution for possible Listeria cross-contamination; best-by dates Nov. 25, 2025–May 11, 2026. Details

•  Dry Ghoinnya Fish (10-12 lb packs, New Hoque & Sons): Nationwide recall for uneviscerated fish risking botulism (Clostridium botulinum); expiration May 19, 2025. Highest FDA risk level. Details

Tip: Discard or return affected items; check FDA site for updates.

Santa's Coming to Town: Wake County's Holiday Sparkle This Weekend (Nov. 22-24, 2025)

Oh, the jingle bells are jingling early in Wake County this year! With Thanksgiving just days away, the holiday magic is already sprinkling down like fresh snow—think twinkling lights, marching bands belting out "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," and jolly old Saint Nick himself waving from floats or perched by a glowing tree. This weekend marks the official kickoff to the merriest season, and whether you're chasing parade candy with the kids, swaying to festive tunes under the stars, or oohing and aahing at a tree-lighting countdown, there's pure, heartwarming joy waiting right here in our backyard. Bundle up, grab a mug of hot cocoa, and let's dive into the fun—because nothing says "home for the holidays" like these local traditions that remind us why we love this community.

Saturday, November 22: Parades That'll Have You Ho-Ho-Humming

Start your weekend with the granddaddy of them all—the 81st Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade at 9:30 a.m., rolling down Hillsborough Street from St. Mary's Street to downtown's Moore Square. This is the biggest parade between Atlanta and D.C., packed with 80+ floats, massive balloons, high school marching bands, dancing elves, and yes, Santa capping it off with his sleigh. It's free, family-friendly, and broadcast live on ABC11—perfect for staking out a spot with blankets and thermoses. Pro tip: Arrive early for the best views, and stick around post-parade for the Raleigh Christmas Tree Lighting in Moore Square (around noon), complete with free Santa photos, local artisan shopping, and carolers filling the air with nostalgia.

If you're up for a nighttime glow-up, head to Apex's Rotary Club Christmas Parade at 5 p.m. along Salem Street—Wake County's only evening parade, where illuminated floats and twinkling Jeeps light up the route from Apex Peakway to Moore Street. It's a cozy, small-town vibe with proceeds supporting local charities like Western Wake Crisis Ministry.

And don't miss the Knightdale Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. on First Avenue, starting at Knightdale Station Run—a festive march of community groups, fire trucks, and holiday cheer straight to the courthouse.

Tree Lightings That'll Make Your Heart Glow

Nothing screams "holidays are here" like a synchronized countdown to twinkly bliss. On Saturday afternoon, Light the Square at Fenton in Cary (3-7 p.m.) transforms the shopping village into a winter wonderland with live music, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a special visit from Anna and Elsa (Frozen fans, rejoice!). The tree lighting caps it off with fireworks-worthy sparkle.

Later that evening, Christmas at North Hills (4-7 p.m.) in Raleigh's Midtown draws thousands for kids' crafts, a vendor village, food trucks, and live entertainment—culminating in the illumination of a 41-foot tree as Santa arrives to the chorus of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." It's free, festive, and feels like stepping into a Hallmark movie.

For a sweeter twist, Candy Cane Lane in downtown Zebulon (4-8 p.m.) offers games, hot cocoa, live bands, and Santa meet-and-greets amid candy-striped streets—pure, unfiltered small-town magic.

Concerts and Caroling to Tune Your Holiday Heart

While full symphony pops might wait until next week, this weekend's vibe is all about community choruses and carol sing-alongs. During the Raleigh Tree Lighting, local artists and youth choirs will belt out classics in Moore Square—grab a spot on the lawn for that feel-good singalong. Over in Apex, post-parade performers keep the holiday hits flowing into the night. And if you're craving a bit more melody, check out impromptu caroling at North Hills' vendor village—nothing warms the soul like harmonizing strangers under string lights.

These events aren't just happenings; they're the threads that weave our Wake County tapestry a little brighter, reminding us that the best gifts are the memories we make together. But wait—there's even more! From hidden gem light displays to pop-up markets, the full lineup (including any last-minute additions) is just a click away on the Wake News & Events Calendar. Head over to Wake News & Events Calendar to snag details, maps, and RSVPs—because Santa's list is long, but the fun is even longer. See you under the lights, friends—may your weekend be merry and bright! 🎄✨

A Daughter’s Whisper Amid Thanksgiving Chaos

Knoxville, Tennessee

Sarah Reynolds, a night-shift nurse at UT Medical Center, had been awake for thirty-one hours when she started cooking at 7 a.m. Still in scrubs, she was determined to give her family the big, warm Thanksgiving she never had as a child.

The kitchen on Woodlawn Pike was pure pandemonium: two turkeys, three kinds of potatoes, twins fighting over beaters, gravy separating, smoke alarm screaming.

Sarah stood at the stove, eyes stinging with exhaustion and almost-tears, whispering, “I just wanted it to be perfect.”

That’s when seventeen-year-old Grace quietly hung up her phone, walked over, and wrapped her arms around her mom from behind.

“Hey, Mom,” she said softly against Sarah’s shoulder. “Thank you for doing all this. We see how tired you are. We notice everything. We love you so much.”

The noise faded. Sarah turned, buried her face in Grace’s hair, and let the happy tears fall.

The turkey was a little dry and the table was crowded with twenty-three people instead of twelve, but when Grace reached for her hand later and smiled, Sarah knew she’d finally created the Thanksgiving of her dreams, imperfect, loud, and overflowing with love, sealed forever by one teenage hug in a flour-dusted kitchen.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
— Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

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Check out our online calendar for more events and local activities!📌

We strive to make sure that all information is accurate. However, we always recommend check all details with the event organizer.

There are so many events happening in and around Wake County, NC that we have gone to a seperate page to list events. Please click this button to view all of the area’s great events!👇

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If your business event, or restaurant, is not on the list and you would like to be added, contact us at [email protected]