Bored over break? Check out these local winter holiday activities!
Holiday at the Market
On Dec. 19 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, visit the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market. Located on 480 Hillsboro Street in Pittsboro, local vendors will be selling handmade items including holiday fleece blankets, hand-woven hats and scarves and body care items like bath bombs and sugar scrubs. It’s the perfect place to grab a last minute gift and support local businesses.
Holidays in the Hill
Enjoy a short but sweet fifteen minute drive through the ground of Shakori Hills Community Arts Center. At slow speeds of three miles per hour, view the magical holiday decorations and scene sets, and performances by local actors. Tickets are sold online-only and cost $30 each. Holidays in the Hill will run through Jan. 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Winter Wonders Walk
Experience an illuminated stroll at the Winter Wonders Walk located on the American Tobacco Campus at 318 Blackwell Street in Durham. With many outdoor dining options available, take your whole family out for a bite to eat while admiring the Christmas lights that decorate the campus. Masks and social distancing are required. The lights turn on at sunset. The free event ends at 11:00 pm and will last through Jan. 1 of 2021.
A Walking Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour
Let the Walking Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour guide you through the holiday decorated houses in North Carolina’s oldest preserved nineteenth century neighborhood. Beginning at the Tucker House on 418 North Person Street, explore the victorian architecture in a covid-safe way with only your phone and a pair of headphones. Download an app to listen to audio recorded information on the homes and area. More information on the downloading process can be found here. Take the tour anytime from now through Dec. 27. While the event is free, tour-goers are asked to donate a small sum to the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood to make this event, and more events like it, possible.
Nights of Lights
Through Dec. 31, drive through Dorothea Dix Park to experience the Nights of Lights, a holiday light display in Raleigh. Including art exhibits and light-strung oak trees, attendees will slowly make their way down the 1.3 miles road that snakes through the park. Information on ticket prices can be found here.
Orange County Sportsplex Ice Skating
Head over to the Orange County Sportsplex for winter ice-skating fun with your friends any day of the week! Admission is $10 and skate rentals are free. You must pre-register online before you go. Information for specific dates and times can be found here.
Taste of the Season at Carowinds
From now through Dec. 20, purchase a Tasting Card to sample thirty holiday treats and sweets at the Taste of the Season at Carowinds, located at 14523 on Carowinds Boulevard in Charlotte. Tickets are limited due to the coronavirus, so reserve your spot soon. View the extensive menu here. Experience holiday-inspired shows and go on one of the few open family rides.
Christmas at Biltmore
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, and America’s largest home, has been lavishly decorated for the holidays. Choose between one of two Christmas at Biltmore experiences. The Christmas at Biltmore Daytime Celebration runs from now through Jan. 10. Guests can walk through the halls of the main house filled with holiday decorations. Those who participate in Candlelight Christmas Evenings can experience Biltmore illuminated by the fire-places and flickering lights. Information on ticket prices can be found here.
12 Days of Gingerbread
Even coronavirus couldn’t stop this beloved tradition. The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville shifted their in-person showing of the 28th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition winners’ creations to an online showcase, twelve days of Christmas style. From Dec. 1 through 12, they unveiled one winner per day in the adult, teen, youth, and child categories, as well as the grand-prize winner. Visit their website here to view these creative confections.
DIY Santa treat tray from Home Depot
Take a trip to your local Home Depot to collect a free Santa Treat Tray kit. Spend time with your loved ones following this beginner’s level step-by-step guide. Don’t want to make the trip to the store? No worries! Home Depot includes a tutorial on how to make the tray out of household materials like cardboard. Make sure to finish your tray by Christmas Eve so Santa can enjoy his treats!
