A visit to Old Salem Museum & Gardens is as close as you can get to time-traveling. The historic village welcomes guests with festive period decor, costumed interpreters, centuries-old holiday traditions, and visits with St. Nick himself, 10-4 p.m. during Salem Saturdays at Christmas.
Take a lantern-lit journey through original Old Salem buildings during Joy of Christmas Evening Tours, offered every Friday + Saturday evening until Dec. 20.
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Now in its 34th season, Tanglewood Festival of Lights (about 15 minutes from downtown Winston-Salem) twinkles with five miles of holiday light displays. The route features 80+ festive scenes comprised of more than 1 million lights — one of the largest light displays in the Southeast.
Holidays at Reynolda
Reynolda House has been an opulent seasonal marvel since 1917, when the estate’s original owners, R.J. and Katharine Reynolds, began decorating the entire 34,000-sqft home with trees, wreaths, and holly-filled vases.
Grab tickets to explore the estate and gardens’ seasonal splendor, and stop by Reynolda Village for local shopping and dining. Pro tip: Stay overnight at Reynolda House for the full experience.
Spectacular Holiday Blooms
If you can’t get enough gardens, Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden transforms into a glowing display for the holiday season. Spectacular Holiday Blooms illuminates the gardens with thousands of recycled tulips and flowers. Admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids.
Support local artists and bizzes this weekend at the Merry Makers Sip & Stroll, hosted in Makers Alley in North Hills on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m.
Filled with festive fun + holiday spirit, this free afternoon soiree is the perfect place to wrap up your seasonal shopping, with one-of-a-kind gifts from 7 hyper-local hotspots.
The Rink’s skating season will now end on Sunday, Dec. 28 to provide recovery space after the Raleigh Convention Center fire. All tickets purchased for Dec. 29 or later will be refunded.
Open
The Triangle’s first Dutch Bros Coffee is now open in Morrisville near Trader Joe’s, and we can’t wait to get a taste. Expect flavored coffee faves like the Golden Eagle or the 9-1-1 with six shots of espresso.
Coming Soon
Remember The Yard? The Boylan Heights spot will be a cafe + off-leash dog park by artist Taylor White. Now that permits have been approved, it could open as early as summer 2026. Read our conversation with White from early 2024. (Raleigh Magazine)
Holiday
Hanukkah starts this Sunday, Dec. 14, and you can celebrate with two menorah lightings at Moore Square + Downtown Cary Park on Tuesday.
Wake and Durham County school districts will not have to make up Monday + Tuesday’s snow days using banked time. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System, however, changed yesterday from a teacher work day to a regular day of school. (The News & Observer)
Try This
Winston-Salem-based foreign language school Vecino is coming to Raleigh. Learn more about their language courses on their website. Psst... They’re looking for breweries, cafes, and other spaces to host classes.
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City Guide
🥞 The brunch bunch
You can now get Birdie’s brunch every day of the week. | Photo provided by Birdie’s Barroom and Kitchen
Plan your weekend and pour those mimosas. We’ve compiled a whole bunch of brunch options — whether you’re on the hunt for fluffy eggs or stacked chicken and waffles — along with menu recs, pro tips, and an interactive map to track ‘em.
Weekend musts
Beasley’s Chicken + Honey | What we’re ordering: Hot chicken eggs Benedict — poached eggs with bearnaise sauce and buttermilk biscuits.
Foxcroft Food & Wine | Indulge in a chicken + waffles board, green shakshuka, and Thai tea tres leches cake.
Smokestacks Cafe | Pro tip: Check Instagram for the daily menu — and if the smoked buffalo chicken biscuit is being served, order it.
Have you heard of Gashapon? These Japanese capsule toys come from fun vending machines, and Raleigh has the largest collection in the Southeast at Crabtree. Head to Eloise and try your luck on Harry Potter, Peanuts, and Hello Kitty machines.
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