Logan’s Garden Shop can deliver and place your Christmas tree in your home for an additional fee. | Photo provided by Logan’s Garden Shop
Did you know? After Oregon, North Carolina is the country’s top producer of holiday trees — primarily the native Fraser fir, which is indigenous to the US and only grows in higher elevations in the southern Appalachian mountains. Every year, these firs travel across the US and remain popular Christmas trees in Raleigh.
Cranberry Tree Farm
These NC-grown trees come in five different varieties and range from two to 14-feet tall. Plus, this farm partners with The Conservators’ Center in Burlington to give exotic animals extra trees as enrichment toys.
Mistletoe Meadows
Pick up trees from this farm in various Triangle + beyond with locations in Garner, Pinehurst, and Asheboro. If you visit the farm in Laurel Springs, make a day out of it with hayrides, hot cocoa, and an extra hand getting your tree on the road.
Atlantic Gardening
This urban plant nursery is the perfect spot for those not looking for a full tree, but still want to deck the halls with live decor. Shop marbled poinsettias, Christmas cacti + wreaths — and pick up a pot for your green-thumbed loved one.
Carolina Ballet presents: The Nutcracker | Thursday, Dec. 11-Wednesday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts | $35+ | The cherished holiday tradition returns to usher audiences into a world of magic and sweets, complete with stunning choreography and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.*
The move-in-ready Townes at NoVi are a dream destination for outdoor adventurers, with all the spaces and amenities you could ever want to hike, bike, swim, and jog. (There’s even an on-site lake for you kayakers and fishing fanatics.)
And if you need nightlife options? Or spots for holiday shopping? There’s plenty of that, too, in the nearby Mosaic community.
Peek inside the high-end townhomes to see where you’d be waking up every morning, or schedule an in-person tour below to feel just how connected this new community is.
The Raleigh Convention Center has made “substantial process” to being back in business after the Monday, Dec. 1 fire, and event spaces were mostly unaffected by the fire. All December events at the convention center have been moved, rescheduled, or canceled with deposit refunds.
Community
How do school districts decide when to cancel or delay school? That’s the question on every Wake County parent’s mind this week, and WRAL did some digging to find out. Hint: There’s no exact answer.
Weather
Speaking of snow days, Raleigh offers Weather Bound Program on school cancellation days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with sports, crafts, movies, and outdoor play at four community centers. Remember this for next time.
Try This
The NC Executive Mansion will open for its annual holiday open house of decked halls and a decorated garden this week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Admission is free, no reservations are needed, and you can bring nonperishable goods to donate to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
Sports
NC State football legend Philip Rivers is returning to the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts signed Rivers, 44, after a season-ending injury to their QB, and Rivers will hit the field for the first time since 2020. (Pack Pride)
Travel
Over 59,000 people travel to India from RDU every year, and the airport’s first Asia flight could be there in five to 10 years according to the airport’s chief development officer. (Triangle Business Journal)
Read
Two forestry fans are on the hunt for the largest tree in NC. Learn more about Luke Ferreira and Spencer Cain’s journey through the swamps and forests of North Carolina. (The Assembly)
Particle Face Cream was engineered for men to tackle skin issues in one simple step — reducing eye bags, diminishing wrinkles, brightening dark spots, hydrating, soothing after shaving, and nourishing deeply with Dead Sea minerals. Use code CITY20 for 20% off today.*
Seasonal
Happy almost New Year’s. We’re celebrating the countdown to 2026 with 26% off all Newsletter Text Ads and Email Banner Ads on our advertising portal. Use code COUNTDOWNTO2026 at checkout — no long-term contract required.
Category
Sports
⚽️ Pack in the Cup
The Pack is headed to Cary for the College Cup. | Photo by NC State Athletics
With a 12-2-4 regular season record, the NC State men’s soccer team is heading to the NCAA College Cup for a chance at the championship. This marks the Pack’s first trip to the men’s College Cup since 1990, and they’re ready to take it all.
The best part? The Pack has some home-field advantage. The College Cup is happening at WakeMed Soccer Park, home of the NC Courage + North Carolina FC. NC State’s first opponent is Saint Louis on Friday, and the winner will play the victor of No. 16 Furman vs. Washington on Monday. Grab your tickets now.
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