Events Calendar: Tis The Season

Story by Lindsey Chester, editor of  the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events. Photos courtesy the Town of Cary.

Cary, NC – We’ve had our turkey and shopped on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Now bring on the parades, music,  gingerbread, and It’s a Wonderful Life in Cary. Here’s a run-down of local holiday events from the CaryCitizen Calendar.

This Week Nov 27- Dec 4:

Cary’s Heart of the Holidays Celebration which includes a plethora of activities.

Letters to Santa children can drop off letters on Town Hall Campus beginning Nov 28 until Dec 13th. Your child will hear back from the Big Guy.

Winter Wonderland in Bond Park Dec 3 & 4 from 9:30am to 4pm both days.

Sledding on man made snow provided by Snow My Yard. Three 1-1/2 hour sessions each day. Bring your own sleds. $12 residents and $16 for non- residents.

Pre-registration is required.

Ole Time Winter Festival– Dec 3

Heart of Cary Association’s annual event takes place all over downtown. Purchase arts & crafts, enjoy entertainment, food, and activities and visit with Santa.

Gingerbread Contest– winners will be announced at the Winter Festival and will be displayed at the Cary Arts Center.

Three categories will be awarded : Family, Teen and Adult.

Santa’s Workshop– Sat Dec 3, 10am-1pm.  Annually run by the Cary Teen Council at the Herb Young Community Center, 101 Wilkensen Ave, downtown. Youngsters can create crafts, eat some sweets and enjoy a visit with Santa. Live entertainment provided by Cary Ballet Company and 3D Project dance troupe. Bring canned food to contribute to the Teen Councils food drive.

Open House at Page-Walker Dec 3 from 4-6pm

Old fashioned Victorian Christmas will include caroling, free horse drawn carriage rides, art and refreshments. Carriage rides run from 3:30-5:30pm.

Town Employee Art Show Reception– Dec 3 from 3-5pm, Town Hall Gallery. Show opened Nov 22, and runs through Jan 4. See the hidden talents from the Town’s staff.

Cary’s Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec 3 at 6 pm in front of Town Hall. Gather round the 30 foot live cedar and enjoy entertainment from local talent on the nearby outdoor stage. Actors, singers, musicians. Cary’s indoor Community Tree will also be lit inside Town Hall featuring ornaments from various Cary organizations.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” -Two shows on Dec 3 at 2pm and 8pm, by The Cary Players. The full stage version of this play will be produced for the first time in the Cary Arts Center on a permanent stage. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door if available. Other show dates listed on the Cary Player’s website.

 Other Events in Town This Week

Champagne Dinner at Martin’s Curry Rice Nov 29 7-9pm, in Park Place Shopping Center.

Six course dinner (including Tandoori Chicken and Lamb Birhani) served with 6 different wines from one of our favorite local establishments, Sip…A Wine Store. $30 per person all inclusive. Reservations recommended.

What’s Up Downtown– Thur Dec 1 5:30-7:30pm

The Heart of Cary has their annual Holiday Party downtown at Klara’s in Ashworth Village.

Gingerbread Benefit Dec 1 6:30-8:30pm

The Umstead Hotel and Spa hosts their annual event to raise money for Triangle Family Services. Area top chefs create gingerbread houses that are auctioned off to benefit this worthy organization.

Arbolito de la Esperanza-Friday Dec 2 6:30-8:30 at the Herb Young Community Center, 101 Wilkenson Ave

Sponsored by Diamante and the Town of Cary. The lighting of the tree of hope represents the rays of hope for the Hispanic children by initiating the collections of estrellas de esperanza or stars of hope donations. The lighting of the tree is preceded by a traditional Latin celebration in which the public participates in a pot-luck dinner with holiday foods from different Latin American countries. Local Latino musicians volunteer to play music and help the audience sing along traditional holiday songs.

Holiday Shoppe– Starts Friday Dec 2 at Cary Academy, 1500 N. Harrison Ave

The annual Cary Academy scholarship fundraiser begins at 10am Dec2- and runs through Sat Dec 3 at 5pm. Crafts, local merchants and food all tax free.

Christmas Market– Sat Dec 3 from 11am-3pm, Cyril & Methodius Byzantin Catholic Church, 2510 Piney Plains Rd

Purchase one-of-a-kind gift items made in the Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Sweden and Mexico. Unique food such as pierogis and keilbasa also for sale.

Handle’s Messiah– Sun Dec 4, 7:30pm- performed by Cary Community Choir at Westwood Baptist Church. Forty-first year that local talents have performed this holiday staple. A Freewill offering will be taken at the door. For more, (919) 469-9393