This Weekend in North Carolina...

There is so much going on.  No time to waste with an intro let's just do this!





Friday is the last of Wagram's {Cypress Bend Vineyards' Concert Series.}  Take advantage of great music and wine on this Friday evening.  This vineyard, like many other NC vineyards, is based around the muscadine grape.  Wagram is located in Scotland County, perfect for anyone in South Carolina to pop up for a visit.

If you are in the Christmas spirit then you should venture to Hickory on Friday evening.  They will start the evening off with their Christmas parade and then light the Christmas tree.  This is a popular event across North Carolina for the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile over in Seagrove you can delight in the magical creations of North Carolina's finest potters.  Seagrove is the capitol of NC Pottery and this is a fabulous event to start or finish your holiday shopping at!  Make plans to attend the {Celebration of Seagrove Potters} this weekend.

If you're in the Fayetteville area on Friday you can catch a concert.  {Third Day's tour "Lead Us Back"} will be at the Crown Coliseum for one night only.

Maybe you are in the mountains this weekend and would be interested in venturing to Franklin?  If so you can catch {Lysa Terkeurst} at the Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts.  I have had the priviledge of hearing Mrs. Terkeurst speak live and you do not want to miss it!



I love the High Point Theater.  This weekend you can catch {Mipso}.  This Appalachian meets Americana new age band out of Chapel Hill will give you a couple hours of good music and set your weekend off right.

Mocksville, that little town between Winston-Salem and Statesville on I-40 is hosting their annual Night Before Christmas Bed Race on Friday night.  See local businesses, non profits, and schools battle it out on the main drag in some interesting "beds".  Stay on in Mocksville to enjoy the Christmas parade and lighting of the beautiful oak trees (once there were four, now there is not) on Saturday evening.  I can give you a few ideas of places to dine and to check out in this tiny town...I do know a bit about it.

Christmas lights abound at the {NC Arboretum} in Asheville!  Beginning this weekend you can see the beauty of the season wrapped in the mesmerizing colors of the holidays.  If you long for Disney at Christmas then you should enjoy this light show.  The director is a former Project & Special Events Manager for Walt Disney World!

500,000 Christmas lights....are you in the Charlotte area?  If so head to Belmont and visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.  The Holiday at the Garden features many fun events for families and I am told Santa will be there this season as well!



WRAL in Raleigh is hosting the 71st Annual Christmas Parade on Saturday (in Raleigh).  Raleigh's parade is the largest one south of DC and north of Atlanta.  Did you know that 60,000 people will attend the parade while 250,000 will watch it live from home?  If you're new to Raleigh check it out!  If its a tradition then happy celebrating!



Long before we celebrated a feast of maize and pumpkins the Native Americans thrived in this land.  This weekend in Raleigh at the Museum of History you can learn more about the Native American culture, history, and lifestyle at the {20th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration}.
Members of North Carolina's 8 recognized tribes will be on hand for demonstrations.  There is a special event for teachers and their students on Friday.  Click the link for more information!

Lenior is ready for Christmas!  This weekend they will celebrate the kick off to the holiday season with food, fun, crafts, merchants, and music.  Enjoy the {Lenoir Christmas Festival} all weekend long.

In case you need another reason to go to Asheville - their {Holiday Parade and Jinglefest}is this weekend.  A big parade and then a huge party at Pack Park.  Ingles Grocery and Bojangles sponsor these events of an enormous load of fun.



NASCAR and North Carolina go hand in hand.  These days at Charlotte Motor Speedway it isn't fast cars but holiday fun that is on every turn.  The {Speedway Christmas} event in Concord (on the track) is a huge hit for the holidays.  There are three million lights ready to greet you at the track and 800 different displays.  Did I mention you drive on the track?

The largest and most sought after display of lights in the Southeast is in my backyard. Head over to Tanglewood in Clemmons and visit the {Festival of Lights}.  This event is a fairy tale of sorts as you drive through the beautiful Tanglewood Park.  Words cannot do justice to this one of a kind light show.