Holidays.MyNC.com

Jingle Bells will take on a new meaning when the Town of Cary officially kicks off the holiday season this Saturday, December 6 by lighting the Town tree on the Town Hall Campus, 316 N. Academy St.; beginning at 6 p.m. listeners will be entertained with “Bells and Belles” – a series of performances that will include the St. Francis United Methodist Church bell choir and the voices of the N.C. State University Packabelles and ladies quartet, Southern Comfort.  Following the performances, WTVD news anchor Steve Daniels will lead the Cary Town Council and the Cary community in lighting the 30-foot cedar, followed by the unveiling of this year’s “Community Tree” inside Town Hall.

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Mayor Charles Meeker will throw the switch on 40,000 lights at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, officially bringing the holiday season to Downtown Raleigh. 

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Martin Street Baptist Church will host its annual holiday dinner for members of the community, Saturday, December 13, 2008, from noon to 3:00 p.m., in the church’s Paul H. Johnson building, located at 1001 East Martin Street, near downtown Raleigh. The purpose of the event is to share the gospel, through food and fellowship, while continuing to develop new and meaningful relationships with those living in the surrounding neighborhoods. The event is free.
The Deacons, Evangelism and Missionary Ministries of the church will host the event. For more information, call 919-833-9756.

The Roanoke Rapids Theatre will open for a special Christmas show on Thursday, December 18. Tickets for The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards will go on sale Friday, December 5. The show is being produced by L & M Hospitality, LLC, the Chicago based company that plans to take over operations and production for the 1500-seat Roanoke Rapids Theatre (Formerly The Randy Parton Theatre), on I-95 in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina in 2009. (more…)

RALEIGH, N.C. — During the winter and at the holidays, poinsettias are often a central part of the decorations, and for good reason. With various shades of red, pink, white, or a marbled combination of colors, poinsettias add a vibrant dash of color that complements the greenery of the season.

Poinsettias also provide a boost to North Carolina’s economy because the state is the third-largest producer of the plants in the country, according to the state agricultural department.

“North Carolina produced nearly 4.8 million poinsettias in 2007 and generated cash receipts of $15.2 million,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.  “Overall floriculture production contributes more than $194 million to North Carolina’s economy, and poinsettias are a very important part of that.” (more…)

Each year when the holidays roll around you probably take dozens of photos and shoot tons of video. Then what? They get tucked away, only to be pulled out for the occasional recminiscing.

Well, here’s your chance to change that. Your family’s holiday photos and video clips could appear on NBC17.

Here’s the deal. NBC17 is putting together a 23-minute holiday television show that will feature photos and videos from Triangle residents. But in order for her to create the show, she needs stuff to fill it with – that’s where you come in.

Do you have any photos or video clips from your family’s holiday celebrations that you’d love to appear on air? NBC17’s Page Crawford is piecing together all sorts of content. So if you’ve got an old video clip of your child doing a funny dance because she got a Tickle Me Elmo doll, send it Page’s way. She’ll even take photos of your kids crying when they met Santa for the first time or videos of your over-the-top yard decorations.

If you’d like to have some of your memories possibly appear on TV, you can submit them to http://www.holidays.mync.com. Please only submit stuff if you live in the Triangle though. Page is trying to fill the show with lots of local stuff.

DURHAM, N.C. – On Saturday the City of Durham will officially kick-off the holiday season at Durham’s Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Celebration.

The evening parade will begin at 4 p.m. on the corner of Jackie Robinson and Blackwell Streets (near the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and American Tobacco Historic District). Dr. Charles “Chuck” Davis will be the Grand Marshal. Additional parade dignitaries include Mayor William V. “Bill” Bell and Durham elected officials.

Keep an eye out for NBC17’s Josh Green and Paul Matadeen, who will appear in the parade.

Bring your family and friends to enjoy live entertainment, take in the sparkle of lighted floats, and cheer on bands, drill teams, schools, non-profit organizations, elected officials and corporate participants as they make their way through downtown Durham. The event will take place rain or shine.

PRE-PARADE CELEBRATION

Participants can enjoy music from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the CCB Plaza (201 Corcoran Street, home of MAJOR the big bronze Bull). Please see below for a list of the pre-parade performances: (more…)

The Christmas Nativity will come to life tonight at Raleigh’s Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

Here’s a look at the drive-thru nativity from last year. It’s complete with a manager, live animals, the supper and other scenes from the Bible.

The living nativity is open from 6 to 8 p.m. through Sunday, December 7.