Holidays.MyNC.com

Click below to track Santa’s location as he makes his flight across the world on Christmas Eve.

NORAD Santa Tracker

Wayne Acree’s video of his adorable 15-month-old niece:

Don’t know what Bakugan is? Well, your child probably does, and chances are the tyke whispered in Santa’s ear that he wants the Battle Brawlers Arena.

Or perhaps your sweetie is asking for that Cupcake Maker and you can’t quite figure out how to get Little Debbie under your tree.

Well Disney, in conjunction with Sony, has compiled a list of 10 hot toys kids want this holiday season.

Like many years before, Elmo once again tops the list with the Elmo Live electronic doll. (more…)

On Sunday, December 28, 2008, W.D. Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville Street) will host its annual Kwanzaa celebration from 12 noon - 6 p.m. Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrates African and African American family, community and culture. The celebration will be held on the day of Ujima which means collective work and responsibility. This event is free and open to the public. Please see below for a list of activities: (more…)

Whether you’re traveling on the road or in the friendly skies, Alison Rhodes, also known as “The Safety Mom,” shares these tips for keeping your children safe in a plane, train, automobile or hotel room.

Be sure the seat fits. Put your child in an age-appropriate car seat that’s correctly positioned with a secure seatbelt. Also, place a neon sticker on the side with important information so emergency workers can assist should you be unable to.

Get ready for take-off. The safest place for a child in a plane is in an approved child restraint system, not on your lap. This is a hard-backed safety seat that’s government approved for use in motor vehicles or aircrafts.
Plan ahead. Find the name of a local pediatrician and pharmacy at your destination. Also create a first-aid kit to bring with you that includes all necessary medications and first-aid items.

Label your kids. Create a tag listing your cell phone number, the name of the hotel where you’re staying and any medical conditions the child has. You can tape a piece of paper to the inside of his or her shoe or buy wrist ID bands such as Vital IDs from Belly Charms (www.vitalids.com).

Create a plan. Upon arriving at your hotel, review a fire escape plan with the family. Show family members the fire exits and pick a meeting spot outside should you become separated. Also bring a portable door alarm, which will sound if the door is opened and your child has left the room. In addition, cover electrical outlets with bandages and tie rubberbands around the handles of cabinet drawers containing dangerous items.

The Town of Wake Forest, in cooperation with the jolly man himself,  is offering kids ages 3 to 7 to get a phone call from Santa Claus.  Visit the Town of Wake Forest’s Web site for more information.

According to a press release, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their annual visit to the Hillsborough Police Department on Dec. 18.

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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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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.

By SCOTT HOLLIFIELD
Media General News Service

I was where I did not want to be: standing in a big discount store late on a Sunday afternoon smack dab in the middle of shopping season waiting on customer assistance that would never come.

It started with a promise that was, at the very least, of debatable origin.

“Daddy, can we get a Christmas tree this weekend?”

“Can’t talk. Game’s on. 10 seconds.”

“Please?” (more…)