Today’s Forecast

55º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:27 a.m. | Sunset: 5:10 p.m.

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Celebrate Christmas in the Carolinas. | Photo by James Simpson Photography

We love our city and getting to spend the holidays in our backyard, but if this time of the year has you feeling adventurous, we’ve got some recommendations for you across the Carolinas. Our fellow city editors have gathered spots you won’t want to miss this holiday season.

Asheville, NC

Christmas tree at Biltmore Estate — Every room is filled with cheer.
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Photos by AVLtoday

City Editors Grace + Molly here. Asheville goes all out for the season, so you won’t be searching long when you’re looking for Christmas spirit.

If decor is what makes you feel merry, Biltmore Estate will keep you occupied for hours with Christmas trees, garlands, and tinsel in nearly every room. Plus, there is lots of festive cheer in the adjacent Antler Hill Village.

Satisfy your seasonal sweet tooth (at least visually) by making a stop at the unbelievable edible displays of Omni Grove Park Inn’s Gingerbread House Competition, where you’ll be treated to everything from traditional houses to cozy scenes, alien abductions to Barbie Dreamhouses.

When the sun goes down, walk through the NC Arboretum Winter Lights or drive through the Lake Julian Festival of Lights.

Charleston, SC

CHS_Charleston_Place_Hotel_Christmas_DEC2023 — Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
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Photo by The Charleston Place

The holiday season is a magical time of the year in the Holy City. First, let’s go ice skating. The Credit One Stadium (7596, 161 Seven Farms Dr., Charleston) creates a custom-built synthetic ice rink during the holiday season. Sit around the cozy firepits, indulge in concessions, and time your trip with scheduled special holiday events.

After ice skating, you can head downtown and see a Christmas show. There are many local theaters, like Queen Street Playhouse or the Dock Street Theatre. Next, you can go to the Charleston Place Hotel to see the “snow” as it falls on Market Street Circle. You can’t be downtown Charleston and not see the lit-up Christmas Tree in Marion Square.

City Editors Erika and Callie here. We think you should drive ~20 minutes from downtown and end your trip by visiting James Island for the Holiday Festival of Lights. This year, there’s a new addition: Lights on a dragon boat.

Sleigh, Carolinas

Asked

Where will you be spending the holidays?

A. At home
B. Outside of Winston-Salem, in NC
C. Visiting loved ones outside of NC
D. Wherever the wind takes me

Spread more holiday cheer

Events

Thursday, Dec. 21

Old Town Cartoon Christmas | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 2-4 p.m. | Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Dr., Winston-Salem | Free | Enjoy classic holiday cartoons then watch “The Muppet Christmas Carol” with treats, music, and hot chocolate.

Friday, Dec. 22

Carolina Crossing Christmas Jam | Friday, Dec. 22-Saturday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | Ramkat, Earl’s, Wiseman Brewing, Radar Brewing, 170 W. 9th St., Winston-Salem | $20-$25 | Jam with nine NC artists while supporting the NC Arts Foundation, which provides access to musical education statewide.

Saturday, Dec. 23

Carolina Thunderbirds vs. Columbus River Dragons | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 6:05 p.m. | Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, 421 W. 27th St., Winston-Salem | $10-$28 | Cheer on the Carolina Thunderbirds at Annex after their latest win against Motor City.

Sunday, Dec. 24

Calvary Moravian Christmas Eve Lovefeasts | Sunday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Calvary Moravian Church, 600 Holly Ave., Winston-Salem | Free | Partake in a simple meal celebration with lighted candles as the church celebrates Christmas — a band prelude begins 30 minutes before each service.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Open

A new Colombian bakery is serving a variety of baked goods from Colombia and other Latin countries. La Castellana (1229 Clemmonsville Rd.) is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Development

Renovations are underway at Crystal Towers on West 6th Street. Upgrades to the lobby and the complex’s laundry facilities are complete — repairs to the first of two elevators is expected to be complete in January. (WFDD)

Closing

The CVS pharmacy located on West 4th Street will close Jan. 30. Prescriptions will be transferred to the location at 589 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. to ensure patients have uninterrupted access to pharmacy care. (WXII 12 News)

Announced

The owners of the Winston Cup Museum will create a new digital platform where racing fans can continue to follow all things related to cars, photos, stories, and more. The release date for Win Cup Museum has not yet been set.

Community

There’s still time to participate in the Light a Luminary for Ronald McDonald House event to honor RMHCPT families. Luminary kits cost $10.00 and are available at various locations — participants are asked to light the candles on Saturday, Dec. 24.

Biz

The winners for the Window Wonderland contest have been selected thanks to your votes. Linville Team Partners took home the grand prize of $1,000 and Bitty & Beau’s received $500 for earning the People’s Choice award.

Today Is

The sun may set at 5:10p.m. today, but good news is on the horizon... literally. Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when the North Pole is tilted the furthest from the sun, resulting in the shortest day of the year — which means the days will start getting longer.

Sports

Need a last-minute gift for the holidays? Give the gift of tie dye. Wake Forest men’s basketball will be hosting their second tie dye game of the season on February 24 vs. Duke. Grab your gift now and receive a print-out card to give during your holiday exchange.*

Seasonal

With only a few days left in the holiday season, we’re breaking out every excuse we can to whip up a festive dish. On the menu this week, we’re making eggnog french toast, a winter wonderland coconut cake + a cranberry ginger mocktail.*

Seasonal

Kwanzaa celebrations

Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest” in Kiswahili which is spoken as a mother tongue or as a fluent second language on the east coast of Africa. | Triad Cultural Arts Center and partners

The holiday season isn’t complete without Kwanzaa, the African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, history, and culture. The holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 and is observed with seven principles across seven nights.

Winston-Salem residents can join in Kwanzaa celebrations starting next week. Triad Cultural Arts, Inc. is hosting the series of events — with each day focused on a theme.

Umoja (Unity) | W-S Urban League, 201 W. 5th St. | Tuesday, Dec. 26 | 4-6 p.m.

Kujichagulia (Self-determination) | Delta Arts Center, 2611 New Walkertown Rd. | Wednesday, Dec. 27 | 4-6 p.m.

Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) | Sims Recreation Center, 1201 Alder St. | Thursday, Dec. 28 | 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Check out more celebrations on the Triad Cultural Arts website.

Answered

Last week, we asked where you’ll be spending New Year’s Eve — and here’s what you said:

WStoday: New Year Eve party at Dram & Draught in downtown Winston-Salem — 2024, here we come
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Photo by Dram and Draught

On the dance floor — 4%
Toasting with champagne and dining on delicious food — 15%
Venturing outdoors — 4%
Resting + setting goals for 2024 — 15%
Trying not to fall asleep on the couch — 62%

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kellina

From the editor

As I reflect on this past year, being a City Editor has cultivated my love for Winston-Salem even more. The people of Winston-Salem have truly made this place special for me. And with that, I want to leave you with this quote:
“Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful.” Hazrat Inayat Khan

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