Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Season’s greetings, Winston-Salem. Holiday shopping time is upon us — look no further than these 90+ gift ideas, including unique local treasures and the season’s hottest items.
Gifts for parents
Local pick:Warm Summer Rain car oil diffuser | $13 | Keep the family shuttle service smelling fresh with hints of fresh florals and humid air.
Ceneda large cooler bag | $24.99 | This insulated, leak-proof tote is perfect for family road trips, beach trips, and everything in between.
Bento Lunch Box | $32.99 | Gift parents an organized + colorful lunch box complete with a food jar, dividers, and silicone utensils.
Gifts for your significant other
Local pick:Gua Sha Lift | $120 | This natural facial massage treatment will smooth out stubborn lines for a refreshed look.
Sherpa-lined flannel shirt jacket | $76.95+ | Choose your favorite plaid pattern + snag them a warm jacket great for hiking, trekking, and camping all season long.
Gifts for students
Local pick:Clear crossbody | $28.99 | Make sure they can get into sporting events and keep their valuables close with this trendy bag.
Stanley Quencher | $45.00 | The internet-famous water bottle, available in cute colors like Matcha Cream.
Local pick:Hot toddy mix | $16 | Help them warm up this winter with this mix of all-natural wildflower honey, lemon juice, ginger, and a blend of spices.
Bedside carafe + tumbler | $15.99 | Gift a pretty amber tumbler and glass perfect for adorning any bedside table.
Gamelan Giri Murti & Chinese Ensemble | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Wake Forest University, Scales Fine Arts Center | Free | The Balinese classical performance showcases the sacred embodiment of divine energy through music.
Thursday, Nov. 14
Grow Your Own Microgreens Workshop | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center | Free, RSVP | Discover ways to quickly grow flavorful greens that can be harvested within one to three weeks of sowing.
Piedmont Environmental Alliance’s Annual Party | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Second Harvest Food Bank | Free, RSVP | Celebrate PEA’s achievements, enjoy locally sourced hors d’oeuvres + learn ways to get involved.
Friday, Nov. 15
Free Play Pickleball | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Sprague Street Community Center | Free | Meet and socialize with new players, whether you’re up for casual or competitive play — bring your own paddle and ball.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Repticon | 10 a.m. | Winston-Salem Fairgrounds | $6+ | See live animals from around the world and purchase pets + pet products directly from the experts.
Sunday, Nov. 17
Harvest Festival | 12-8 p.m. | Brouwerij DuBois | Cost of purchase | Shop for items like vintage quilt, handmade soaps, edible landscaping plants, and gift baskets from local farmers, makers, and vendors.
How your support transformed Winston-Salem’s arts scene in 2024
Presented By Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County
Arts Council is a chief advocate for arts and culture in the region, supporting events like Brazilian Festa.|Photo provided by Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
Pat yourselves on the back, Winstonians.
Winston-Salem’s vibrant arts scene flourished in 2024, thanks to your support.
The largest chunk of the arts investment, $913,097, went toward grants supporting education programs, event sponsorships, and art organizations that foster creativity and promote cultural engagement throughout the county.
🎶 Community Engagement
$75,000 funded beloved programs like the Parks Concert Series while $123,000 of in-kind marketing support boosted visibility and community engagement for local events.
🎨 Creative Spaces
To help ensure creative spaces remain accessible and affordable, Arts Council invested $300,000 in facilities support like music venues, theaters, and spaces for educational programs.
Want to see more free community events in 2025? Consider making an end-of-the-year donation (psst: it’s tax-deductible).
Get inspired in the NC Museum of Art, Winston-Salem galleries with a coffee break. Loom Coffee will now serve locally roasted coffee, tea, curated beverages, and grab-and-go snacks at the Hanes House during operating hours — bring your own mug, or your laptop and unwind.
Biz
Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. will partner with VisionToVenture, an organization that focuses on nurturing entrepreneurs, to boost entrepreneurial support and drive economic growth in the Twin City. It’s no wonder Winston-Salem is one of the top cities to start a business.
Community
Attend the historic marker unveiling for Brown Elementary School Thursday, Nov. 21 to celebrate the rich history of the renovated housing community named after longtime school principal Robert Washington Brown. The ceremony will start at 11 a.m. on East 11th Street and Dublin Drive.
Opening
Celebrate the grand reopening of the Chick-fil-A at Thruway Shopping Center today, Nov. 13 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The fast food chain closed earlier this year for remodeling and to offer customers a better experience.
Ranked
Salemtowne was ranked among the region’s best nursing homes for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care out of the 14,000+ facilities evaluated by US News & World Report. Arbor Acres was named the one of the best in short-term care. (Triad Business Journal)
Fun Fact
Donut pass up this deal. Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts today, Nov. 13 starting at 6 a.m. The first 500 customers will receive a dozen original glazed doughnuts on the house in honor of World Kindness Day. (Winston-Salem Journal)
Concert
Kick off the holiday season with A Carolina Christmas Sunday, Dec. 1 at RJ Reynolds Auditorium. Listen to the Winston-Salem Symphony and chorus, plus a guest Soprano, perform your favorite carols and tunes starting at 3 p.m. — tickets cost $10+.
Try This
Need appetizer inspo? We’re eyeing these fig and goat cheese bites that are the perfect combination of sweet and savory + ready in 10 minutes or less. Get the recipe.*
Arts
Visit Reynolda House Museum of American Art “on the house” on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Play ping-pong in the Historic House and explore American modernism with Founder’s Vision before it closes, and celebrate Katharine Reynolds’s life by crafting a Wayne Thiebaud-inspired birthday cupcake. Advance registration is encouraged.*
Read
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Shop Unwrap the season’s best audience exposure with us. Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is the perfect place for your product to be seen by 52,935+ potential shoppers looking for gifts. Secure your spot just in time for the season’s festivities.
Shoutout to WStoday reader Sheila J. for sharing a photo of her Christmas tree. It is beautiful. I’m looking forward to shopping for one this weekend in preparation for my annual Christmas party with friends.
Photo by Sheila J.
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