Welcome to our Ramblings feature as we help you explore Lovely Things NC.
Travel
Artful Holidays: ‘Tis the Season to Buy Local
Celebrate authentic North Carolina for the holidays by supporting your local arts council where galleries showcase distinctive gifts of glass, clay, fiber, leather, metal, paper, wood and more! There are still one or two events happening before December 25th. Check out the link above to see if one is near you. (NCDCR)
Experience Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
Now – December 31, Asheville. Discover a bright holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the arboretum’s gardens dressed in more than half a million-holiday lights. Discover unique displays that illuminate to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes. Tickets are date/time specific and must be purchased in advance online. (Our State)
Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens
Now – January 19, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Elizabethan Gardens’ Winter Lights celebration is easily one of the biggest and most highly anticipated events of the holiday season. Featuring hundreds of thousands of lights that are dotted throughout the gardens, the ensuing sight is really something to behold, and will get all visitors into a holiday spirit. (Outer Banks)
Now – December 22. Share in the joy of the holiday season with family and friends as you stroll the festive grounds of Airlie Gardens. Featuring over one million colorful, twinkling lights, Enchanted Airlie is a must-see holiday tradition. Voted as one of Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, this beloved annual event features holiday flowers, musical entertainment, a visit from Santa Claus and a variety of provisions like coffee, hot cocoa, cookies and more. Tickets sell out in advance, so reserve yours early and get in the holiday spirit. (Visit NC)
Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Celebration
December 31, Kure Beach. The event begins at 9pm and fireworks will start at midnight. Ring in 2019 coastal style at the Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Celebration. Dance the night away seaside with the whole family and enjoy refreshments and party favors available for purchase. (Visit NC)
December 31, Raleigh. North Carolina’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. With 20+ blocks of programming throughout downtown, First Night Raleigh is the way to ring in the New Year. Jumpstart your creativity for the New Year at the daytime DIY Festival from 2pm to 6pm at the NC Museums of History and Sciences. Bounce around music, theatre, comedy, and other performances after the Early Countdown at 7pm (Visit Raleigh)