It’s November, which means it’s officially acceptable to start playing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
And as the pumpkins get packaged away and the Christmas wreaths are pulled out, Chatham County residents have a plethora of activities in the area to choose from to get into the holiday spirit and reap all that the season’s festivities have to offer.
From parades and tree lightings to artisan fairs and cooking classes, we’ve compiled this list of events across the county to mark the upcoming holidays. Here’s what you need to know.
Wednesday, Nov. 16
• Order wreaths, garlands and trees by Nov. 16 at www.bynumfrontporch.org for pick up at the Bynum Front Porch Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 26. The Pittsboro-based nonprofit is selling Fraser fir trees cut two days before delivery, ranging in size from 5 to 11 feet tall and priced between $60 and $215.
Saturday, Nov. 19
• Pittsboro’s Bynum Front Porch is holding a winter music series this season. On Nov. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Bynum Front Porch is welcoming musicians Andrew Finn Magill and John Doyle for an evening of Irish folk music. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there is no cost for admission or parking, but donations and tips are welcome.
• Participate in a Healthy Thanksgiving Feast Cooking Class hosted by the Travelling Café Culinary Studio in Pittsboro from 5 to 7 p.m., where attendees will learn how to put a spin on Thanksgiving basics and bring “health to the table.” Register online at eventbrite.com/e/healthy-thanksgiving-feast-cooking-class-tickets-433731631987?aff=ebdsoporgprofile; general admission tickets are $75 and wine tickets are $10.
Sunday, Nov. 20
• Join the town of Pittsboro in lighting an 18-foot Christmas tree at the historic Chatham County Courthouse from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The afternoon will also include a Santa visit that begins at 3:30 p.m., in addition to performances by school choirs and carolers. The tree lighting ceremony kicks off the town’s 2022 Holly Days festivities.
Thursday, Nov. 24
• For the first time, the Quiltmaker Café is holding a Pay-What-You-Can Thanksgiving dinner in partnership with the Postal Fish Company and the Travelling Café. It’ll take place from 1 to 3 p.m. The family-style dinner, hosted at the Postal Fish Co. in Pittsboro, will feature Thanksgiving classics and include some vegetarian and gluten-free options. Space is limited to 50 guests, and free registration is available at eventbrite.com/e/thanksgiving-dinner-registration-449706523317, though attendees can also register with a pay-what-you-can donation or make a pay-what-you-can contribution on the day of the event.
Saturday, Nov. 26
• Attend the Bynum Front Porch’s Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Pittsboro for a day featuring local artists, pottery and crafts. Sales benefit educational grants for Chatham County students part of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college readiness system.
• The Pittsboro Business Association is hosting a Small Business Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to support independent businesses in downtown Pittsboro. The day features special sales, refreshments, Shop Small Passports and a raffle, and free gift wrapping will be available at the Pittsboro Welcome Center.
• Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, an animal sanctuary in Pittsboro, is holding a Day with the Turkeys Tour & Explore. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., take part in turkey-themed activities, including trivia, a raffle, treat bowls for the sanctuary’s turkeys, and one-time holiday turkey sponsorships. Attendees can also meet more than 100 farm animals and tour the refuge’s grounds. The Refuge offers sliding scale tickets; previously tickets cost $15, but this month are ranging from free to $40 in price.
• The Travelling Café Culinary Studio in Pittsboro is hosting a Flourless Holiday Cake Workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Try making cakes from around the world with desserts safe for those with gluten-free dietary restrictions. Participants can register for a ticket online at eventbrite.com/e/incredible-flourless-holiday-cake-workshop-tickets-444823959437?aff=ebdssbdestsearch; tickets cost $75 for general admission and $10 for a wine ticket.
Friday, Dec. 2
• Take the kids out for a Supper with Santa from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Earl B. Fitts Community Center in Siler City. Enjoy a to-go boxed dinner and a holiday craft kit, as well as photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Attendees are required to have a ticket, which can be purchased for $10 for adults and $5 for children online at secure.rec1.com/NC/siler-city-nc/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTIyNDgzODM= or in person at City Hall. The deadline to buy tickets is Nov. 25 or until the event is full, and space is limited.
Saturday, Dec. 3
• The Union Taylors Community Center is holding Chatham’s first Interfaith Holiday Thrift Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Taylors Chapel Baptist Church in Sanford. The community center is directly accepting donations at their Bear Creek site through Nov. 30; to schedule a donation drop, call (919)-545-1812. Donations will benefit the community center’s purchase of a new HVAC system. For more details on what the community center is looking for, visit www.oneunitedchatham.com/donate-items.
• St. Julia Catholic Church is hosting the Celebration of Lights, a fundraiser for Chatham Cares Community Pharmacy, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. The event will feature live music and a bilingual Christmas message as well as the opportunity to drive through hundreds of luminaries. Admission is free, but luminaries can be bought for $10 each to honor loved ones and all proceeds will be used for prescription drug purchases dispensed to patients at the pharmacy.
• Join Starrlight Mead, a meadery located in the Chatham Beverage District at The Plant in Pittsboro, for its annual Community Solstice Party from 6 to 9 p.m. The celebration includes a raffle, food pantry donation bin, optional bring-and-take pagan present table, drum circle and potluck snacks, in addition to a family-friendly ritual presented by the Triangle Wednesday Kindred.
Sunday, Dec. 4
• From noon to 4 p.m., the town of Pittsboro is holding a First Sunday Artisan Fair, featuring food, crafts and music. The Chatham Historical Museum, as well as shops and restaurants in town, plan to host special events.
Thursday, Dec. 8
• The Siler City Christmas Parade will be held at 7 p.m., with its theme of “Christmas: Past, Present, and Future.” Santa will visit with attendees in the courtyard after the parade. For information, go to ccucc.net.
Friday, Dec. 9
• Chatham Parks and Recreation is marking the holidays with the fourth annual Holiday in the Park celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. This free event at Northwest District Park in Siler City includes a tree lighting ceremony, picture opportunities with Santa, holiday-themed games and crafts, warm drinks and candy canes, caroling performances, letters to Santa and a hayride around the pond. The tree lighting will kick off the event at 5:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 11
• Pittsboro’s Holiday Parade, with marching bands, handmade floats, dance teams, horse-drawn wagons and more, takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. The parade will move from east to west along U.S. Hwy. Business 64.
Dec. 17
• Partake in a Christmas Village Around the Loop in Haywood at 438 Moncure Loop Rd., Moncure. The event, from noon to 4 p.m., includes shopping, a holiday sleigh wagon, Santa Station and Kids Zone, and special food vendors, such as Seven Springs Winery, Vicious Fishes Brewery, Que’s Ribs and Brisket, Favors Desserts and Stephanie’s Philly Steak and Cheese. The celebration is free to attend but interested individuals can register at eventbrite.com/e/christmas-village-around-the-loop-in-haywood-tickets-459983421797?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or contact Karen Cheek at (919)-770-2089 for more information.
Do you have a holiday event you’d like to add to this list? Send it to Maydha Devarajan at mdevarajan@chathamnr.com.