12.20.2023

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Today’s Forecast

42º | Cloudy | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:40 a.m. | Sunset 5:30 p.m.

Hit the road for a Carolina holiday

Hit the road: Here are 6 Carolina cities with festive holiday celebrations

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

We all know the feeling: You’re entertaining guests leading up to the holidays, or maybe it’s between Christmas and New Year’s and no one knows what day it is. The cabin fever is real + you’re looking for festive holiday activities to keep your family entertained.

We partnered up with our City Editor friends across the Carolinas — who are also experts in their cities — to bring you the ultimate guide to last-minute holiday day trips.

Columbia, SC

Holiday Lights strung over a Main Street. — Walking in a Winter Wonderland.
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Photo by COLAtoday

Experience the holidays in Columbia, SC, with festive pop-up bars and holiday events. Visit Santa’s Pub at Publico 5 Points, adorned with Christmas lights and giant ornaments. Don’t miss Miracle at Publico Bull Street, a dazzling spot for elfies and special cocktails.

Head to Naughty at Boku Kitchen and Saloon, a Grinch-themed pop-up with festive decor and limited-edition holiday treats. Plus, catch the Winter Wonderland on Main Street’s 1600 block every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December, featuring snowfall and holiday lights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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.

Visit one of the many holiday pop-up bars Charleston offers to keep the holiday vibes going. Christmas music, fun drinks, and decor will keep you jolly.

More Carolina destinations this way

Events

Wednesday, Dec. 20

Family Ukulele Lessons | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 5-5:45 p.m. | East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Rd., Asheville | Free | Register the whole family to learn a new musical skill from Asheville Ukulele Society — parents of kids 15 and under must attend with their children.
Bingo Night | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | The Madness Sushi and Burger Bar, 1020 Merrimon Ave., Asheville | Free | Meet new people, play a round or two, compete to win prizes, and enjoy wine discounts.

Thursday, Dec. 21

The Whale Turns Six | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 5-10 p.m. | The Whale, 507 Haywood Rd., #10, Asheville | Free | Celebrate six years around the sun on the longest night of the year — tarot reading, a fire spinner, and a can’t-miss tap list.
Connect Beyond’s Holiday Fundraiser | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 6-10 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville | $5-$35 | Support the music, art, film, and story festival with a night of music, dancing, a silent auction, and a raffle.

Friday, Dec. 22

Holiday Movie Night | Friday, Dec. 22 | 7-9 p.m. | plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St., Asheville | Free | Grab food from Gourmand + a glass of wine before settling in for a showing of “Bad Santa.”
Larry Keel with Red Clay Revival: Ugly Christmas Sweater Party | Friday, Dec. 22 | 7-11 p.m. | Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $15-$18 | Don your favorite festive attire, and get ready to get down with bluegrass music + Root Down’s Southern soul food.

Saturday, Dec. 23

What’s This? A Spooky Christmas Comedy Show | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 10 p.m. | DSSOLVR, 63 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville | $15 | Channel your inner Jack Skellington for an equal parts spooky and merry comedy showcase on Christmas Eve eve.

Sunday, Dec. 31

Asheville Symphony: She’s Got Soul, Capathia Jenkins, Soprano | Sunday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville, 87 Haywood St., Asheville | $37-$82 | Soulful sounds will sweep you into the new year — courtesy of the Asheville Symphony and the powerhouse vocals of Capathia Jenkins + her trio of backup singers.*

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Holiday

Buncombe County and City of Asheville administrative offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 25-Wednesday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Jan. 1 for the holidays. ART bus service as well as other public services + offices will also be operating on a modified schedule. See the County services and the City services holiday schedules.

Community

Candidate filing closed on Friday, Dec. 15, so you can now meet the candidates for the 2024 primary elections. In addition to the national races, elections will include the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and Asheville City Council. Ready to go to the polls? Buncombe County is hiring 2024 poll workers. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Featured

Dry, wet, shaken, or dirty? Regardless of the nuances of martini opinions, Esquire has gathered the “50 Best Martinis in America” — and our very own Neng Jr.'s made the cut. The publication lauded the restaurant’s Adobo Martini for its bold taste and flavor harmony.

Outdoors

Tickets are on sale now for Asheville Hiking Tours’ Blue Ghost Firefly tours this spring. Just six tours give you a chance to experience the magical illumination of the blue ghost firefly — a lightning bug that appears in Appalachia for only two to four weeks a year. Book your spot for a night hike or overnight experience.

Talk

Hit the books. Happy Women Dinners is hosting NY Times Bestselling author Dani Shapiro for a discussion of her book “Signal Fires,” a magical exploration of family secrets. During the brunch and booksigning on Sunday, Jan. 21, Shapiro will join author Maia Toll in conversation. Email to register by Sunday, Jan. 7.

Real Estate

InvestHER Asheville has partnered with She Sparks Society and American Eagle Home Inspection for a one-day real estate investing conference on Friday, Jan. 12. Expert speakers will discuss the time required for investing, the importance of relationships, and the ins and outs of funding.

Arts

Did you know local students were featured in Hallmark’s “A Biltmore Christmas”? Mars Hill University’s Theatre Arts Department worked on the production of the film — including six students working as background artists. See photos (and watch the movie for the perfect local holiday Hallmark movie fix).*

Holiday

Holidays bring lots of good cheer, but they also bring potential safety hazards. From turkey fryers and fireplace starters to large groups and dads on ladders, there’s more room for accidents as things get busier (and icier). Review common red flags + tips in this handy holiday safety roundup.*

Health

Did you know? Mission Hospital uses some of western North Carolina’s most cutting-edge technology (including revolutionary, minimally invasive techniques). Make an appointment with Mission Surgery’s highly-specialized physicians, who treat hernias, pancreatitis, colorectal, + more.*

Cause

ASAP will expand the Double SNAP Network

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project will expand the Double SNAP Network and incentives

Person holding vegetables and receiving Double SNAP tokens at a farmers market

ASAP was one of 19 organizations to receive federal funding for nutrition incentive programs. | Photo by Camilla Calnan, via ASAP

It just keeps growing. As part of the WNC Double SNAP Network, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is partnering with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and MountainWise to bring together existing programs and expand Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables programs to more farmers markets, farmstands, and grocery stores throughout the region.

Collectively, the three organizations operate SNAP incentive programs at 26 sites. Beginning in January, the first phase of the expansion will involve bolstering already existing programs, like those at the Asheville City Winter Market and the River Arts District Farmers Market. In the spring, additional participating sites will be announced with the goal of growing the network to more than 40 WNC sites over the next three years.

The Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables is a nutrition incentive program that provides SNAP tokens + up to $20 extra in Farm Fresh Bucks for SNAP customers at participating farmers markets. You can support the effort through a donation or by volunteering with ASAP.

The Buy

The Buy 12.20.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

An Apple Watch Series 9 — because the smartwatch is about to get much harder to find. Starting tomorrow, Apple will pull this smartwatch version from its website due to a patent dispute, with in-store purchases ending Sunday, Dec. 24. Other retailers may continue to sell the model until a final decision is made on an import ban. (Forbes)

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

If the winter blues are getting you down, this might be a good time to start planning for spring blooms. But you don’t need a green thumb or access to soil for that (thank goodness, because I have neither) — flower subscriptions from Carolina Flowers start in March, but you can go ahead and order yours now before the price increases after Friday, Dec. 22.

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