Holiday spirit is all around in downtown Asheboro. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel
Around Christmastime, a nostalgic sense of anticipation and fellowship brings together this Randolph County community. Hop in a wagon or carriage and ride through downtown to enjoy the Christmas lights and festive storefronts.
Davidson’s Main Street is often busy and bustling in early December. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel
For more than three decades, this small college town north of Charlotte has been known for its Hallmark-like holiday festival featuring costumed pooches, gingerbread houses, and Christmas trees galore.
During Dillsboro’s annual Lights & Luminaries event, more than 2,500 candlelit paper bags line the streets, bathing the storefronts in a warm glow. photograph by Derek Diluzio
This Western town has an abundance of Christmas spirit that is highlighted at the annual Lights & Luminaries Celebration. Twinkle lights and paper-bag luminaries line the streets, musicians perform on the sidewalks, and shops stay open late, offering hot chocolate and holiday treats.
Downtown Farmville was once a thriving commercial center where farmers sold tobacco, shopped with local merchants, and stopped to talk to their neighbors. Now, its vibrant spirit is back. photograph by Baxter Miller
This eastern town gets all decked out for the season with local storefronts featuring festive décor. After wandering around to finish your Christmas shopping, warm up with a cheese biscuit from The Little Rocket.
McAdenville residents work hard to decorate their community with sparkling lights and decor in the weeks leading up to December 1. photograph by Charles Harris
Every December, residents string up thousands of twinkling lights, transforming their Gaston County village into Christmas Town, USA. Dazzling displays — like the town’s bedazzled homes and breathtaking lawns — are their gift to North Carolina.
From fossil pits to a helicopter simulator, the littlest Carolinians will discover wonder at these one-of-a-kind museum exhibits across the state.
Don’t just drink your Cheerwine — eat it, too! From cakes to pies to cocktails, you can incorporate this crimson Tar Heel treasure into your next kitchen creation.
Local NC Cooperative Extension experts preserve cherished recipes and introduce kids to the thrill of summer camp — and that’s just a taste of what they provide to their communities.
One of our state’s most common fishes has a rare talent. In the fresh, clear waterways of the mountains and Piedmont, bluehead chubs build nests for their young, stone by tiny stone.
