Kick off the season with a full day’s worth of holiday cheer in historic Downtown Cary!
2009 Celebration: December 5, 2009

Letters to Santa
Santa’s Mailbox will be located in Town Hall starting on November 30, 2009. We’ve made special arrangements with Santa Claus for Cary Town Hall to be a drop off site for letters to Santa Claus! Have little Johnny and Suzie enjoy this annual tradition as we prepare for Santa’s flight over Cary. Drop off your letters in the Santa Mailbox before December 18th and your child will hear back from our jolly friend in red! Make sure to include your child’s name and address on each letter.

Santa’s Workshop
Location: Herbert C. Young Community Center; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cary Teen Council’s annual Christmas Celebration. Drop-in activity featuring Make It/Take Holiday craft projects, live entertainment by Cary Ballet Conservatory and a special visitor from the NORTH POLE! While at Santa’s workshop, support the Cary Teen Council’s food drive by sending each child with 2 non-perishable food items or cash donation will be accepted. All contributions will be given to a local charity. There will be a 20 minute break from craft tables at 11:30 a.m., so that everyone may enjoy the entertainment. For more information call (919) 460-4965. (age 10 & under accompanied by an adult)

Heart of Cary Association’s Ole Time Winter Festival
Location: Downtown Cary; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Celebrations begin with the Heart of Cary’s Ole Time Winter Festival held on the streets of Downtown Cary. Festival goers can enjoy arts & crafts, entertainment, food, activities, and more. Santa will be there. Start (or finish) your holiday shopping!

Page-Walker Arts & History Center Holiday Open House
Location: Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 4-6 p.m.

Get into the holiday spirit with an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas experience at the Page-Walker’s Annual Holiday Open House. Learn about century-old holiday traditions while touring Cary’s own 1868 historic hotel. Sing Christmas carols around the piano. Enjoy holiday refreshments and view historic rooms decorated for the season by the Friends of the Page-Walker Hotel. Fun for the whole family. featuring “Home for the Holidays: A Patchwork of Memories,” presented by the Applause! Cary Youth Theatre Touring Troupe, based on recollections from members of the Cary Senior Center.

The Artists Within: Town of Cary Employees
Location: at Town Hall; Artists’ Reception; 3-5 p.m.

Town of Cary employees show off the benefits of art to express their creative side, reduce stress, and build a balanced lifestyle. This diverse show is sure to surprise and engage your creative side.

Official Tree Lighting Ceremony
Location: Town Hall Campus by the Town Tree; 6 p.m.

The official tree lighting for the Town of Cary will be on this day as well. This community celebration of the season has become incredibly popular over the past years. It’s a wonderful time to bring your blanket and your loved-ones out to the Town Hall campus and welcome in the holiday season with your neighbors. This festive night features talented actors, singers, dancers, and musicians from our community onstage.

Audition to perform at the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Not only will the beautiful 30 foot cedar tree be illuminated for the first time in the season, but we’ll also unveil the “Community Tree” that will be inside at the Town Hall. All sorts of groups that serve our local community will be providing handcrafted ornaments to be displayed on the inside tree. Our Community Tree will truly be a representation of the diversity of Cary.

Cary Players presents It’s a Wonderful Life - A Radio Drama
Location: Town Hall Council Chambers; 8 p.m.

The Town Council Chambers becomes a 1940’s radio station once again for the Cary Players’ performance of the holiday classic. Come see wonderful period costumes, live sound effects, and George, Mary, Potter and the gang as you’ve maybe not experienced them before! For more information on obtaining tickets, visit www.caryplayers.org. For more information about any events in the Heart of the Holidays Celebration call (919) 469-4061.

For more information about any events in the Heart of the Holidays Celebration, call (919) 469-4061.