Charlotte on the Cheap is inviting towns, cities and counties across the Carolinas to tell us a little bit about themselves, and to welcome visitors from the Charlotte region. Granville County is the first to participate in the new Carolina Travel section of Charlotte on the Cheap.
Interested in an authentic small town holiday experience? Consider visiting Granville County, North Carolina, during the Thanksgiving or Christmas season. It’s two and a half hours from Charlotte, and its county seat, Oxford, is located right off of I-85, near the Virginia border. If you’re traveling north during the holidays, plan on making a stop in Granville County and experience its warmth, or make Granville County a destination for a weekend trip.
During the holidays Granville is buzzing with all types of events that include everyone:
- The 12th Annual Toys for Tots Dog Agility Competition will be December 4th-6th in Granville County. The action will occur at River Wind Farm at 3119 Tom Hunt Road in Oxford. Starting Friday at 3:00pm and Saturday and Sunday at 8:00am you can see some of the best dogs and handlers in the region competing in dog agility, all to benefit Toys for Tots. Dog agility is a timed, competitive sport where dogs must run through various obstacle courses while being directed by their handlers. The dogs that complete the course correctly and in the shortest time win. Spectators and well-behaved dogs are welcome to come out and watch the action. Admission is free, but donations of new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots will be gladly accepted. In addition, there will be lots of other activities throughout the day, including food sales, numerous vendors, raffles, and trivia and dance contests. If you want to see some of the finest dog agility competitors in the country, and support Toys for Tots, come out to River Wind Farm on December 4-6. For more information, please visit http://www.riverwindstable.webs.com/ or their Facebook Page River Wind Farm-Oxford NC.
- Vino Oasi will host their first Cocoa with Santa! This event will take place Sunday, December 6, 2015 from 3:30 pm – 7:00pm. Activities include: Hot cocoa, drinks, nibbles for the entire family and craft station for the kids. Santa arrives by Fire truck at 3:30 and Photos are from 4-7:00pm. The vineyard is located on 3200 Bliss Trail, Stem (off E Thollie Green Road). Please reserve your spot by 12/3/15 at lisa@vinooasi.com or by phone 919-215-9539. For more information, visit https://vinooasi.wordpress.com/.
- Stovall’s Gifts will host their December Wine & Beer Tasting on Saturday, December 5th from 2:00pm – 5:00pm. This tasting will also feature a signing of Lewis Bowling’s book “Looking Back ” 200 Years of Oxford History. This in celebration of Oxford’s 200th Celebration in 2016.Also, on Sunday, December 5th, Stovall’s will have their Annual Santa Visit from 1pm-4pm. For information on events, please visit their Facebook page: Stovall’s Gifts or call 919-693-1217.
- Oxford Parks & Recreation is offering several events during the holiday season. From Cookies with Santa to a Parent’s Night Out, RSVP soon. For more information, visit http://www.oxfordparksandrecreation.com
- American Indian Heritage Month: Richard H. Thornton Library will have retired Chief Otis Martin of the Sappony Tribe speaking November 23rd at 6:00 pm. Also, NC Room Librarian, Mark Pace, has his personal collection of American Indian artifacts displayed in the library. The library is located on 210 Main Street in downtown Oxford.
- The Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast is on November 25th at 7:30 a.m. This event will take place at the Oxford Baptist Church and is sponsored by Bridgestone Commercial Solutions and Granville Chamber of Commerce. The speaker will be Larry Yarborough, District 2, NC House of Representatives. Food donations to ACIM, the local food bank, are requested.
- Wild Turkey Bash: Thorndale Oaks, located on 105 W Quail Ridge Rd in Oxford, will host the Wild Turkey Bash. It will take place on Thanksgiving Eve, November 25th from 8 to 11 p.m. Doors will open at 7 for you early birds. DJ Jay Rogers will get the music going at around 8 p.m. Do you have friends and family coming home for the holidays and need a place to socialize and unwind? Reserve your spot at Thorndale Oaks for some early holiday fun! Purchase Tickets in advance at Remember When Antiques or by phone at Thorndale Oaks at (919) 603-3701.
- 11th Annual Turkey Trot: Oxford United Methodist Church, located on 105 W McClanahan Street in downtown Oxford, will host 11th Annual Turkey Trot 2015. This is a 2 mile Fun Walk/Run on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th. Come out for a time of fitness, fellowship, fun and food that will benefit the local food bank, ACIM. Registration begins at 8:30 am at the church and the race begins at 9:00 a.m.
Local businesses are beginning to dress up their store fronts and host great events to start the Holiday season. Don’t miss your chance to get into the spirit and find some great holiday ideas & deals right here in Granville:
- Holiday Shopping Spree: At the Granville County Expo Center in Oxford there will be a Holiday Shopping Spree! This event will take place on Saturday, November 21st from 9am-3pm. Come out for a day full of shopping! Many of your favorite small businesses will be represented as well as some new, handcrafted items that are sure to make your gift giving an absolute breeze this holiday season! Bring a friend and enjoy a “girl’s day out” as you stroll through all the beautiful displays. Sip a cozy cup of warm cider (free! courtesy of KayCee’s Kitchen!) and indulge in a homemade treat as you make quick work of checking off your gift lists!
- Cedar Creek Gallery will have their Annual Holiday Open House November 21-22 from 10 am-6 pm. This event will feature 500 handmade ornaments, Lisa Oakley’s Jewelry Trunk Show, sculptural holiday tree and much more. Each day will include live music, holiday treats and a visit with Santa from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Small Business Saturday: On Saturday, November 28th the greater Granville County area is encouraged to take part in our Small Business Saturday Shop Granville First event across the county. The event will feature special offers by local businesses and giveaways to consumers. The event will begin at both Granville County Chamber of Commerce Office locations (124 Hillsboro St. Oxford & 1598 NC Hwy 56 Suite 4 Creedmoor) where Shop Small® shopping bags and Passports, along with coupons, a list of participating businesses, and other materials will be provided to consumers.
- Beach Run Farm will host their 4th Annual Alpaca Farm Open House on Saturdays & Sundays in December (4th-23rd) from 10am-2pm. Weekdays & Christmas by Appointment only. Items for sale include Alpaca hats, gloves, socks, scarves, yarn (spun from their alpacas), baskets, beauty products and more. The farm is located at 6097 Bob Daniel Road Oxford, NC. For more information, please contact 919-603-0859 or http://www.beachrunalpacas.com/.
The first two weekends in December are always entertaining in Granville. Each city and town have their own celebrations that welcome the Holiday season in very traditional and unique ways. Check out what you can see and do as Granville celebrates with lighting ceremonies and Christmas parades.
- Downtown Oxford’s Lighting of the Greens & Annual Christmas Parade on December 4th. Events begin at 4:00 p.m. and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m.
- The City of Creedmoor opens up their Main Street and have a Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 4th at 7:00 p.m. Residents and visitors gather for the tree lighting in and the mayor reads “The Christmas Story”. Creedmoor’s Annual Christmas Parade on December 5th at 11:00 a.m. The parade features a very special Grand Marshal, holiday floats, marching bands, and of course, Santa himself!
- The Town of Butner & Butner Community Association kick off the holiday season with Christmas in the Park on December 4th at 5:30 p.m. Activities include Christmas music, lighting of the Christmas tree, reading of “Twas the Night before Christmas” story by the Mayor and pictures with Santa, sponsored by the town. The Annual Christmas Parade is on December 5th at 2:00 p.m. and features floats and parade entertainment coordinated by South Granville Exchange Club.
- The Town of Stem hosts their Lighting of the Greens/Celebration of Life on Friday, December 11th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Their Annual Christmas Parade is on December 12th at 12 p.m. This event will include food and craft vendors at Stem Fire Department from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and and visit/pictures with Santa from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Grassy Creek Christmas Parade: Last, but not least, the unique Grassy Creek Christmas Parade is on December 12th at 2:00pm. This community is located in northern part of Granville County and is guaranteed to be a special event for the whole family.
It’s that time of year where we hear stories of Old St. Nick, Bethlehem and other Christmas traditions. Check out what Granville has to offer this Holiday season:
- Delrayno Baptist Church, located on 1315 College Street in Oxford, will present their Christmas Musical Worship–Christmas in His Presence. The musical will run from December 5th-7th with shows beginning at 7 p.m. The church invites you to come worship them through word, song, dance, and creative arts. For more information, please visit delrayno.com or call 919-693-3187.
- The Granville Little Theatre will be presenting “A Christmas Carol” and “Charlie Brown Christmas,” directed by Mark Hopper and Dwight Pierce, on December 11th and 12th at 8 p.m., and December 13th at 2:30 p.m., at Oxford City Hall. For more information and a link to get tickets visit granvillelittletheater.com.
- Dr. Newheart’s Christmas Cure is a Broadway-style musical with a timeless message. When the kids come to the clinic suffering from the excess of Christmas, Dr. Newheart diagnosis their illness as the “Christmas Day Dumps.” With the help of the clinic staff, Drs. Fric and Frac, the “Dis” orderlies and Pink Ladies, Mildred, Maude, Ethel and Phoebe, the kids realize they have a heart problem that can only be cured by allowing God to fill their hearts. In the end, even Nurse Philpott gets a “heart transplant” and all the mayhem and humor is capped with the touching musical invitation for Christ to “Come In My Heart.”Come out for an evening of entertainment for the whole family at Covenant Life Sanctuary, 229 East B Street, Butner, NC. Saturday, December 12th, 2015 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 13th, 2015 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit clsconnect.org.
- Back to Bethlehem: Delrayno Baptist Church, located on 1315 College Street in Oxford, will present “Back to Bethlehem.” This Christmas experience is an outdoor, drive-through that is both fun and beautiful! It’s the best way to kick off the Christmas season with your family and friends! This event will take place from December 12th through 14th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each night.Enter a walled city constructed to look like Bethlehem as it appeared 2,000 years ago–-telling the story of Jesus Christ’s birth in a fun and interactive way. Don’t be surprised if a Roman soldier yells at you to get out of the way or a shop owner in the marketplace tries to to sell you a goat. As always, Back to Bethlehem is free! For more information, please check out delrayno.com or call 919-693-3187.
This content was created in collaboration with Granville County NC Tourism Development Authority
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