By Heather Wood

Is it me or does the new #trending unofficial start of the holiday season begin when Halloween ends? Therefore, with Halloween just wrapping up, the holidays are FAST approaching! 

Once all the Halloween costumes have been safely packed away for the year, many families start to make Christmas plans, write lists, address Christmas cards, and decorate for the upcoming holiday. I feel like the holidays takes so much planning, which is probably why many start the holiday season earlier every year. However, it is important every year to remember that the holidays are not something to stress over, rather they are a time to have fun, spend time with family and friends, and let people know how much they mean to you. Here at the Kernersville Parks and Recreation Department, we have many programs and events to help make your holiday season a fun and festive one.

Kernersville has a series of holiday events and attractions that is sure to excite! It has a one-of-a-kind winter experience that features a tree lighting festival, afternoon visits with Santa Claus, a festive holiday run, a downtown parade, shopping, and more… all surrounded by twinkling holiday lights. Most events are free of charge and there is an open invitation for all to attend.

The holiday event line-up officially begins in Kernersville the first weekend of December. Get the feel of a Christmas village set in the heart of downtown on December 7th. The “Christmas Around Downtown,” Holiday Open House from 11am-7pm has treasures and quality gifts that will make everyone on your list happy. Enjoy everything downtown has to offer, and be rewarded for your patronage. The Downtown Winter Passport is your ticket to some great prizes for shopping local. Simply pick up a passport at the local Train Depot. Then, make purchases at participating businesses, collect passport stickers, and affix them to your passport pages to turn in to the Kernersville Museum at the end of your shopping day. Drawings for Downtown Gift Cards and other donated prizes will be held at a later time. There is something for everyone Downtown – be sure to shop local and shop downtown this winter. Catch dazzling light displays all winter long throughout downtown and beyond. Or duck into one of the nearby restaurants for dinner after a long day of shopping.

End the night on Saturday, December 7th in Harmon Park for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. This festive, family-friendly event welcomes guests and the community to sing carols, drink hot cocoa by the fire and countdown to the exciting tree lighting. Follow Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends as they ride in a horse-drawn carriage to the park. The event begins at 7pm with Mayor Dawn Morgan welcoming the crowd. Don’t miss this holiday tradition. Kernersville Parks and Recreation preserves this tradition every year in effort to continue the long-held family tradition and bring the community together.

Glide into the holidays and join us for ice skating in downtown Kernersville! Kernersville residents and visitors alike have been looking forward to the opportunity to visit the Kernersville Museum Ice Rink this holiday season. The rink opens November 16. ​Cost is $7 for 30 minutes of skate time (includes skate rental). Skate times are TBD. Groups of 10 or more must call ahead. For more information, visit the Kernersville Museum at www.KernersvilleMuseum.org.

Join Kernersville Parks and Recreation at our community center for festive programs. Our Beginners Acrylic Painting class will be held on Wednesday, November 6^th from 6-9pm. Create a beautiful painting with step-by-step instruction and demonstration. Understand design, shadowing and color mixing to achieve your artistic view. Materials are included; bring an apron and an open mind! This month’s theme will be “Christmas Feeling.”

Everyone enjoyed our Holiday “Pop Up” Craft so much last year that we decided to do it again! We are creating pallet signs for the holiday season. Looking to add to your Christmas decor or create a unique Christmas gift for someone? We are your place to build on-trend, farmhouse-classic, inspirational pieces of décor for your home or office. This vintage, timeless look with accents of white and weathered wood help cultivate your inner DIY design skills. The hands-on wood sign workshop teaches you the techniques needed to create a custom piece that looks professionally made. We have three concepts to choose from. Only a few spots available. To register and see our design options visit our website at www.KVParks.com.

Experience the magic of the holidays in Kernersville! Come and enjoy the seasonal events and celebrations that will get you in the festive mood. Visit the cool places to shop, experience live caroling and don’t forget about the glistening ice rink waiting for you to lace up your skates. Stay for a while and enjoy the festivities. Shop, eat and be merry!