Businesses donate to Joliet nonprofit fighting food insecurity – Shaw Local
The Joliet-based nonprofit Yes, Together We Can, recently received donations from two businesses to help it fight food insecurity among people managing chronic health…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Food #business #fooddistribution #joliet #nonprofits #shaw-local-front-headlines #will-county-front-headlines
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2504744/businesses-donate-to-joliet-nonprofit-fighting-food-insecurity-shaw-local/
The Triangle Event Guide Thursday December 11th Edition
Looking for the best things to do across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, and the wider Triangle? This Thursday, December 11, 2025, is packed with family-friendly holiday celebrations, free festivals, live music, food distribution events, skating, art walks, parades, and nighttime Christmas lights across the region.
From free Santa photos at Bass Pro Shops to the State Tree Lighting, Moore Square Winterfaire, and Durham Night Market, there are activities for every age and interest. Here’s your complete guide for the day.
🎅 Free Santa Photos & All-Day Events
Free Santa Photos at Bass Pro Shops Santa’s Wonderland
All Day | FREE | Multiple Locations
Stop by for complimentary Santa photos, holiday crafts, festive décor, and family activities at participating Bass Pro Shops throughout the Triangle.
Cary’s Gingerbread House Competition
All Day | FREE | Downtown Cary
Visit downtown Cary to see elaborate, hand-crafted gingerbread creations displayed throughout local businesses.
The RINK: Outdoor Skating at Red Hat Amphitheater
All Day | $6–$15 | Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh
Glide under the skyline at Raleigh’s popular outdoor ice rink. Check the schedule for session times and ticketing.
☕ Morning Events
Veteran’s Coffee and Connection
8:00–9:30 a.m. | FREE | Fainting Goat Brewing Company, Fuquay-Varina
Veterans are invited to a free morning meet-up for camaraderie, support, and conversation.
Holiday Open House at the NC State Capitol
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | FREE | Raleigh
Tour the festively decorated Capitol and experience live performances and historic holiday traditions.
Stroll Through History: Free Cemetery Tours
10:00–11:00 a.m. | FREE | Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh
Discover Raleigh’s rich history on a guided walking tour through one of its most storied cemeteries.
Kids, Cookies & Candy Canes
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | FREE | Carrboro Century Center
A fun holiday show with treats, crafts, and interactive kids’ activities.
🎶 Afternoon Fun
Live Music: One Block Over
3:00–6:00 p.m. | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest
Relax with an afternoon of live local music and craft beer.
Parktown Food Hub Open Distribution Day
4:30–5:30 p.m. | FREE | Durham
Weekly fresh food distribution for community members.
Illuminate Art Walk
4:45 p.m. | FREE | Downtown Raleigh
Experience glowing art installations throughout downtown as part of Raleigh’s winter light festival.
Moore Square Winterfaire
5:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh
Festive lights, vendors, performances, and holiday cheer in the heart of downtown.
Durham Night Market
5:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | American Tobacco Campus
Shop local makers, enjoy live entertainment, and explore Durham’s beloved evening market.
Phillips Farms Walk-Through Christmas Light Show
5:00–9:00 p.m. | $15 | Cary
Walk through a magical display of lights, characters, and holiday scenes.
🎄 Evening Holiday Events & Light Shows
A Night with Santa (Raleigh Police & Raleigh Parks)
5:30–8:00 p.m. | FREE | Lions Park, Raleigh
Meet Santa, enjoy kids’ activities, and connect with Raleigh’s community partners.
State Tree Lighting Ceremony
5:30 p.m. | FREE | NC State Capitol, Raleigh
A beloved tradition featuring music, special guests, and the illumination of the state tree.
Piper Lights
5:30–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Wake Forest
A decades-long family-run light show featuring whimsical displays and drive-through fun.
Contentnea Fire Department Christmas Lights
5:30–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Wilson
A community holiday light display supporting local firefighters.
Lake Myra Christmas Lights
5:30–10:00 p.m. | FREE | Wendell
A synchronized, high-energy Christmas light show drawing visitors from across the region.
Lights on the Neuse: Holiday Hayride
6:00–8:00 p.m. | $11 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton
A tractor-pulled hayride through beautiful illuminated holiday scenes.
Journey to Bethlehem: Walk-Thru Christmas Drama
6:00–8:30 p.m. | FREE | Salem Baptist Church, Apex
A live, immersive recreation of the Nativity story.
NC Executive Mansion Holiday Open House
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Raleigh
Tour the historic home decorated for the season with stunning trees, floral displays, and curated holiday décor.
🍻 Evening Entertainment & Nightlife
Game Night
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner
Vinyl Nights
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham
NC Chinese Lantern Festival
6:00–10:00 p.m. | $16.74–$30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
Walk through towering handcrafted lanterns and cultural performances.
Live Music
6:00 p.m. | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell
Holiday Music with Al Strong
7:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | The Durham Hotel
Smithfield Christmas Parade
7:00 p.m. | FREE | Historic Downtown Smithfield
Music Bingo
7:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary
Level Up and Sip
7:00–10:00 p.m. | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham
Board Game Night
7:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery, Durham
Air Hockey Tournament
8:00–10:00 p.m. | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham
Jazz Jam Open Mic
8:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary
Thursday Karaoke
9:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh
Skee Ball Tournament
9:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Raleigh
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#artWalks #carrboroEvents #caryEvents #christmasLights #durhamEvents #familyFriendly #festivals #foodDistribution #holiday #holidayEvents #liveMusic #parades #raleighEvents #skating #triangleEventGuide
Home-cooked Thanksgiving meals provided to Kinston community
KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) – Hundreds of people gathered at the Grainger Stadium parking lot Saturday afternoon to receive home-cooked Thanksg…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Cooking #fooddistribution #kinston #Kinstonthanksgiving #sistersunitedkinston #Thanksgivingmeals #Turkey #whatwashappeningatthestadiumtodat #wheretogetthanksgivingfood
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2394550/home-cooked-thanksgiving-meals-provided-to-kinston-community/
Families receive free food at a distribution event amid rising food costs
A food distribution event at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds provided essential supplies to more than a thousand families, thanks to a $1 million fund rerouted by county commissioners. T…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Food #financialdifficulties #fooddistribution #Groceryprices #MontgomeryCountyFairgrounds
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2267351/families-receive-free-food-at-a-distribution-event-amid-rising-food-costs/
UNFI's recent cyberattack forced a complete operational shutdown, turning cutting-edge systems into manual order scribbles. Could our food supply be the next target? Read on for a wake-up call on supply chain cybersecurity.
https://thedefendopsdiaries.com/unfi-cyberattack-a-wake-up-call-for-supply-chain-cybersecurity/
#unfi
#cyberattack
#supplychainsecurity
#fooddistribution
#cybersecurity
#Israel accused of using #aid as bait as over 300 #Palestinians killed at #fooddistribution sites
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wouii7OEVDk&pp=ygUSYWwgamF6ZWVyYSBlbmdsaXNo
#AlJazeeraEnglish 4 hours ago
Multiple explosions near #fooddistribution point in central #Gaza
"The May 9 attack on the UN distribution center came as part of Israel’s scorched-earth bombing campaign that resumed in full force on March 18 following a brief “ceasefire.” Since then, Israel has targeted charity kitchens, displacement camps, schools, hospitals, so-called “humanitarian zones,” and other civilian gatherings on a regular basis. On Saturday alone, Israeli airstrikes bombed two tents used for preparing food in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
Over 2,700 Palestinians have been killed over the past seven weeks, including more than 900 children, according to the Gaza health ministry. The official death toll since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal assault is nearly 53,000, with many thousands more missing under the rubble.
Israel has also imposed a full spectrum blockade on Gaza since March 2, denying entry to all food, medicine, fuel, and other basic supplies in a policy of forced starvation and collective punishment—now in its third month. Thousands of Palestinians are suffering from acute malnutrition, including thousands of children, as Gaza has been plunged into the worst humanitarian crisis since the war began.
Aid organizations have stopped food distribution and bakeries have closed. Over the past several days, a third of UN-supported community kitchens—which are a last lifeline for much of the population—have shut down due to the depletion in food supplies and limited access to fuel. “We live off charity kitchens. Every day, they bring us lentils, they’re exhausting us with lentils,” Tala Ghassan Al-Masri, 13, who survived Friday’s bombing in Jabaliya, told Drop Site. “I wish I could eat bread, fried potatoes, tomatoes, and things my sister and mom used to make for us.”"
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-unrwa-food-distribution-bombed-jabaliya-israel
#Palestine #Gaza #Israel #Starvation #UNRWA #FoodDistribution
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