Agritourism farms hosting fun activities for the holidays
Farms across the state are opening up to visitors for the holidays, offering choose-and-cut Christmas trees, winter hayrides, visits with Santa and other fun activities.
“Agritourism is a big part of North Carolina’s $84 billion agriculture economy,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “While many people may think about visiting farms during the spring or summer, the holidays can be a wonderful time to visit local farms with family and friends.”
Christmas Trees and Poinsettias
North Carolina is the second-largest producer of Christmas trees in the nation. Some choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms have already opened for the season, and even more are scheduled to open Thanksgiving weekend.
Almond Christmas Tree Farm (https://www.facebook.com/Almond-Christmas-Tree-Farm-887660978036003/) in Albemarle will open Nov. 25. The farm offers choose-and-cut trees, fresh-cut Fraser firs, wreaths, greenery and hayrides.
Hickory Creek Farm (https://hickorycreekfarmnc.com/index.html) in Greensboro also will open for the season on Nov. 25. On Dec. 3, the farm will have a Farm Antique Tag Sale with vintage items handpicked from N.C. farms available to buy.
Pardue Tree Farm (https://www.parduetreefarm.blogspots.com) in Sparta is open daily through Dec. 24. The third-generation family farm offers Fraser firs, handmade wreaths and garland.
On Dec. 4, Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse (https://www.mitchellsnursery.com) in King will have its Poinsettia Open House from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The nursery grows 81 varieties of poinsettias, and will have more than 9,000 plants to choose from.
Holiday Events
Many farms offer special holiday programming for families to enjoy. Cukabury Farms (https://www.cukaburyfarmsllc.com/) in Fairmont will hosts its annual Christmas Light Show with hayrides through the farm, Christmas music and more. The light show takes place Dec. 2-17 on Fridays and Saturdays, and daily Dec. 19-23.
Hubb’s Corn Maze (https://www.hubbscornmaze.com/Christmas.html) in Clinton will air “The Polar Express” on Nov. 25 and 26. The event also includes visits with Santa.
Raised in a Barn Farm (https://www.raisedinabarnfarm.com/) in Chocowinity will offer Storytime with Santa, Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and holiday hayrides through downtown Washington starting Nov. 26.
Trosly Farm (https://www.troslyfarm.com/) in Elk Park will open a Holiday Farm Store and Market on Saturdays through Dec. 17. The market features handmade chocolates, local honey and farm-raised meats among other items.
Winery Events
North Carolina is home to more than 180 wineries, and several of them will host special events during the holidays. In Leicester, Addison Farms Vineyards (https://www.addisonfarms.net/handcrafted-christmas) will be hosting its annual Handcrafted Christmas event on Dec. 3 from noon to 5 p.m. The event features local crafters and artisans. Complimentary wine tastings also will be offered in exchange for a $10 donation to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Also on Dec. 3, Cypress Bend Vineyards (https://www.cypressbendvineyards.com) in Wagram will host a Christmas Open House. Guests can enjoy live music, Christmas treats and special merchandise from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Farm Animals
Through Dec. 18, Apple Hill Farm (https://www.applehillfarmnc.com) in Banner Elk will offer guided walking tours of its working alpaca farm Fridays through Sundays. Tours will run every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is also a farm store with alpaca socks, yarns, hats, gloves, and other items.
Helpers of Our Farm (https://www.hoofnc.org), an educational farm animal sanctuary in Bolivia, will hold its Frosty Hooves fundraiser on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds will help feed and care for the sanctuary animals through the winter.
Other Events
Plum Granny Farm (https:// www.plumgrannyfarm.com) and Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery (https://www.buffalocreekfarmandcreamery.com), both located north of Winston-Salem, are teaming up for a Small Business Saturday Holiday Market on Nov. 26. More than a dozen vendors will offer a variety of gift items, from goat cheese and truffle butter to handmade jewelry and baskets.
On Dec. 10, Two Sisters Farmstead (https://www.twosistersfarmstead.org) in Candler will host its monthly Family Discovery Day. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon, and allows families to experience farm life firsthand.
North Carolina is home to more than 700 agritourism farms. To find a complete listing of farms near you, go to www.visitncfarms.com.
Burning ban issued for 22 additional counties to protect lives and property
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today banned open burning and canceled all burning permits for 22 more counties in Western North Carolina. Added to the list are Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.
The burning ban will take effect at 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21, and will be in effect until further notice.
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was issued. The issuance of any new permits also has been suspended until the ban is lifted. Violation of the ban carries a $100 fine plus court costs of $180.
The ban on open burning is necessary because of the dry weather conditions and the potential for the increase in human-caused wildfires in the region. As of Nov. 20, there have been 3,021 wildfires affecting more than 19,058 acres on state protected lands across North Carolina this year. In the mountains alone, there have been 1,203 fires that have burned 4,015 acres.
Those numbers do not include fires burning on federal lands, the Party Rock fire near Lake Lure and the Chestnut Knob fire. The Party Rock fire has burned 7,171 acres since it was first reported on Nov. 5. The Chestnut Knob fire, burning in the South Mountain State Park, has burned 6,433 acres since it was first reported on Nov. 6. These fires, combined with those on federal lands, have burned closed to 46,000 acres in Western N.C. State protected lands include state and private owned properties.
“Fire experts with the N.C. Forest Service feel the current drought situation and the increase in available forest fuels makes it necessary to increase the number of counties under the burn ban,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We want to be proactive in our approach and take appropriate action to prevent the potential for human-caused wildfires.”
An open burn ban is now in place for the entire counties of Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Caswell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Guilford, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey.
Here are a few facts about the law regarding the ban on open burning:
- The burn ban does not apply to cooking fires such as grills or outdoor cookers.
- The ban does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. County fire marshals have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. In addition, other local ordinances and air quality regulations may also impact open burning.
- If a fire within that 100-foot area escapes containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be responsible for reimbursing the N.C. Forest Service for any expenses related to extinguishing it.
- Open burning includes burning leaves, branches and other plant material. In all cases, it is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials.
- Outdoor burning is also prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts.
Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.
Fire Prevention Education Team deployed to region
A U.S. Forest Service Fire Prevention Education Team is working in Western North Carolina in an effort to decrease the number of human-caused wildfires there. In addition to assisting with information on these wildfires, the team is working with communities, distributing information and working with the media to raise awareness about the current fire danger. In addition a joint information center has been established to help provide information to the media and the public. The JIC can be reached at 828-575-2352 or by email at ncjicinformation@gmail.com.
You can also contact Brian R. Haines at 919-857-4828. Residents with questions regarding their specific county can contact their county ranger with the N.C. Forest Service or their county fire marshal’s office.
Vance-Granville Community Band to present free holiday concert on December 5th
The Vance-Granville Community Band will perform traditional Christmas fare as well as light classical and contemporary favorites during its ninth annual holiday concert on Monday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson.
This will be the first time that the Community Band has held a concert at the 1,000-seat venue, which opened earlier this year and is located at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. Admission is free of charge.
The band has prepared a program that includes seasonal music like “Wishing You a Merry Christmas,” a medley of Christmas carols arranged by William E. Rhoads; “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” a medley featuring “Welcome Christmas” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”; and “The Carollers March” by R.E. Holz, arranged by band member Bob Salzmann. Another piece, “The Night Before Christmas,” features a dramatic reading of Clement Moore’s poem by the band’s Claire Ramsey, with musical accompaniment.
The band is also set to play “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky; the overture from “Abduction from the Seraglio” by Mozart; a symphonic suite of music from the sci-fi franchise “Star Trek” to commemorate its 50th anniversary by Michael Giacchino, Alexander Courage and Gene Roddenberry; “Hallelujah” (featured in the movie “Shrek”) by Leonard Cohen; and “Riders for the Flag,” a march by John Philip Sousa.
The concert will also feature the “Old Vanguard Woodwind Quartet” playing additional selections of holiday music. The quartet comprises a bassoon, a soprano saxophone, an alto saxophone and a tenor saxophone.
Brian Miller, who retired as band director at Louisburg High School and now teaches for VGCC and Crosscreek Charter School, is the band’s primary conductor. Tracie Winstead, who plays bassoon in the band, is the associate conductor.
The Community Band, which is sponsored by the VGCC Division of Arts and Sciences, includes people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from throughout the region. No auditions are required. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7-9 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, on the Main Campus in Henderson, at Exit 209 on Interstate 85 (Poplar Creek Road). For more information, contact Brian Miller at (919) 496-5877 or at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu or Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu.