Beech Mountain’s Christmas Parade May Be A Must Attend
Admittedly, I come to this from a VERY jaded point of view. As a longtime radio personality, if I’ve been in one Christmas parade, I’ve been in one thousand. With very few exceptions, none of these experiences stand out in my mind. Honestly, when I think of Christmas parades, all I think of is, “Ugh…work.” I know, that’s terrible. And I hate it.
Perhaps part of the problem is I’ve never taken part in a parade that made me feel the magic of the season. For each of us that’s different, I guess. I think I need a late afternoon/early evening setting on a date close to Christmas in a small town. I know I need it to be cold. And along with the cold, wouldn’t it be cool if there was snow falling? That last part is the toughest. However, if there’s a chance…you need to go to the high country of North Carolina.
Which leads me to the Town of Beech Mountain’s 4th Annual Christmas Parade. It takes place on December 21 (so we’re getting REALLY close to the big day, right?). The route runs along the Beech Mountain Parkway starting at the ski resort and ending around the Town Hall area. Oh, and did I mention that the parade begins at 4pm, so that magic hour I need is a checked box.
According to the High Country Press, you can visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Frosty immediately after the Parade in the Brick Oven Pizzeria side room, next to the mini-golf course. Give Santa your wish-letter, pose for a family photo and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies during this free, “small-town” celebration.
The theme of the parade this year is “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” And the parade is a “snow or shine” event.
4 Great Christmas Dinner Options For The Whole Family
Now that the Thanksgiving meal is behind us and we are all still feeling more than stuffed, it’s time we shift our focus. To more food! Here, we’ll cut into four great dinner options to feed the whole family at Christmas dinner.
Yes, Thanksgiving requires a lot of hours in the kitchen. Prepping a turkey, maybe even frying one, takes some proper attention. Then, to some, the most important part is the sides that go with the main attraction. Again, making these side dishes means cooking up a storm. However, perhaps we underappreciate the art of this meal. For the most part, the menu is designed for us. Furthermore, it is consistent every year. All you have to decide is how much to make based around how many people will be gathered around your table.
Fast forward a month, and it’s time to prepare another epic holiday meal. In addition to running around to grab last-minute gifts, if you are hosting a Christmas get-together you have to do a lot of preparing, again.
The Magic of Christmas Cooking
Here, we are going to break down some options to jump-start your Christmas prep. First, let’s set the table on some criteria, and some bust some myths. You certainly do not need to reinvent the wheel and cook up something extraordinarily unique. In fact, it’s best to keep it simple. Dozens of classic dishes have already been well-established as delicious to satisfy your family, friends, and guests.
The thought process in suggesting these four Christmas dinner options is that they are proven to be delightful. They can also be prepared in large batches that do not require a tremendous amount of hours in the kitchen. These meals are family-friendly and are sharable. Some of them you may even be able to combine together. Again, this list won’t spark an idea that’s never been cooked up. Perhaps it just serves as a simple reminder that these Christmas dinner menu items can be straightforward and delicious enough.
Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.