The Line: 8 Holiday Markets

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🚉 Arriving Now

1. Shop artists at 8 local holiday markets
2. Should the town have paid a council member’s tuition?
3. Fenton’s future
4. Can you guess the coffee shop?

–Sarah Day

8 Holiday Markets in Western Wake

Looking for a perfect gift made by local hands? Holiday markets are a good bet for your gift-giving search. Here are eight coming up in Cary, Apex, and Holly Springs. 

Friday

Friday Nights at Sweetwater, produced by Shop Local Raleigh, is a monthly vendor market with live music, and family activities. With beer and wine for purchase and BYO lawn chairs or picnic blankets encouraged, you can make a night of it and shop. That will be held on the Sweetwater event lawn, 5-8 p.m. December 12, at 2701 Lawnview Lane in Apex. 

Saturday

A Stars Hollow Christmas Market: Inspired by the small town from Gilmore Girls, The Studio in Apex will transform into a holiday market with themed activities like Luke’s coffee, mystery books in Rory’s bookshelf, show trivia at 2 p.m., and artist-drawn portraits. More than 25 handmade vendors and more than seven vintage vendors will be on site. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. December 13 at The Studio, 106 West Chatham Street in Apex. 

Cary Vintage Holiday Market: Shop vintage clothing, accessories, records, housewares, and other trinkets at the market hosted by Vicious Fishes Brewery, South Line Brewing Company, and Hummingbird Collective. Baked goods for sale, hot cocoa, beer and wine from the breweries, live music, and food trucks make this family- and dog-friendly event even more fun. It’s planned for 12-6 p.m. December 13 at West End Biergarten, 510 Old Apex Road in Cary.

December 19-21 

Cary Night Market: The maker market typically hosts 45-50 local vendors at Downtown Cary Park, and there’s a rare second market in December. 5-9 p.m. December 19, 327 South Academy Street, Cary.

Holiday Market at the Cary Farmers Market: The weekly farmers market puts on extra shine on December 20 with special vendors selling gift items, a booth-decorating contest, and activities for kids. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at 160 East Park Street in Cary. 

Fable Holiday Market: Fable Books and Café will host its first holiday market with a two-day event that includes local vendors and activities. Programming includes Storytime with Santa at 11 a.m. December 20 and 21, plus family photo sessions, face painting, flash tattoos, and local beer and food (including in-house waffles). 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days, 219 Raleigh Street, Holly Springs. 

Fenton Holiday Market: Peruse local artists and makers among the shops and entertainment at Fenton with a market curated by Triangle Pop-Up (pictured above). 11 a.m.-4 p.m. December 20. Find it at 21 Fenton Main Street, Cary.

Holiday Market at The Mayton: Shop indoors at a market from The Mayton and Chester Goodtree at the hotel in Downtown Cary from 3 to 6 p.m. December 21. More than 20 local vendors, many of them artists and specialty food purveyors, will be set up in the Park Room and heated terrace. Drinks available for purchase at the Peck & Plume bar. Find it at 301 South Academy Street, Cary.

🎄 Looking for more holiday events? Don’t miss The Line’s holiday event guide.

In Brief | What I’d Tell You Over Luke’s Coffee

💰 The Town of Cary paid $37,397 in tuition for Town Council member Lori Bush to pursue a master’s degree in Northwestern University’s public policy program, The News & Observer reports. 

• Bush told The N&O she paid back the funds after “questions were raised.”
• The master’s program was originally suggested by the town manager. Council members quoted in the story said the tuition payments are not connected to Town Manager Sean Stegall being placed on paid administrative leave, but wouldn’t say more. 

🏗️ What next for Fenton: The next time you park on a surface lot before shopping or dining at Fenton, think of that spot as the future of the mixed-use development. At the Wake Growth and Prosperity Summit last Thursday, I attended a panel where commercial real estate executives and developers shared trends for our market. Paul Zarian, managing director of Fenton developer Hines, said the mixed-use development is only one-third built out, and he sees it as a 15- to 20-year project. One way to think about opportunities for growth is to look at where existing surface lots stand, he said. 

What’s next to be built:

• The Pagemore Hotel, announced in September, will include seven stories and 186 rooms. 
• A Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, it will also include Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Barouk, a coffee shop, and hotel bar. It’s expected to open in fall 2027. 
• Phase II, nine stories with office space, is expected to open July 1, 2027. 

🪩 All Wake County high school students are invited to this weekend’s Enloe Charity Ball, organized by Enloe High School students who aspire to raise $200,000 for Note in the Pocket, a nonprofit that gives quality clothing to Triangle area children in financial need, Jane Porter reports for INDY.

Guess the Coffee Shop

I’m out in Western Wake County talking over coffee and reporting for The Line. Can you guess where I am? 

Reply to this email or send your guess to line@theassemblync.com. The prize? Bragging rights, and maybe a shoutout in The Line!

The Line will be back in your inbox Thursday!