Getting to Know Raleigh: Holly Springs
Holly Springs, just southwest of downtown Raleigh and neighboring the Cary, Apex, and Fuquay areas, has a personality all of its own with craft breweries and the largest action sports, family-oriented year-round facility in the world, as well as a thriving Parks and Recreation program at Bass Lake and Suggs Farm that offers event throughout the year. This community has come together to offer its residents a full calendar of cultural performances, its own band and youth orchestra, a Farmers Market, and beautiful parks.
Restaurants and Breweries
Bombshell Beer Company has its claim to fame as one of the first female-owned breweries in North Carolina. Food trucks come on Thursday to Saturday nights, and live music is there on weekend nights as well. Offering flights in their beer garden, enjoy a comfortable night out away from it all.
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Deep dish pizza is usually hard to find outside of Chicago, but you can find it at Acme Pizza Co. as well as pasta, hand-tossed thin-crust pizza, and a variety of beer on tap. NC Eat & Play’s Megan joined up with a couple more foodies to attack the cheesy goodness at ACME Pizza Co. Read about her first visit.
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More restaurants to check out in Holly Springs
Craving Japanese food? Kobe Hibachi and Sushi have it all.
Bass Lake Draft House has great burgers, and The Mason Jar Tavern has beer brewed right in Fuquay-Varina. Their beer-braised chicken sliders, Mason Jar Blood Orange margaritas, and the live music four nights a week make this a must on the list of restaurants in the area.
Carolina Brewing Company is also in Holly Springs and is one of the oldest breweries in North Carolina.
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Rise Biscuits and Donuts is a favorite, with their delicious breakfast biscuit sandwiches with various additions like hot Tennessee Chicken or fried green tomatoes. They also have unique donuts like the maple bacon bar or biscuit beignets. We are lucky to have several in the Triangle area.
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Art and Music
Come to the Holly Springs Cultural Center and see the Holly Strings Youth Orchestra, with ensembles for kids ages 8-18 separated in groups of various skill levels. The Cultural Center has various instruments donated to them so they’re even able to offer instruments to loan out to students.
Holly Springs Community Band also offers great performances by their volunteer adult musician band. They perform four formal concerts a year as well as at a variety of local events. The Cultural Center also has the Route 55 Jazz Orchestra, community theater, and their Clean Comedy Series.
Sports
The Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex was founded by Daniel Dhers, a pro BMX rider. It is the largest action sports facility that is family-oriented and open year-round, with over 37,000 sq. ft of riding terrain both indoors and outdoors. They also offer classes. The facility has beginner areas, a foam pit, resi quarters, and pump tracks.
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Nature and Parks
Holly Springs is perfect for any angler with Bass Lake Park open all year long for free bank fishing. It has a deck, floating dock, biking trail, and education center. You can even rent canoes or jon boats to enjoy the lake. The education center has various events and programs. The Dog Park at Sugg Farm is scheduled to open March 13, 2021, and will give your dogs an acre to run on! Don’t forget to attend the annual Dog Day in the Park in September, with professional demonstrations, agility courses, dog-themed crafts and activities, local rescues, and food trucks.
Sugg Farm also has a free event called Bass Lake Day on the first Saturday of October with exhibits on falconry, recycling, bow hunting, gardening, local wildlife, and other nature and environmental educational themes. Guests can even see live hawks, turtles, snakes, frogs, and owls. Little ones will also love the crafts and games!
The Holly Springs Veterans Park has a half-mile trail around a 4.3-acre pond and is dedicated to the military men and women who have devoted their lives to protecting our country.
Events
Chalk the Walk is an event in April the town hosts in which kids adults can compete for the winner of the best chalk drawing. Pictures are taken of the drawings and posted on Facebook for residents to vote on!
TurtleFest is the second Saturday in May and has opportunities to see live animals, free carnival games and prizes, live music, a scavenger hunt, and a student art contest.
July 5th is a fun annual tradition with free festivities like fireworks, inflatables, face painting, and food vendors. Enjoy the Fourth with your family and friends and then come on out the next day to extend the Fourth of July festivities!
HollyFest is every October at Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake. It brings together food vendors, businesses, and local artists as well as providing children’s activities and live entertainment. A fire truck and police cars are on display, as well as inflatables and a Harvest Market. Your kids won’t want to miss it!
Sugg Farm also holds a Haunted Hayride for kids 14 and up or younger children accompanied by an adult. Encounter a variety of monsters from zombies to clowns!
Holly Springs also has a Happy Holly Days Christmas Parade on the second Saturday of December with decorated cars, horses, dancers, bands, and floats. It travels on Main Street in downtown Holly Springs, from Holly Springs Road to Rogers Street. The Main Street Christmas event is held the Friday before, with a visit from Santa at Town Hall, hayrides, Storytime with the Nutcracker, crafts, and Mistletoe Market, featuring local artists at the Cultural Center. Children can also write letters to Santa and deposit them in Santa’s Mailbox.
Don’t miss the Holly Springs Farmers Market! On Saturdays from May to October, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., local farmers and artisans sell produce, locally raised beef, eggs, honey, cheeses, bread, and cookies, all from within 15 miles of Holly Springs.
Sources
“Top 10 Things to Do in Holly Springs, N.C.” Visit Raleigh. Accessed 13 Mar. 2021.
“Events | Holly Springs, NC – Official Website.” Holly Springs Parks and Recreation, Accessed 13 Mar. 2021.