✨ Twinkling Nights & Sweet Holiday Fun Await This Week

🔔 Your Midweek Reset

Step away from the scroll — every Wednesday, our 5-minute audio guide brings you Greenville’s best under-$25 adventures, festive local finds, and easy ways to recharge during the holiday rush. In just a few minutes, you’ll uncover cozy coffee nooks, cheerful family outings, and small pockets of calm tucked between all the bustle. Press play, take a breath, and let us handle the planning.

You can listen on:

• Apple Podcasts

• Amazon Music

• Audible

• Spotify

• YouTube

• Or your favorite podcast app!

Your weekly audio guide to affordable fun in Greenville 🎧

🎁 Put Your Business Where Greenville Gathers

ENC Explorer readers don’t just scroll — they show up. From cozy coffee dates to festive family outings, our audience of ECU students, parents, and longtime locals fuels Greenville’s spirit and supports the businesses that keep it shining bright.

With 400+ local spots already featured and a loyal, growing readership, ENC Explorer has become the go-to guide for where to eat, shop, and explore across Pitt County. And with the holiday season in full swing — when locals are indoors, planning, and ready to spend — there’s no better time to put your business front and center.

Feature placements start at just $100 — guaranteed local reach, no algorithms, no guesswork.

👉 Reserve your spot today or simply reply to this email. Let’s make this your busiest (and best) season yet.

🎄 Celebrate ENC’s Everyday Heroes

Eastern North Carolina shines because of the people who make it feel like home — the mentor who lifts others up, the neighbor who’s always there when needed, the small business owner who gives back, and the volunteer who leads with heart.

This season, we’re spotlighting locals who make our communities brighter, warmer, and more connected. Nominate someone who:
🌟 Spreads positivity and purpose wherever they go
🎨 Uses creativity or service to bring people together
💖 Gives their time, talent, or heart to make ENC a better place

It might be a teacher who inspires every student, a barista who remembers every name, or a friend whose small act of kindness sparked something big.

📬 Your nominee could be featured in ENC Explorer — because the people who make ENC special deserve to be celebrated.

Let’s honor the ones who remind us that “local” isn’t just where we live — it’s how we care for one another.

Nominate your favorite business or nonprofit here.

🧡 ENC Adventure: Slowing Down the Season

The holidays move quickly — bright lights, packed schedules, and a whole lot of “don’t forget…” moments. But this time of year is also full of small, quiet joys that are easy to overlook. This week’s adventure is all about pressing pause, noticing what’s already happening around you, and making space for moments that actually feel good. No big plans, no extra spending — just simple ways to enjoy winter the way locals do.

🎁Seasonal Tip: Create Your Own Winter Moments List

This week, try focusing less on holiday tasks and more on the small, meaningful moments that make the season feel warm, real, and memorable.

• Start a Winter Moments List of things you want to notice, not accomplish — glowing porch lights, a warm cup of coffee, a handwritten note, or a shared laugh in the car.

• Add a tiny gratitude check-in to bookend your day:

  • Morning: “What’s one thing I’m looking forward to today?”

  • Evening: “What’s one moment that made today brighter?”

• Build a simple Neighborhood Light Loop with 2–3 nearby streets and make an evening tradition out of driving or walking past your favorite festive displays.

• Swap one store-bought gift this week for something homemade — a playlist, a tiny ornament, a recipe card, or a batch of cookies wrapped in simple paper.

Pro Tip: Make it a family challenge — see how many small acts of kindness you can complete before Sunday.

Coming Up Next: We’re sharing a fireside date idea that sparks holiday cheer and a family outing that starts Thanksgiving Day on the right foot.

🎀Think There’s Nothing to Do in Greenville? Think Again

When the evenings turn cold and the days get busy, it’s easy to feel like there’s not much happening around town — but Greenville is full of warm, cheerful ways to brighten your week. From cozy spots made for slow mornings to festive outings that get the whole crew smiling, there’s always something local, lively, and budget-friendly waiting just around the corner. The holiday season is here, and Greenville is shining.

The ENC Explorer City Guide is your trusted guide to under-$25 dates, family adventures, and hidden gems throughout Eastern North Carolina.

🪄 No endless scrolling. No pricey tickets. Just real plans for real life — right here at home.

🍬 Share the joy! Forward this email to a friend and show them the Greenville you love — welcoming, flavorful, and filled with local spots that make the season shine a little brighter.

🎉 ENC Events: Cozy Gatherings & Local Cheer

Greenville’s sliding into that magical stretch between crisp fall days and holiday sparkle — the season for warm lights, local markets, and easy outings that make cold weather feel just right. ❄️ Whether you’re looking for a laid-back evening, family fun, or a festive excuse to explore, this week’s lineup is packed with reasons to get out and enjoy ENC at its coziest.

What’s Happening: Cozy Nights, Local Sips & Holiday Charm.

🎄Festival of Trees – Greenville Convention Center

Date: Friday, November 28, 2025
Location: 303 Greenville blvd SW, Greenville, NC 27834
Cost: Free
Description:Step into a holiday wonderland at the Greenville Convention Center’s annual Festival of Trees. Dozens of beautifully decorated trees line the halls, each one designed by local businesses, schools, and community groups to showcase their creativity and holiday spirit. It’s the perfect spot for a slow, cheerful stroll — families can enjoy the sparkling lights, couples can snap festive photos, and kids love picking out their favorite themed tree. This self-guided display is free, easy to explore at your own pace, and one of Greenville’s most charming seasonal traditions.

Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday afternoon for thinner crowds and the best photo ops — the lights shine beautifully even before sunset.

⭐ Winter Wonderland at Dreamland Escapes

Dates: December 11–23, 2025 (nightly)
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Dreamland Escapes, Ayden, NC (just 15 minutes from Greenville)
Cost: Adults 13+: $20 • Children 12 & under: $15 • Infants 0–1: Free
Description: Winter Wonderland brings a magical, family-friendly holiday experience to Ayden each night. Enjoy a Christmas-light hayride and train ride, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, spot a cheerful Grinch, and wander through the Bethlehem maze. Warm up by the fire with hot chocolate, roast marshmallows for s’mores, and end the evening with one more ride through glowing lights and festive displays.

Pro Tip: Dress warmly — most activities are outdoors. Ayden is only about a 15-minute drive from Greenville, making this an easy, close-to-home holiday outing.

❄️ Winterville Wonderland Christmas Market & Parade

Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Main Street, Winterville, NC
Cost: Free
Description: Winterville goes full holiday magic with its annual Wonderland Christmas Market and Parade. Main Street fills with artisan vendors, festive treats, twinkling lights, and small-town charm that feels straight out of a holiday movie. Families can enjoy the parade, shop local makers, sip something warm, and watch the tree lighting bring the whole street to life.
Pro Tip: Arrive early to grab easy parking and shop the market before the parade crowds roll in.

Your Voice Matters

📚 Reader Spotlight: A Cozy Winter Stroll Through Farmville, NC

Looking for a simple, peaceful way to enjoy the season? Barbara J recommends taking a winter stroll through Farmville, NC — a charming small town just a short drive from Greenville. Farmville’s quiet streets, welcoming local shops, and festive touches make it an easy little escape when you need a break from the holiday rush.

Bundle up, grab a warm drink from a nearby café, and explore the town at your own pace. Kids can enjoy the open green spaces, couples can admire the holiday lights and storefronts, and anyone needing a reset can breathe in the slower, calmer rhythm Farmville is known for. It’s the perfect low-stress outing when you want something close to home that still feels like a change of scenery.

If you’re looking for a cozy, no-pressure way to unwind this week, Farmville is a sweet, simple reset right in our backyard.

Share Your Thoughts

We want to hear from you! What’s your favorite spot in and around Greenville, NC? Whether it’s a hidden gem, a local eatery, or a scenic park, your input could be featured in an upcoming City Guide! Take a moment to share your pick in our one-question survey.