🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🍽️ Discover Cary: Kababish Café
• 📰 News: Cary Extends Hosting Deal for The Soccer Tournament
• 📰 News: Symphony Lake Greenway Partially Closed for NC Chinese Lantern Festival
• ⚽ Sports: NCFC Clinches Playoff Home Game, Courage Eye Final Spot
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for Laughs
• 🎁 Your gift fuels local fun: Show Your Support
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Scroll or Skip to your favorites.

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Question: Cary ranks among the most educated towns in North Carolina. What percentage of its adults have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Are you are local business owner or local non-profit?

Kababish Café

Kababish Café is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary project. If you had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.

Kababish Café in downtown Cary offers authentic Pakistani and Indian cuisine with an aromatic blend of spices and flavors served in a family-friendly atmosphere with fresh, made-from-scratch dishes.

Check out their menu on their website: Kababish Café

Address: 201 W Chatham St, Suite 103, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions

Do you have a favorite place to eat in Cary, NC? Click to share your pick.

Cary Extends Hosting Deal for The Soccer Tournament

The Soccer Tournament will remain in Cary through 2029 under a new agreement supported by state funding. The extension comes after three successful years of hosting the growing 7-on-7 soccer event at WakeMed Soccer Park. With the 2025 tournament drawing over 51,000 attendees and teams from across the globe, TST has become a major annual draw for the region.

A $6.8 million grant from North Carolina will help ensure the tournament’s continued success. Since 2024, it has brought nearly $24 million in economic benefits to Cary and Wake County. Town leaders attribute much of that impact to strong community involvement and world-class facilities.

Notable clubs such as Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund, and players like Carli Lloyd and Luis Nani, have contributed to the tournament’s prestige. Athletes from other sports have also joined in, broadening its appeal. More than 30,000 fans from outside Wake County attended in 2025, underscoring Cary’s role as a key destination for sports tourism.

While details about the 2026 edition are still forthcoming, officials say the extended agreement reflects Cary’s growing importance on the global soccer stage.

Read Full Report

Just curious…

Symphony Lake Greenway Partially Closed for NC Chinese Lantern Festival

The Town of Cary will temporarily close part of the Symphony Lake Greenway starting October 27 to allow for setup of the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival. The closure affects the area surrounding Koka Booth Amphitheatre and is expected to last until January 31, 2026.

To accommodate foot and bike traffic, detour signage will be posted along alternative routes. This seasonal closure has become an annual occurrence tied to the festival's growing popularity.

Running from November 15 to January 11, the Chinese Lantern Festival offers an immersive experience with illuminated lanterns, live performances, and family-friendly attractions. This year marks the event’s tenth anniversary.

Festival and detour details, including a map, can be found on the Koka Booth Amphitheatre website.

More information about this event

Just curious…
We’d love to know how you connect with green spaces at home or in the community.

NCFC Clinches Playoff Home Game, Courage Eye Final Spot

It was a high-stakes weekend for Cary soccer fans, with North Carolina FC locking up a home playoff game and the NC Courage setting up a dramatic finish to their NWSL season. Here’s how it all went down.

Weekend Highlights:

• North Carolina FC edged Loudoun United FC 1–0 on Saturday behind Oalex Anderson’s second-half strike, clinching third place in the East and a home playoff game next weekend. Oliver Semmle made five saves to earn his second straight shutout.

• With the win, NCFC will host Loudoun again in the USL Championship quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match will stream on ESPN+.

• The NC Courage were off this weekend due to the international break but remain alive in the playoff hunt. Sitting ninth with 32 points, they can sneak into the postseason with a win against Gotham FC and a little help from Bay FC.

• Last time out, Manaka Matsukubo delivered a hat trick in a big 4–1 win at Bay FC, keeping the Courage’s postseason hopes alive. They'll need a repeat performance when they host Gotham on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Whether it’s playoff dreams or postseason showdowns, Cary soccer is serving up must-watch action this fall!

Meme of the Day.
Brought to you by Cary's Daily Newsletter.

What’s faster than word of mouth? Cary Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

🎟️ Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few ideas for the week, so plan ahead:

• Today: Stroller Stretch and Condition 9:30AM-10:30AM
• Today: Yoga 6PM-7PM
• Wednesday: Wellness Walk 6PM-7PM
• Wednesday: Halloween Face Painting 101 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Thursday: Live at Lunch: Chris Overstreet 11:30-1:30PM
• Thursday: Cary Police Department Trunk or Treat 5:30PM-7:30PM
• Thursday: Discover Dance: K-Pop Session 7:30PM-9:30PM
• Friday: Discover Dance: Thriller Choreography 7:30PM-8:30PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-Noon
• Saturday: Taste of China 11AM-5PM
• Saturday: Concert Singers of Cary: Something Wicked This Way Comes 8PM-9:30PM
• Sunday: NC Courage vs Gotham FC 3PM
• Sunday: Legacy of Jazz: Here Comes the Sun 3:30PM-5PM
• Monday: Stretch and Refresh 10AM-11AM

But wait! There’s more. To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead: See Full 2-Week Calendar