🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 📰 News: Enter to Win in Cary’s Holiday Gingerbread House Contest
• 📰 News: Cary Grants Support Nonprofits; Deadline Approaches
• 📰 Scrollback: Strong Reader Support for Local Election Participation
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• ❤️ Some stories are worth revisiting: Show Your Support
• 📅 Events: Weekend Events Preview (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

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Question: What is the only US state whose entire northern border is formed by a river?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

The Featured Event

Visibility that turns moments into momentum. Your event deserves more than a post lost in the feed. Get priority placement in Cary Spotlight — complete with your image and event link.

Click the button below to feature your event and make it impossible to miss.

If you have questions email: [email protected]

Enter to Win in Cary’s Holiday Gingerbread House Contest

The 15th Annual Gingerbread House Competition in Cary is gearing up for its December showcase and invites entries through November 23. Participants can opt for a judged category or simply display their houses for the community. The judged competition offers a grand prize of a stay at The Mayton and tickets to the NC Chinese Lantern Festival, along with ribbons and gift packs for seven winners.

Entries will be exhibited across downtown Cary from December 6 to 14, transforming local storefronts into a holiday stroll. Winning gingerbread houses will then be featured at the Cary Arts Center from December 16 to 31.

Open to individuals and groups of all ages, the event continues a beloved holiday tradition while introducing a new two-tier entry format. Interested participants can find rules and registration information at the town’s official website.

The final deadline to drop off entries is December 4. Judged entries must follow specific construction and decoration guidelines to be eligible for awards.

Enter now: carync.gov/gingerbread

Cary Grants Support Nonprofits; Deadline Approaches

One of the core goals of the Cary Art Daze Workgroup is to reinvest in the local community by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that enrich Cary through the arts. Each year, funding from the town’s arts festivals is directed back into community-based cultural projects, reinforcing Cary’s commitment to creativity and inclusion.

The EsTEAMers Program at Esteamed Coffee demonstrates the kind of impact these grants make. By employing individuals with disabilities who create original artwork for sale, the program fosters both artistic expression and economic opportunity—100 percent of product sales go directly to the artists as bonuses.

Applications for the 2025–2026 Cary Art Daze Grants are open until November 16 at 11:59 p.m. Nonprofits must submit proposals for a single arts-related initiative that aligns with town priorities, especially those benefiting downtown Cary.

This grant program has distributed over $900,000 to date and continues to strengthen the cultural fabric of the Cary community. Cary Art Daze Grant Application

We’re rewinding the feed to spotlight a standout moment, story, or snapshot from Cary’s past. Let’s scroll back and see…

Strong Reader Support for Local Election Participation

As we scrolled back through past polls, we revisited the question “How long have you lived in Cary, NC?”

As we revisited past Cary Spotlight polls, one question stood out: “How do you feel about participation in Cary’s town council elections?” The most recent results revealed broad support for increased civic engagement.

A majority of respondents—56 percent—said they found the turnout encouraging, viewing it as a sign that more residents are paying attention to local governance.

Another 29 percent called the participation “a good start” but felt turnout should be higher. Smaller shares of readers reported not knowing there was an election (5 percent), believing their vote wouldn’t make a difference (8 percent), or choosing “other” (2 percent). Notably, no respondents said they deliberately skipped voting in town elections.

Many readers highlighted the 25 percent turnout—Cary’s highest in over two decades for a comparable local election—as a positive development. “Change starts in OUR neighborhoods,” one reader noted, reflecting widespread optimism.

Others expressed concern over the direction of the town’s leadership, citing frustrations with perceived overspending and rapid development. Specific mentions included purchases like electric fire trucks, an unused trolley, and a controversial park installation.

Some readers admitted to initial doubts about voting, especially with limited races on the ballot, but ultimately chose to participate. The responses overall point to a growing awareness in Cary that local decisions carry real, everyday consequences.

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.

🎉 Weekend Events Preview (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few great ways to enjoy the weekend:

• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 9AM-Noon
• Saturday: 30th Annual NC Latino Diamante Awards 6:45PM-9:45PM
• Saturday: Old North State Storytelling Festival 2025 7:30PM-9:30PM
• Sunday: ACC Women's Soccer Championship Finals 12PM-2PM
• Sunday: Sunday Sound Bath 4PM-5:30PM
• Monday: Fall Garden Essentials 10AM-11AM
• Monday: Jigsaw Jam 1PM-3PM

To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead with access to this week and next! See Full 2-Week Calendar