Holiday Events in Fuquay-Varina
Tree Lighting Ceremony: December 5
Celebrate the joy of the holiday season! The tree and a menorah will be lit at 6:00 p.m. in the Vance Street parking lot. Join us from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. throughout Downtown Fuquay for performances by local choral groups, an Artist Village, sleigh rides, s’mores, and pictures with Santa in Fuquay Mineral Spring Park (105 W. Spring Street).
Letters to Santa – Special Delivery! December 6-18
Youngsters are invited to drop off their letters to Santa at the North Pole Express mailbox located in the gazebo at the Fuquay Mineral Spring Park (105 W. Spring Street).
Christmas Parade: December 8
The Fuquay-Varina Chamber will host the annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 8 at 4:00 p.m. in Downtown Fuquay. Find more information www.Fuquay-Varina.com.
Lights at Fuquay Mineral Spring Park
The Fuquay Mineral Spring Park will be decorated with lights beginning the first week in December. Residents are invited to venture through the park, located at 105 Spring Street, to see the majestic holiday lights. The park will be open nightly for self-guided tours until 10:00 p.m. Lights will be up through early January.
2024 Community Survey
In late September, randomly selected households within Fuquay-Varina’s town limits received an invitation by mail to participate in the Town’s Community Survey and participants had the option to complete the survey by mail or online. Survey results will be based on those randomly selected to participate with results being presented to the Town Board in early 2025 and available to the public on the Town’s website at that time. The Town is partnering for a second time with ETC Institute, a national firm with over 30 years of experience gathering statistically valid input from town residents. The Town’s first survey was conducted in 2022.
Fuquay-Varina Youth Sports Program Sees Record Growth
Fuquay-Varina Youth Sports has grown significantly since its 2012 start, from 341 participants to over 9,400 annually. Now on track to break the 10,000-mark in 2025, the program relies heavily on part-time staff and four full-time athletic staff led by Superintendent Adam Hairr.
One of the biggest challenges in running such a large program is coordinating the logistics, particularly when over 856 teams with 1,605 coaches participate every year. “At Fuquay-Varina Youth Sports, our unwavering mission is to provide every child with a safe, enjoyable, uplifting experience through athletics. This guiding principle shapes every decision we make. We want to make a positive impact. We all like winning, but the positive impact of how these kids feel will last much longer than the feeling of winning a game,” said Hairr.
Jonathan Cox, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, reiterated the program’s goals: “Fuquay-Varina Youth Sports is focused on recreational sports. Since the program began, our goal has always been for the kids to have a good time, learn life skills, interact socially, and experience different sports.” The town offers financial scholarships to qualified residents and non-residents who face financial hardship.
The Town of Fuquay-Varina has invested heavily in its parks and facilities, including new buildings and amenities like LED lighting and equipment. Upcoming highlights include the 2025 opening of the Hilltop Needmore Town Park Community Center with three gyms, which will support growing sports programs like volleyball and basketball.
As the town continues to grow, it’s investing in recreation land acquisition through a one-cent tax with the Fiscal Year Budget 2025, allowing the town to purchase land for a future park anticipated to be 75 acres or more.
As the Fuquay-Varina Youth Sports program continues to thrive, it’s clear that its success is built on more than just numbers and statistics. It’s about creating a sense of community, promoting healthy habits, and providing lifelong memories for thousands of young athletes each year. As the program looks to the future, many more championships will be won, friendships formed, and lifelong memories made – thanks to the hard work and dedication of its staff, volunteers, and participants.
Registration for spring sports begins in early January 2025. To accommodate high demand, residents of the Town of Fuquay-Varina (taxpayers) will have priority registration during the first two weeks of registration. To ensure your spot, register early at www.FVParks.org.
Celebrating Black History Through the Arts in February 2025
Join us as we celebrate Black History Month this coming February 2025 through the power of art! The Town and the Black History Stakeholders Group will present a series of events that showcase the rich heritage and contributions of African American culture, brought to life through music, performance, and more.
All shows will take place at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, located at 123 E. Vance Street in Fuquay-Varina. Mark your calendars for these exciting events:
February 1: Kick off Black History Month with a gospel showcase featuring area choirs and soloists. Be sure to join in on the community sing-along finale!
February 8: Get ready for “Masters of Soul,” an unforgettable performance that will get you moving.
February 27: “Legacy of Jazz.” End the month with style as Shana Tucker brings her unique tribute to Sade to the stage.
We invite everyone to come and experience these incredible events, celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of Black history through the universal language of art. Find ticket information and performance times at www.fuquay-varina.org.
Fuquay-Varina Earns Recognition
The Town of Fuquay-Varina is racking up accolades for its exceptional performance. For the third year in a row, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the town its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
This prestigious recognition joins a growing list of honors, including three recent awards from the City and County Communications Association: a Savvy Award for the Town’s State of the Town video, “A Dash More: The Prescription for Good Living,” and Silver Circle Awards for both a downtown promotional video and the Town’s Black History Landmark Project.
Town Announces Successful Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated their standards to protect communities from the risks of lead exposure from drinking water. These new standards — the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) — require all drinking water utilities in the United States, including North Carolina, to take additional actions to protect communities from the risks of lead exposure from drinking water flowing through lead-based pipes.
To comply with the new rule, the Town developed a comprehensive inventory of all service lines in our water system and their materials. We have completed identifying and documenting the material of service lines and are happy to report that the Town has 100% non-lead service line materials. Please see www.fuquay-varina.org/LCRR for more information.
