Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas. It's almost Christmas in Concord. I wonder if we will see Wise Men or Baby Jesus.
No. 1
Downtown Concord will celebrate Christmas in July with a full day of festive activities, shopping, entertainment and holiday-themed specials on Saturday, July 11, followed by the annual Streetlight 5K & Frolic at 7 p.m.
I'll be out there with Concord Parks & Rec Couch to 5K runners in the Streetlight 5K. The race goes down Union Street to R. Brown McAllister School and back. Expect a hot time. It caps a full day of activities.
The day begins with storytime hosted by Cabarrus County Library from 9:30-10:15 a.m. at Crane Coffee. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy holiday shopping, arts and crafts, pop-up markets and seasonal specials at downtown businesses.
Highlights include:
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: The District Exchange shopping, arts, crafts and more.
• 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Paws & Firetrucks at Mac Tabby Cat Café, plus holiday drinks.
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Fresh Market and Holiday Pop-Up Market at The Lenz Studio.
• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Holiday specials and surprises at Mary Jane's Clothing and Gifts.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Trolley tours with the Grinch, departing from 18 N. Union St., near Budget Blinds.
• 1-2:30 p.m.: Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and take photos at The District Exchange.
• 3-4 p.m.: Jinglebell Scoops & Holiday Swirls at Two Scoops Creamery.
Visitors are also encouraged to shop local, enjoy downtown restaurants and look for special Christmas in July promotions throughout the district.
Evening festivities include:
• First-N-Flights: Christmas cocktails all day and live music beginning at 6 p.m.
• Dive Bar Concord: Christmas cocktails and games from noon until 2 a.m.
• Borinquen Kombucha: Y2K Party from 7 p.m. to midnight.
• Cellar Door Wine Shop: Specials, gifts and more from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Local Bottle Shop: Christmas karaoke from 8-11 p.m.
• Lil' Robert's Place: DJ Soden spinning ’90s hits from 8-11 p.m.
Downtown Concord encourages visitors to explore the downtown directory for additional holiday treats, exclusive promotions and festive surprises throughout the day.
No. 2
The Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society is seeking descendants of students and staff of the historic Mont Amoena Female Seminary as it prepares to commemorate in 2027 the 100th anniversary of the school's closing.
Mont Amoena educated young women from Mount Pleasant and surrounding communities from 1859 until 1927 and remains one of the most significant educational and literary institutions in Cabarrus County's history.
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Mont Amoena Female Seminary operated in Mount Pleasant from 1859
to 1927.
Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society
The society is creating a database of descendants, friends and others who appreciate the school's legacy to keep them informed about plans for the centennial commemoration. Information submitted will be used only by the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society and will not be shared.
Those with a connection to Mont Amoena or an interest in its history are encouraged to register through the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society's online registration form at https://bit.ly/ECHSmont.
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A celebration at the Mont Amoena Female Seminary.
Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society
No. 3
Downtown Concord has announced several upcoming community events to mark on your calendar.
The Harmony Nights Downtown Concord Series will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, featuring an evening of music and community in downtown.
Art Walk on Union is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, showcasing local artists and creativity throughout downtown.
The Concord International Festival returns from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, celebrating the city's diverse cultures through food, entertainment and activities.
Families can wrap up the month at the Concord Candy Crawl from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, when downtown businesses welcome children for a festive afternoon of trick-or-treating.
Additional details for each event will be announced by downtown Concord as the dates approach.
No. 4
"Oh, thank heaven for 7-Eleven." Does anybody remember that slogan?
The convenience store giant is building a new convenience store at the corner of Poplar Tent and Odell School Road in Concord. It will be the second new store on that side of town.
7-Eleven opened a new store on Davidson Highway/NC 73 near the big Amazon facility.
7-Eleven's store count is declining across North America. Cstoredive.com reported this spring that the company planned to close 645 stores from March 1 to Feb. 28, 2027, while opening 200 new stores. It will be the fifth year in a row with an overall decline.
We've experienced the closings, too … well, not really closings. A store on Poplar Tent and another on George Liles Parkway have remained open, but not as 7-Eleven.
No. 5
Here is an interesting statistic that came in my email earlier this week.
With housing prices on the rise, SmartAsset’s latest study examines changes in the down payment burden in North Carolina since 2016, as well as the time it takes the median household to save for a new home.
Key Findings:
• It now takes the median-income household in North Carolina 22 months longer to save for a home down payment than it did in 2016 — 8.6 years total.
• A minimum wage earner in North Carolina would need 45 years to save for a home down payment.
• In only three states — Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Dakota — median-income households can save for a down payment faster now than they could in 2016.
See the full results, and how North Carolina compares to other states here: https://smartasset.com/data-studies/where-the-down-payment-burden-has-grown-most.
It's getting harder and harder for many to afford a home.
If you have a Friday Five, story suggestion, or something I can rant about, email mplemmons@independenttribune.com or call or text 704-786-0001.
