Ring those Bells. It’s the Holiday Season and we have an exciting 12 Days of Christmas lined up for you!
We’ve had such a fun year celebrating Raleigh, connecting more deeply to the community, uncovering so many fun local finds, and helping many of you relocate and settle into the City of Oaks.
So, we wanted to spend the first 12 days of Christmas giving back to you all with amazing giveaways, starting Dec 1 – Dec 12. We’ve selected a range of partners and giveaways to suit a variety of interests and people.
- Giveaway Partners & Prizes!
- How to participate in the Christmas Giveaway
Giveaway Partners & Prizes!
If you’ve arrived at this post early, we’re still finalizing the details of our giveaway partners. We have twelve amazing local businesses, and the prizes will be over 3K in total! (as of November 28, 2023, we’re still updating this page, so if you’ve landed here early – hello, welcome and we’ll be ready in days!)
Note: each giveaway prize listed below will be via an Instagram update between Dec 1 – Dec 12. So be sure to be following us on Instagram @ThisIsRaleigh. Members of our email community will also get a bonus chance to enter. We’ll send email updates each day to remind you. So, join via the form below. (It’s all free + we send personal updates and news on Raleigh life, events, etc)
1. Blue water Spa
Blue Water Spa is a medical spa owned and operated by a board-certified plastic surgeon, Michael Law MD. Services are performed by highly trained aesthetic and medical professionals to make you look your best, and very natural.
They provide services in all areas of aesthetics. Whether it’s laser hair removal, chemical peels, facials, Botox and body treatments you’ll find the highest level of service, care and adherence to best practices. Blue Water Spa has been voted Best Medical Spa in the Triangle by WRAL and Midtown Magazine. They also have their own skin care line – the perfect gift for the women on your list. there are also plenty of treatments at Bluewater Spa that men love too!
But there is more to love about Blue Water Spa. This is a local company who cares about community. They are consistent and passionate about supporting local causes and important issues (you can see the long list here). And they are a 1% for the Planet partner.
Craig and I have both enjoyed treatments at the spa and have been impressed with their level of care! We’re excited with the giveaway prize they have offered for someone in our community to create a combination of their own similar treatments.
Note: The winner will receive a consultation to help determine which services will provide the best results based on your unique needs and desires.
Services are performed by highly trained aesthetic and medical professionals to make you look your best, and very natural.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: $2500 Non-Surgical Makeover from Blue Water Spa.
Choose from one of 5 options:
- Non-surgical body makeover to include a custom combination of body treatments to burn fat and add muscle: Coolsculpting and/or Emsculpt NEO based on your individual needs.
- Non-Surgical facial Enhancement to include a custom combination of treatments like Laser Skin Tightening, neuromodulators, Microneedling +PRF, Filler, LED
- Laser Hair Removal. Get hair free, anywhere and everywhere. Yes, EVERYWHERE No shaving, no waxing, no growing hair out. For ALL Skin types
- Hair restoration for women or men with PRF and nutraceuticals
- Pelvic Floor Health for men or women A series of Emsella treatments to tighten and tone the pelvic floor FDA approved for urinary incontinence. Also improves sexual satisfaction.
2. The Flourish Market
One of our favorite local places to shop in downtown Raleigh is The Flourish Market in the Warehouse District.
With over 400 gifts $20 and under, you can easily find something for everyone on your list – as they have something for all ages. To make it easier for you to decide what to buy (especially for those difficult loved ones) Flourish Market have gift guides on their website from kids to mothers-in-law to co-workers – even for men!
Not only do we love the wide variety of fun products from beautiful clothes to heartwarming gifts, but we also love how accessible it is for all budgets, and their mission of helping YOU use your purchasing power for good.
The Flourish Market is a unique women’s + gift boutique store owned by local entrepreneur, Emily Grey. All of their products have a higher purpose for supporting female owned businesses creating sustainable impact. You can shop 60+ cause-based brands and use your purchasing power for good – clothing (sizes X-Small to 3X), jewelry, bags, shoes, greeting cards and more.
If you can’t make it into their Downtown Raleigh store, you can shop all their inventory online at TheFlourishMarket.com
And for this Holiday season, on Fridays – Sunday they are serving complimentary Cider Sangria! Christmas Shopping never looked better!
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: $250 Gift Card to spend at Flourish online or in store.
Flourish is also offering a SPECIAL GIFT for all first-time shoppers in store who spend $50 or more. You will receive a free gift worth $17. The gift package:
- Patchology Perk Up: Energizing tea-infused aromatherapy eye gels
- Poppy & Pout Lip Balm
3. Beth’s Christmas and Holiday Shop
Holiday lovers will be excited about this Christmas giveaway. It’s the perfect opportunity to dress your home in a festive spirit, buy Holiday gifts, and stocking stuffers.
We visited their store at the Painted Tree in North Raleigh and were impressed with the quality of their holiday products – modern glam, fun, stylish with a splash of tradition as well.
Beth’s is a family owned and operated business that believes that life is short, and holidays should be celebrated and shared with loved ones.
Beth’s is named after Beth Pabst, whose two children (along with their spouses) founded the local business to honor her memory and celebrate her love for the holiday season.
Don’t worry about missing out – Beth’s has an online store AND has seasonal and holiday decor year-round! They offer free local pickup at their Loading Dock warehouse (Dock 1053) or inexpensive local delivery to most of Wake County)
The Painted Tree Boutique in North Raleigh has a curated display of seasonal and year-round Christmas items. For a full catalog of products available year-round, be sure to look (and purchase from) their online store.
Also, check their event page where you can also purchase their products. Coming this month is their Jolly Raleigh Holiday Market hosted at the historic Raleigh Iron Works Dec 9 & 10, 2023; 10am – 4pm. The market will bring together an array of talented artisans and crafters, all offering the perfect gifts for your loved ones. From handcrafted ornaments and delectable treats to one-of-a-kind jewelry and cozy winter wear, you’ll find it all under one roof.
Some of their top exciting Holiday products for 2023:
- Colorful Glass Hue Trees:
- Nutcracker Stocking:
- Merry & Bright Sign:
- Hand-Blown Glass Egyptian Museum Ornaments from a small, woman-owned company in Egypt.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: $150 Gift Card to spend at Beth’s online store or in their Holiday Pop Ups.
Note: While Beth’s has a wonderful store inside the Painted Tree in North Hills, they don’t accept individual vendor gift cards at that co-op store.
4. The Butcher’s Market
For two years in a row, the Butcher’s Market received our This is Raleigh’s Brisket of the Day vote at the annual BBQ & Brisket event (and we tried a LOT of great brisket).
So, we’re excited to have them as a partner in our 12 Days of Christmas Celebration.
The Butcher’s Market is your neighborhood butcher & specialty grocer owned by a father/son team.
Here’s why locals love them:
- They are known for their premium cuts of beef,
- They only carry USDA top choice, prime, grass fed, and dry aged
- They have legendary marinated steaks, chicken and vegetables.
- They cure and smoke their own bacon including beef bacon for those who don’t eat pork.
- Their sausages are all handmade weekly.
- Their seafood is delivered fresh daily.
And they also specialize in a line of prepared foods such as chicken salad, pimento cheese, and their grab-and-go entrees and oven ready entrees. Busy parents especially will love how they make dinner done easy! We absolutely love getting our meat from the Butcher’s Market.
When our friends recently visited from Australia, we popped in there so Mike could get some prime rib to cook for us (he LOVES cooking). It was DELICIOUS. We also picked up a $13 bottle of malbec which was outstanding – and no brain fog in the morning!
Giveaway prize from The Butchers Market:
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: a Fresh, Never Frozen Hand-cut Steak every month. It’s $140 worth of steak and bonus items that has a value of $200!
We have found the perfect gift for the Steak Lover in your house. The Steak of the Month Membership is one of the Butcher Markets best-selling Holiday gifts and is popular with their customers.
It’s a punch card you bring to any of their 5 locations in the Triangle each month for 6 months from January-June to redeem your cut of meat as well as some bonus items. See the prize below.
Here’s the list:
- January: Cowboy Steak 40oz
- February: Picanha 24oz
- March: Legendary Marinated Steak Tips 24oz
- April: 2 Porterhouse Chops 24oz
- May: Tri Tip Roast 32oz
- June: Flank Steak (Ancho Chili Lime) 24oz
- Bonus: Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
- Bonus: Macaroni Salad
- Bonus: Burgundy Wine Marinated Mushrooms
- Bonus: Vegetable Medley
We had this Steak membership last year, and we absolutely loved it trying a new cut of meat every month. Everything was of outstanding quality and forced me to put a little more effort into making a meal with the meat that shone! Don’t forget to grab that bottle of Malbec when you pick up your steak!
5. Dogwood Country Club
Dogwood Country Club is an urban golf facility in downtown Raleigh. You can play full rounds of golf indoors at over 100 championship courses and practice on the same technology the professional’s use.
They also have a bar selling local brews and signature cocktails, which is perfect for a group of friends having a fun night out, or if you just want to enjoy a beer while you sharpen your swing.
There was no amount of beer that can help sharpen my swing, but I had a lot of fun trying with the games their technology also offers.
Craig enjoyed using the Track Man technology to analyze his swing and determine what clubs he should use when he steps up to the tee. Some expert instruction from PGA golf trainer (and owner) Dave Nastalski.
Dogwood offers private golf instruction, three classes of membership, hourly rentals for the public, league play, private events, and more!
Plus, they have a fantastic range of golf apparel and accessories any golf lovers on your Christmas list will love from Lululemon-Dogwood branded shirts to hats and golf head covers.
I loved their Dogwood exclusive “Smathers and Branson Raleigh Skyline Belt “Raleigh Landmarks such as Dorton Arena, NC Museum of Art rings and the downtown skyline are hand-sticked onto the belt. It’s a perfect gift year-round and is definitely Uniquely Raleigh.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: 3-hour rental credit in a golf bay for the winner + 9 friends.
6. Live it up Hillsborough St
Hillsborough has always been one of our favorite streets in Raleigh as it’s home to major Raleigh landmarks such as NC State University, Meredith College and the State Fairgrounds, it bypasses Pullen Park and is a busy transport corridor linking downtown Raleigh to Cary. Fun fact, it is home to the highest concentration of arts, culture, and recreation offerings in the City of Raleigh.
The mission of Live It Up! Hillsborough Street is to make the Hillsborough Street community a distinct destination in Raleigh by providing services and programs that improve the economic sustainability of the territory’s businesses and increase the market value of its properties.
For the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we’ll be highlighting the following stores on Hillsborough St and their Holiday offerings.
- Global Village Coffeehouse: A favorite cozy coffee house of ours. Try their seasonal peppermint mocha or Christmas cookie latte.
- Wake N Bakery: TikTok famous cannabis cafe & bakery offering infused and un-infused goods. (with federally legal amounts!) Be sure to speak to the attendants to choose a cake that matches your comfort level.
- Out the Box Vintage: Vintage apparel, sneakers and collectibles available for buying, selling, and trading. Almost all the products in this vintage store are from the 90s – the best era!!
- Nice Price Books & Records: The perfect place to shop for popular culture: books, records, cassettes, and the newfangled compact discs. We’re a vinyl loving family so love browsing through he collection of new and old records.
- Blend Raleigh: Healthy shake and energy bar. Don’t miss the Wolfpack Punch: Strawberry Lemonade Collagen, Lemon Tea, Pomegranate Lift off, and Mango Aloe!
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Gift Basket with items from businesses featured worth $300
7. Crank Arm Brewery
Did someone say beer? One of our favorite breweries in Raleigh is joining our 12 Days of Christmas giveaway this year with a $100 giveaway.
Plenty for you and some friends to have a fun night out. Crank Arm Brewery has a strong biking community, often participating in group rides together. They are all about community with lots of fun events throughout the year.
Too brighten up that chilly winter Christmas spirit, this year they have their annual Christmas in Hawaii Party. Don your most festive Hawaiian gear and celebrate the holidays in tropical style. There’ll be a tiki inspired lounge and Christmas music from Vibe Xotica.
Crank Arm Brewing is celebrating 10 years of beer love and bike love in downtown Raleigh. Their nationally recognized award-winning beer is available at the downtown Raleigh tasting room, bars, restaurants, and grocery stores throughout the Triangle. Crank Arm will expand into a second tasting room in Durham in early 2024.
They also have their own raspberry lemonade seltzer, which makes this gluten free drinker very happy! Craig is a big fan of the Crank Arm beers.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: $100 Gift Card for Crank Arm Brewery
8. Woodhouse Spa
I’ll never say no to a self-care treatment at Christmas. Make that any time! Craig and I loved our recent couple’s massage at Woodhouse Spa, the relatively new spa and wellness center in North Hills.
Woodhouse has a luxurious “Mood Care” approach to their services. That is ensuring your mood after the treatment is long lasting!
Treatments include
- facials from age defying to microdermabrasion
- massages from deep tissue to tranquil stone
- body treatments from detox to nourishing wraps
- ritual treatments from infra-red therapy to Ayurvedic treatment
See full list of services here.
With your treatment you get access Quiet Room relaxation, plush robes and slippers, complimentary mimosas, spa water, hot tea, and snacks.
You can add to your mood boosting experience by booking time in their Himalayan Salt Room. Salt therapy has been shown to calm allergies, reduce stress, clear skin irritations, boost immunity, and more! (We love salt therapies!!)
Don’t miss their current holiday specials, which include complimentary Woodhouse Spa Robe with a $350+ gift card purchase, and a complimentary trip of luxurious bath bombs with a $150+ gift card purchase. These are available in-spa only, not available for online purchase.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Choose from either a 50-minute facial or a 50-minute massage.
9. Rose & Lee Boutique
Another favorite boutique store in Wake County of mine is Rose & Lee in Apex. It’s where I purchase many of my clothes (like the red dress above) and gifts – especially cool stocking stuffers.
From a vibrant clothing range to elegant jewelry and fun gifts, Rose & Lee sells incredible brands that have their own mission of change and empowerment, from sustainability to human rights. We love how affordable their prices are too. And all their staff are fantastic at helping you find what you need.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: a $100 Gift Card
10. Johnston County
We’ve been shopping at the Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield Johnston County since we first arrived in the Raleigh in 20004. (I actually taught just down the road at South Smithfield Elementary!)
IT’s a favorite place of ours to shop for name-brand gifts at bargain prices – we recently bought our entire family’s ski gear here for a fantastic price.
You’ll find stores like Coach, Polo Ralph Lauren, Columbia, Nike, and Kate Spade Outlet.
In addition, the unique downtowns in JoCo offer holiday shopping at boutiques, vintage and variety shops, jewelry stores, and much more. And they are all decked out for the season like Hallmark towns to welcome you to shop, dine, and explore!
We highly recommend a visit to Joco to buy gifts for everyone on your list and save like a local this holiday season.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Kate Spade purse from the Carolina Premium Outlets which retails at $349.
11. The Dessertery Giveaway
We recently shared with you the newest and most delicious Holiday Event of the 2022 Season – the Dessertery Cafe!
Yep! An all-you-can-eat Holiday dessert cafe with sweets and a hot chocolate bar with 50+ toppings! They have gluten free and vegan options as well.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: 4 tickets to the Dessertery ($100 value). Best Christmas surprise ever I hear all the kids scream!
12. The Rink, Red Hat Amphitheater
‘Tis the season for ice skating! Enjoy the Winter Wonderland vibes at the Ice-Skating Rink at Red Hat Amphitheatre.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: 4 tickets to the Rink
How to participate in the Christmas Giveaway
Like the unraveling of a good Christmas present, we want to bring some kind of element of surprise into the giveaway.
We’ve revealed what the prizes will be, but we’re not telling you on what day each giveaway will be posted on our Instagram account so be sure to follow us here and check our account each day. And/or email subscribers will get a daily email notification. See more below.
- Each giveaway will last two days, to give you time to enter. All conditions for entry will be in the updates. But typically, we want to make sure you’re following us and our partners, leaving a comment and tagging a friend!
- And of course, you have to be willing to accept the prize.
- All winners will be contacted directly by us via DM on Instagram so make sure you check your DM’s just in case you are the winner. We’ll then announce it in our Instagram stories.
NOTE: Our email subscribers will get a little email nudge each morning! If you’re not part of our email community, you can join that now with the form below. Email subscribers can also enter using their email address.
Happy holidays!
