August 31, 2026
☀️ Summer's Last Hurrah
35% of our readers said they consider Labor Day weekend the start of fall. Here are 5 local water adventures to celebrate the unofficial end of summer!
Window Falls
Chase the Falls: Hike Indian Creek Trail at Hanging Rock State Park to see Hidden Falls and Window Falls, then enjoy a meal at River Rock Cafe. ~ 40 minutes away
Tanglewood Getaway: Take a pedal boat out on Tanglewood Park's Mallard Lake and stop by The 19th Hole for a brisket sandwich. ~ 15 minutes away
River Roaming: Tube down the Yadkin River, then head into downtown Elkin for dinner at Southern on Main and a scoop from Creamy Dayz. ~ 50 minutes (NC River Riders)
Dive Right In: Cool off with a swim in Carrigan Farms' quarry, complete with rope swings and platform jumps, then grab lunch at the onsite restaurant — cash or check only. ~ 1 hour away
Beach Day: Dip your toes into The Bullhole (watch for slippery rocks!) and stretch out on the sandy beach before grabbing a bite at the nearby Hot Diggity Dogs and Ice Cream. ~ 40 minutes away
Cozy season loading! It's almost time to hunker down at home. Here are 3 ways Worth Painting can get your space in its coziest shape yet:
Limewash Fireplace: A textured, warm limewash finish turns your fireplace into the natural focal point of the room.
Accent Wall: One bold wall instantly adds depth and warmth without a full repaint.
Color Drenching: Saturate a room in one shade: walls, trim, and ceiling. The space will instantly feel 10x more cozy.
Ready to make your home cozy-season ready? Get a free quote today.*
🗓 Events
Tuesday, September 1
Book Launch - Hear from 2 local New York Times bestselling authors! Charlie Lovett and Virginia Evans discuss Lovett's new book at Bookmarks. 6:30 PM
Plant Sale Preview - Get a first look at this year's picks ahead of Reynolda's Fall Plant Sale next weekend. 12:30 PM
Silent Book Club - Bring your current read and settle in alongside fellow book lovers at Oasis at The Mill. 2-5 PM
Wednesday, September 2
Cooking Class - Learn to make fried chicken and succotash salad from the women behind Sweet Potatoes at SoHo! 6 PM
Wreath DIY - Weave your own autumn wreath at the Generations Center. 10 AM
Thursday, September 3
Opening Night - Wake Forest football is back! Cheer on the Demon Deacons as they take on Akron at Allegacy Stadium. 7 PM
Mahjong - New to the game or looking for guided play? Join Camel City Mahjong at 500 W 5th! 6 PM
🗞 Other News
👋 Social: Introducing The Go-To Community, an online space to connect with our team and fellow readers! Think of it like a Facebook group where you can swap weekend plans or chat about what stood out in this week's newsletter.
🎵 Collab: Two schools, one great sound. WSSU's and WFU's marching bands perform together at Wake Forest's opening football night this Thursday! This marks the 3rd time the bands have shared the field for opening night.
🤣 Learn: Ready to try improv? The “Yes, And” Club is a beginner-friendly, 8-week improv class from Mac & Cheese Productions starting September 30.
📅 Save the Date: Shop for a cause at The givingRooms by greeNest on September 18! Browse 11 designer vignettes, shop the pieces, and vote for your favorite, with proceeds furnishing homes for families in crisis.
❤️️ Feel Good: The community showed up. Mia Fulton, a Robinhood Road Biscuitville employee battling breast cancer, got a surprise last Wednesday — flowers, cards, and words of encouragement from neighbors who have been impacted by her kindness. (WXII)
A MESSAGE FROM SALEM PLASTIC SURGERY
Meet Dr. Lloyd
Every year, Wake Forest's residency program trains hundreds of future doctors. For most, Winston-Salem is just one stop on their journey. Dr. Lloyd decided to make it home and is proud to be the newest surgeon at Salem Plastic Surgery.
Her Roots: A Pennsylvania native, D1 field hockey player, and Stanford grad.
Why Plastic Surgery? Her early love of painting and visual arts is what drew her to plastic surgery. She sees every patient's care as both a technical and artistic endeavor.
Local favorites: Dough-Joe's, Taqueria Los Juanes, and walks around Reynolda.
Why Salem Plastic Surgery? "It was an easy choice because of the people. The team welcomed me like family from day one!”
Outside of Work: She loves gardening, water sports, and spending time with her husband and their golden retriever.
Dr. Lloyd is now accepting patients!
👀 Poll results: What do you consider the start of fall?
September 1 - 16%
Labor Day weekend - 35%
Fall equinox - 44%
Other - 5%
Bob H. considers Labor Day weekend the start of fall because “school starts, days are shorter, grass doesn’t grow as fast, fall clothing comes out, football begins, and vacation plans are made for next year.”
SPONSORED
Upcoming Events
Half Marathon Training - Join Fleet Feet, Winston-Salem's running expert of 20+ years, for group runs, training guides, and encouragement leading up to the Mistletoe Run! Info session September 8.
Forsyth Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show - Discover custom jewelry, watch artisan demonstrations, and browse lapidary tools at the WS Fairgrounds September 11-13.
Face to Face - “It’s time to try defying gravity.” Hear from “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo as she kicks off the Face to Face Speaker Forum at LJVM Coliseum on September 16.
Evening in the Atrium - Enjoy live music from singer-songwriter Carrie Welling and complimentary bites from The Downtown Grille at 500 W 5th on September 17.
Fiesta Festival - Deuterman Law Group is proud to sponsor the 34th anniversary of this vibrant celebration of Hispanic and Latin culture in downtown Winston-Salem on September 19.
🌀 The Wrap
⚾ Team member Amanda was busy this weekend: she and her family went to the Dash game on Friday and explored King on Saturday!
🖊 Team member Jacob enjoyed reading Winston-Salem Stories' latest post! This blog series follows a recent transplant’s encounters with fascinating locals.
