HollyFest 2025
HollyFest is an annual event put on by the Town of Holly Springs and for many it is a highlight of the fall season. Local business, artisans, community organizations, politicians, and the town itself are all represented.
HollyFest is an annual event put on by the Town of Holly Springs and for many it is a highlight of the fall season. Local business, artisans, community organizations, politicians, and the town itself are all represented. Having some live music, food trucks, and a beer garden is a great bonus.
HollyFest is one of the key events where the town is able to connect directly with the residents to share updates on current and future projects, highlight accomplishments, and make sure that anyone with questions is able to connect with the right person to get answers.
HollyFest provides a forum for local organizations to spread awareness. Pride of Holly Springs, the Holly Springs MLK Committee, the Holly Springs SkyHawks Radio Control Group, and Hawktimus Prime Robotics were just a few of the community organizations out raising awareness.
Our own Holly Springs Salamanders were on-site getting everyone hyped up for the 2026 season.
One of the true highlights for me was visiting the new Zen Tent hosted by the Holly Springs Accessible and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) program. This tent provided a quiet place for children (or anyone) who needed a moment away from the crowds and noise. Filled with toys and activities designed for children with unique sensory needs, this location was used throughout the day by many families (including my own). I’m proud to live in a community that recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for everyone to experience the joy of community recreation.
“The Town of Holly Springs is committed to offering Accessible and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) programs to meet the unique needs of youth and adults of all abilities. These programs provide opportunities for individuals with or without disabilities to come together for recreational, social, and educational activities in a safe and accepting environment.”
It’s an election year so it was no surprise to see the candidates for Town Council and Mayor in attendance. I enjoyed having an opportunity to speak with each candidate. I encourage everyone to use the opportunity to vote early or to vote in person - our community can only get better when it’s residents are represented.
The order the images appear on this page matches the order the tents were lined up.
Local businesses, artisans, and food trucks made filled Sugg Farm. From hot yoga to hot dogs, our community has a vibrant and diverse range of businesses and it was great to be able to chat with some many business owners to learn about what they have going on. Hopefully a few of them will be featured on HS150 soon!
They Run This Town
The Holly Springs running community, anchored by the Holly Springs Run Club, is everything that is great about Holly Springs. Welcoming, supportive, encouraging, charitable, and, for some reason, really dedicated to running even when it’s too cold, too wet, or too early.
This HS150 theme is not about running.
Rather, it’s about the people and the events that make up one of the largest formal-but-informal groups in the town. This community, anchored by the Holly Springs Run Club, is everything that is great about Holly Springs. Welcoming, supportive, encouraging, charitable, and, for some reason, really dedicated to running even when it’s too cold, too wet, or too early.
I struggled a little with what to feature. Do I share group runs? Highlight organizers? Maybe the local running store? (I hope that will be a future post). Organized races? Community 5Ks? There’s such an active community I didn’t really know where to start. So I decided to keep it simple and focus on two of the premiere running events in Holly Springs - the Holly Springs Half Marathon and the Race Against The Sun (RATS). These events are, in my opinion, what everything else builds up to. The daily group runs, the walking clubs (ok, they get a nod as well), the 5K’s and Turkey Trots … they are all individually awesome events but, for many, they are the preparation for the main events.
Race Against The Sun (RATS) Endurance Run
The Race Against the Sun Endurance Run is a 12 or 24 hour run held annually (second) at Sugg Farm and Bass Lake. Running from sunrise to sunrise, the run challenges people against themselves in the friendliest gathering of cold, tired, hungry, and sore people I’ve ever seen.
The race might begin at sunrise, but the day begins much earlier. Campsites were setup, support teams gathered, safety briefings were held. The morning was filled with activity as runners caught up with old friends, met new ones, and expended some nervous energy warming up in the cold.
Our Daily Tread
Pretty much any morning and evening, every day of the week, you will be able to find a coordinated group run or walk. Starting at local breweries, bottle shops, the Pace Yourself Run Company, and some in random parking lots before the sun rises, there is a group that matches any level of fitness and experience.
The Wednesday Walk Club leaves out of Local Time Brewery every week
Holly Springs Half Marathon
“Our goal is to help promote the health and wellness of Holly Springs by supporting the Holly Springs Parks & Recreation department, our local service organizations, providing racing chairs to disabled athletes, and supporting our local high school track & field athletes”
The Holly Springs Half Marathon has raised more than $166,000 which has been brought back to the Holly Springs community.
If I had to pick only a single word to describe the HSHM runners it would be “joyful”. Seriously - I can’t believe how excited and happy people were at mile 5 on the course.
I’m not sure if they were as happy at mile 10 but I’m here to focus on the positive!
The celebration of our running community, just like the Holly Springs Half, will end with the sweepers.
Happy Holly Days Parade
The Happy Holly Days Parade is the annual holiday parade featuring local organizations, schools, businesses, and prominent residents of Holly Springs.
The Holly Springs police motorcycle officers led the way. The Fuquay Varina American Legion follows close behind.
Every December, the Town of Holly Springs holds the Happy Holly Days Parade where our local residents, organizations, businesses, and schools are able to showcase their members and talents.
People begin settings up the night before to make sure they have the best view as their friends and neighbors make their way down Main Street from Ting Park on their way towards Womble Park.
