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8:23a The Polar Plunge, a cold weather dip in the Neuse, is a few weeks away: Saturday, January 31. But that gives you time to prepare.

Mentally. Physically. Fashionably.

Past participants took the plunge as penguins, pirates, and walruses. One brave soul displayed his Canadian pride, wearing a maple leaf, a cape, and little else.

Start shoring up your mental defenses. Stretch your muscles. Pick the perfect outfit.

And sign up to support Pamlico Special Olympics’ Polar Plunge.

10:22a If you see Joe Valinoti today, Happy Birthday would be the right greeting.

8:41a It’s a little cool out there: 38 degrees as of this writing.

But warmer weather will prevail today and throughout the week. High is near 60, with temps in the mid 60s to 70s through Friday.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

Bow to Stern has open sailing on their Cape Dory Typhoons today at 3p. Bring your own crew or join one of their experienced sailors.

Capricorn aligned pets may want to check out the Weekly Pet Horoscopes for tips on long-term planning and renegotiating social contracts with your human providers.

3:57p It’s a quiet, wintery weekend in Oriental, but there will be food trucks at the Brewery and the Oriental Farmer’s Market is on for Saturday morning.

Friday night, Roadside Dogs serves on site at the Brewery from 4:30 – 7:30p. Inside, grab a pint of New Village’s own Chick Will’s Widow Black IPA and Ol’ Store English Ale.

Saturday, get your fresh greens and a few treasures at the Oriental Farmer’s Market. It happens on Hodges Street near the harbor, from 8 – 11a.

Saturday, special hours at the brewery: opening @ noon along with Cousins Maine Lobster food truck. The truck serves up lobster rolls and warm bowls of clam chowder until 7p. The Brewery has a fresh batch of Lili’s Breakfast Stout on tap.

It’s all in What’s Happening.

Need some guidance for the upcoming year? Salty Celeste has your 2026 horoscope forecast.

11:00a The New Year’s Day Instead of Football Regatta marked a new milestone: the winner of the regatta actually won the regatta.

Typically it doesn’t matter who crosses the finish line first; regatta winners are drawn at the Skipper’s Meeting that happens after the sail.

This year’s first place winner was SV Tula, captained by Jeb Blackwell.

2nd place: SV Mariposa, Capt. Moe Jones
3rd place: Bow to Stern’s Cal 25, Capt. Jere Julian

9:43a Don’t want to watch football?

There’s other options.

Join the Instead of Football Regatta today at noon. For the last 32 years, sailors have met on the water on New Year’s Day to sail around the marks. There are no rules. No sailing instructions. Warning horn is at 11:55a at Oriental marker #1.

The Mandatory Skipper’s meeting is after the race. Bring a small gift and meet at The Silos at 3p.

Find out more here.

8:43a Tonight, touch a dragon for good luck. You have two chances – 8 & 11:30.

The smaller dragon comes out tonight too. You’ll see this one dancing around Hodges St. at both runs.

The big dragon runs only comes out once a year, making both runs. Bring your pots and pans to make noise for the dragon, or to just scare the bad spirits away from the coming year.

8:39a Temps chilled down to 24 overnight. From the Oriental Weather Station:

click image for larger view

It will be chilly tonight for the Dragon Runs, but not extremely so. Expect temps about 40.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

4:19p Thank you… all the 2026 Dragon patron slots are now filled.

3:50p The TownDock HQ bar wants to open, but it can’t quite yet.

Just one more Dragon Patron needed. Read on…

9:10a It’s time to make sure Oriental doesn’t have a homeless Dragon.

One day each year we band together to make sure the Oriental Dragon has a proper Dragon’s Lair.

Today is that day. The Dragon is BIG. You can’t just put him on a closet shelf.

While waiting for his New Year’s Eve gig, he gets stored in a dry protected unit at Village Mini Storage, made possible through the generosity of Friends Of The Dragon.

Click here and learn how you can become a Friend Of The Dragon.

8:50a Dragon Master Jim Edwards needs a little help with the New Year’s Eve Dragon and Croaker, getting ready for their big night. Jim writes in:

Call Jim at 252-474-6000.

Today starts out sunny, then the afternoon brings clouds and maybe rain (then clearing again tonight). Come Tuesday sunshine… but those clear skies bring cold:

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

8:10a TownDock Senior Management may have taken a few days off, at least from writing words in this space.

And here we are.

There’s some village culinary news. Casa Que Pasa (tacos & burritos on Hodges Street) is about to take the winter off. They are open today and Sunday (8a-2p), then it’s siesta time until March.

Mid March they return, with the completed Taco Tower ready for action.

Mariposa is taking a couple weekends off… the bakery & wine bar returns Sat Jan 10.

2:37p It’s Sip n Shop, 3-5p today at Nautical Wheelers. Jasmin Tasty Thai food truck at the brewery. Santa is back out starting at 4:30p this afternoon on the Station 19 firetruck, visiting neighborhoods near White Farm, Dolphin Point, Orchard Creek, Pamlico Rd and River Dunes.

Last chance for getting Christmas gifts at the Farmer’s Market Saturday morning. Capone’s Taste of Philly food truck at New Village Brewery Saturday 4-8p. Santa is back out in his big red truck Saturday @ 4:30p, visiting the village of Oriental, Midyette St, Silverbrook, and Blackwell Pt neighborhoods.

Sunday is the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Oriental United Methodist Church has a Longest Night Christmas Service at 4p.

Smart readers like you find it all in What’s Happening.

10:24a Oriental elected an all new town board in November. They were sworn in at the December town meeting.

9:09a For those brave enough to drink Oriental water, good news from Town Hall:

9:02a It might get to 70 today. And then near 30 again Sunday night.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

The official shortest day of the year is Sunday Dec 21, the winter solstice, the beginning of winter.

This time of year often has magical sunsets. Here’s one from the solstice in 2021:

5:30p Santa (and Mrs Claus) took the fire truck tour of Oriental neighborhoods today:

click pic for more Santa.. (Joe Clark photos)

When will Santa visit your neighborhood? Info here.

3:17p Santa will be out visiting Oriental neighborhoods starting at 4:30p this afternoon, and the Pamlico Community Band has their Christmas Concert at 7:00p tonight at St. Peter the Fisherman church.

Insider tip: you get a free cookie after the band performance tonight.

3:32p Water is back in Oriental. From Town Hall:

“Officials” would be Town Hall.

You do still have to brush your teeth. Santa will know.

1:53p There were a lotta Grinches. Award winning lights. Luminaria lined the streets.

It was the 2025 Spirit of Christmas. Have a look.

1:19p Water may be out for a while this afternoon. From Town Hall:

10:07a Santa rides through Oriental neighborhoods beginning Thursday night, courtesy of the firefighters of South Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department.

Santa and the fire trucks leave the station at 4:30p tomorrow… and head across the bridge to the Sail Loft, Raccoon, and Horton Road neighborhoods, down to Janeiro Road, and back through to Teaches Cove & Kershaw Road.

They head to other neighborhoods Friday & Saturday. Click here for the full Santa ride information, and to find out when Santa will be in your ‘hood.

He knows if you’ve been naughty.

If you’ve been nice, the Taco Loco food truck is at Triton’s for lunch today.

We’re in for big temp swing today. It dipped to 30 overnight. This afternoon may see 60 degrees.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

4:07p The power is back up. The S&P 500 is down.

21 degrees forecast for tonight. But then 65 for Thursday.

There’s something important you’re missing.

Your pet’s horoscope.

2:45p Hot chocolate on tap returns. Power was restored at 2:40p.

12:05p Power is out in Oriental, as per plan to allow Duke to complete repairs. Two estimates out there re completion: 3:30p (from the town) and 5:15p (from Duke). Duke often beats their estimates.

At Straight Rd and Hwy 55, a Duke posse:

(John Rahm photo)

10:26a That brief power outage this morning… left something that still needs to get fixed.

From Oriental Town Hall:

7:03a It’s seventeen. Degrees.

click image for larger view

Today’s high only upper 30s, maybe 40. But warmer days are on the way:

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

5:56a They moved 11a up a tad. Power is back.

5:50a It’s 18 degrees out. Not the ideal time for a power outage. From Duke Energy:

7:57a The morning is starting out mostly clear, but that is about to change.

Incoming: clouds, rain, wind. Highs today mid 50s, wind gusts 20s to even 30. Then tonight, ol’ man winter. More wind. Lows near 20 degrees.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

You’ve been asking yourself since you were 4 years old. How does Santa deliver all those gifts, in just one night?

That deep question is answered today… at the Old Theater:

Showtime: 3:00p – Doors open at 2:30p. Free admission, theater donations accepted.

Antlers très chic.

4:41p It’s Spirit of Christmas Weekend.

Tonight, the big events are happening on Hodges Street by the town dock starting at 5p.

At the Brewery, come pet the adoptable cats of Purring Angels cattery, 4-7p. La Cocina del Coqui serves from 4-8p with Noah Jackson Cobb playing live music in the beer garden from 7-9p.

Saturday’s Spirit of Christmas lineup Breakfast at Brantley’s with Santa between 8-11a, a Jingle Bell Fund Run at 10a, the Christmas Parade at 1p, the Live Nativity at 3:30p, and business open houses along Broad and Hodges Street all day.

See the full Spirit schedule of events here and what else is going on in What’s Happening.

11:38a Wander through the businesses of Oriental this afternoon and you’ll find open houses, refreshments at the ready, for the Spirit of Christmas.

Tonight at 5, the lighted kayak parade and engineless flotilla take over Oriental’s harbor. At 5:30, the lighting of the Christmas Star at the town dock on Hodges Street.

At 7p, join the Pamlico Chorale at the United Methodists Church for a Christmas Caroling.

Today’s full schedule is here.

In their first official act as Commissioners, the new board has chosen this year’s winners of the Light Up Oriental contest. Here are this year’s winners:

• Most Whimsical The Wichrowski Family, 408 Broad Street
• Most Nautical Dan and Leslie Allen, 1108 Neuse Drive
• Most Traditional Claudine Fields, 701 Broad Street
• Most Lights Oriental Village Veterinary, 407 Broad Street
• Best Business Nautical Wheelers, 411 Broad Street

9:29a Happy December 11. The schedule says today is the first day of Spirit Of Christmas. Spirit schedule doesn’t get busy until tomorrow, but today does have the lighting of the Tree Of Names & Lights.

The Tree Of Names & Lights is a tradition of many decades… it was started back in 1989 by Grace Evans. The tradition lives on, now led by her daughter Meta Jones. The lighting is 5p today at Lou Mac Park.

Tonight at 7:30p, Leon Timbo brings country & soul together, with an added serving of Christmas.

9:22a It snuck down to 28 overnight, cold enough for an early thin (really thin, no hockey) layer of ice on the Duck Pond.

Sunny and mid 50s today, about 50 even Thu & Fri, then sunny and mid 50s for the weekend. Rather perfect Spirit Of Christmas weather.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

Tacos, at a boat yard? The El Taco Loco food truck is at Triton Yachts today, 11a until, serving lunch.