News From the Department
Recall Bygone Christmas Traditions At N.C. Historic Sites
Contact:
For more information
contact Mary Cook at 919-733-7862
or call individual sites (phone numbers available at www.nchistoricsites.org)
RALEIGH - Celebrate North Carolina history and holiday traditions by learning how Tar Heels celebrated the season in years gone by at the N.C. Historic Sites. With 28 sites across the state, the customs of Christmas past are accessible to everyone.
Visitors can experience celebrations from every historical period, beginning with a tour of colonial homes and a church in Historic Bath and ending with an early 20 th-century farm Christmas by lamplight at Horne Creek Farm in Pinnacle. Sample plantation foods, play with colonial toys, ride a vintage train with Santa, watch the lighting of the state’s own holiday tree, or see how those left behind on the home front during the Civil War fared during the season of joy. Stop by the various sites’ visitor centers to pick up stocking stuffers for the history buff on your Christmas list. The N.C. Historic Sites Division is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. For details about a particular event, contact the individual site. Phone numbers can be found at www.nchistoricsites.org.
December 1-January 4 Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens . Visitors to Tryon Palace during this period will experience a colonial Christmas featuring beautiful decorations, a colonial militia encampment and captivating colonial characters. Fee $15 adults, $6 students ($8 and $3 for gardens and kitchen only); free for Tryon Palace ticket holders and members of the Tryon Palace Council of Friends.
December 2, 9 Duke Homestead Christmas by Candlelight. Celebrate an 1870 Christmas and an evening tour of the homestead. Period decorations, caroling, hot apple cider, and other goodies. Visitor center. 7-9 p.m.
December 3 Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens . A Civil War Christmas at Tryon Palace. Join Confederate and Union soldiers encamped on the grounds as they celebrate the war time Christmas of the 1860’s. Activities include camp cooking, military drill, musket demonstrations, Victorian handcrafts, period music, and living history reenactments. Fee: $15 adults, $6 students; free for Tryon Palace ticket holders and Tryon Palace Council of Friends members . South Lawn. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
December 3 Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens . Frank Vizetelly, an 1860s correspondent for the Illustrated London News, will deliver an exciting first-person account of events during the War Between the States from the British perspective. $4 fee. Free for Tryon Palace ticket holders and members of the Tryon Palace Council of Friends. Auditorium. 2 p.m.
December 3 Bentonville Battlefield. Christmas Open House. Costumed interpreters decorate with festive holly and magnolia branches, cotton stalks, fruits, and cranberry and popcorn strands, and serve cookies and hot cider. Costumed military interpreters discuss how common soldiers spent time on furlough with friends and family. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
December 3-31 Historic Halifax. Colonial History and Holiday Demonstrations.Printing press (shown), quill writing (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Natural wreaths (shown), gum drop cones (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 7, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Stenciling cards (shown), natural wreaths (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 10, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Dried wreaths (shown), potpourri (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Quilting (shown), colonial clothing (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Broom making (shown), baskets (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 21, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Button-making (shown), rug braiding (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); Dec. 28, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Quilting (shown), tape loom weaving (shown), and colonial toys (hands-on); 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 N.C. Transportation Museum . Santa Train. Santa rides the train, passing out oranges and candy canes, a Southern Railway tradition. Storytelling of classic Christmas tales and an ornament-making activity are also part of this event. Fee. For details, call (704) 636-2889.
December 3 Reed Gold Mine. Christmas Celebration. Come see North Carolina’s first gold mine decorated for Christmas. Enjoy refreshments, and homemade cookies baked and provided by the Cabarrus County Extension and Community Association. Other activities include performances by local choirs, craft demonstrations, and holiday-themed tours. This year’s event features a book talk by Ann Williams and Janet Dyer on the newly-released “A Life in Antebellum Charlotte: The Private Journal of Sarah F. Davidson, 1837”. The book has been published by the Mecklenburg Historical Association Docents and is co-edited by Williams, Dyer and Karen M. McConnell. Sarah Davidson spent many hours at the Charlotte home of her sister, today Historic Rosedale plantation. The journal paints an intimate portrait of Charlotte and its surroundings around 1837 when gold mining was in its heyday. In her journal, Davidson tells the stories of the mining experts and entrepreneurs who formed part of her social circle. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. The editors will discuss the work.. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., book talk at 11:30 a.m.
December 3 Roanoke Island Festival Park . “ Oakwood Waits” to Present Free Holiday Concert . This professional a cappella vocal ensemble will perform a variety of music including traditional, classical, shape note, jazz and children’s favorites. Film Theatre. 7 p.m.
December 4 Bennett Place . Christmas Open House: “ A Home Front Christmas”. Costumed nterpreters demonstrate Christmas experiences on the home front during the Civil War. Open-hearth cooking, children's games, and music. 1-4 p.m.
December 4 Somerset Place . Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas season at Somerset Place. Unique period decorations by area churches. Sample traditional plantation foods cooked over the open hearth. 1- 4 p.m.
December 6, 8 Aycock Birthplace. Christmas Candlelight Tours. See how Christmas was celebrated in the 1870s. House and kitchen decorated for Christmas. Costumed interpreters discuss Christmas traditions of the 1870s. Primitive Baptist Singers singing traditional carols. Shadow puppet play in schoolhouse. $5 per car. Call (919) 242-5581 for details.
December 6 -7 Horne Creek Farm. Christmas by Lamplight. Experience the warmth of a rural turn-of-the-century Christmas. Music and food of the era. Fee $8 adults, $5 children 6–12, children 5 and under free. One-hour program; required reservations must be made for 4, 5, 6, or 7 p.m. Sponsor: N.C. Living Historical Farm Committee.
December 6-9, 13-16 N.C. Transportation Museum. Jingle Bell Express. Children sing Christmas carols, play jingle bells and hear a reading of The Polar Express while riding the museum's on-site train during this event for school and other children's groups. Fee charged, reservations required.
December 8 State Capitol. Tree Lighting Ceremony. Luminaries and musical performances on Capitol grounds. Traditional ceremony with lighting of state Christmas tree by governor and first lady on west grounds; open house inside Capitol. Junior Woman’s Club of Raleigh hosts holiday festival, with music and children’s activities on Capitol Square, in museums, in front of Legislative Building, and on Bicentennial Plaza. Date tentative.
December 8-11 State Capitol. Capitol decorated for Christmas holidays by Raleigh Garden Club. Local performing groups provide concerts of holiday music daily. Dates tentative.
December 9 Historic Edenton. Caroling on the Courthouse Green. Join us for community Christmas caroling in front of the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse. Refreshments. 6 p.m.
December 9-10 Historic Edenton. Iredell House Groaning Board. Eighteenth-century-style Christmas decorations, music, and holiday dessert groaning board. Tables so heavily laden with food you can almost hear the boards “groan.” 1-5 p.m.
December 10 Historic Stagville. Christmas at Stagville. Celebrate the holidays with unique historic activities, including period music, costumed interpreters, games, food, and dancing. Events at Horton Grove slave quarters and plantation owner’s house show how Christmas was celebrated within the two communities. This year’s event will be based on the children’s book, Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Pat and Frederick McKissack. Candlelight tour. Fees apply.
December 10 House in the Horseshoe. Christmas Open House. Kick off the season at a special open house featuring costumed tours, refreshments, and militia demonstrations.
December 10-23 House in the Horseshoe. Special Christmas Tours. Programs show how Christmas celebrations have changed in North Carolina over the centuries.
December 10 Polk Memorial. Candlelight Tours. Program will feature holiday celebrations from the late 18th century, living history vignettes in the historic area, open hearth cooking, musket firings, holiday decorations from the past. 1815 Christmas celebration at the plantation house and the “Big Times” circa 1850 at the Quarters. The event is free to the public, with a suggested donation of $2 per adult and $1 per child.
December 10-11 State Capitol. Civil War Christmas Encampment. Reenactors demonstrate how to make period Christmas ornaments, dip candles, and train children participate in Civil War drills. Dates tentative.
December 10 Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens. Christmas Candlelight Tour and Fireworks Display. The Fife & Drum Corps signals the beginning of this magical evening at 5 p.m. with a brief performance as they march visitors to the steps of the Palace (another performance at 7 p.m.). After passing through the Palace’s gates, visitors step back to an unforgettable evening in 1770 colonial New Bern. Governor and Mrs. Tryon are hosting a “grand entertainment and ball” to celebrate the palace’s completion and King George III’s birthday.
The palace is illuminated and filled with elegant dancers and fascinating characters. New Bern's colonial townspeople have also turned out to enjoy the festivities. Signora Bella, the great Italian equilibrist, will perform amazing feats of balance as the jugglers try to keep sharp Turkish swords and flaming torches in the air. Children will enjoy the puppet show, Mr. Punch Meets Governor Tryon. Costumed singers, dancers and musicians recreate Jonkonnu, an African American Yuletide tradition. The evening's grand finale is a spectacular fireworks display on the South Lawn. Visitors may enjoy a free cup of hot cider or coffee at Barney's (a colonial coffee house). Fee $15 adults, $6 students; free for Tryon Palace ticket holders and members of the Tryon Palace Council of Friends. 5- 9 p.m.
December 11 Alamance Battleground. Christmas Open House. Historical and seasonal themes. Refreshments. 1-5 p.m.
December 11 Brown Museum. Christmas Open House. Dr. Brown’s campus home, Canary Cottage, decorated as it would have been for Christmas in the 1940’s. Performances by local choirs and musicians. 1-5 p.m.
December 11 Historic Halifax. Christmas in Halifax. Buildings arrayed with period decorations.
December 11 Historic Bath. Christmas Open House. Tour the 1751 Palmer-Marsh House, the 1830 Bonner House, the 1790 Van Der Veer House, and the 1734 St. Thomas Episcopal Church, decorated in period holiday fashion. Enjoy music, apple cider and fresh-baked gingerbread. 12-4 p.m.
December 12 Historic Edenton. Period Christmas Decorations Workshop. Learn to use natural materials to decorate for the holidays. Make your own. Supply fee. Reservations required. For details, call (252) 482-2637. 9 a.m.-noon; 1-4 p.m.
December 13-16 Historic Edenton. Period Christmas Decorations. Workshop for student groups. Make and take home period decorations made from natural materials. Supply fee. Reservations required. For details, call (252) 482-2637.
December 13, 15, 20 Aycock Birthplace . Open-Hearth Cooking. Country cooking as well as discussion of 19 th-century holiday traditions.
December 13-14 Horne Creek Farm. Tour the Hauser Farmhouse and enjoy wonderful turn-of-the-century Christmas decorations. Light refreshments. 1-3 p.m.
The Division of State Historic Sites is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history, and culture. For more information, visit www.ncculture.com.
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