Have a Jolly Raleigh Christmas

RALEIGH, N.C. (August 2005) – From dozens of magnificent historic homes decked out for the holidays to the most hometown holiday parades in North Carolina, Raleigh captures the holiday spirit this season with a multitude of concerts, plays and home tours.  And best of all – many of the holiday festivities are completely free!  Here is a sampling of just a few:

Deck the Halls:  Historic House Tours

Civil War Christmas Encampment– On December 10, 2005, re-enactors representing the Confederate 6th North Carolina regiment will camp on Capitol Square to recreate war-time holiday celebrations of long ago.  Visitors can witness troops receiving mail from home, test their hand at crafting period Christmas ornaments, dip candles and even participate in Civil War drill routines for free.  (919) 733-4994, www.visitraleigh.com

Christmas Tour at Joel Lane Museum House– Decorated in traditional colonial greenery and fruit, the Joel Lane Museum House, circa 1770, will showcase ways in which our colonial ancestors celebrated the holiday season.  Raleigh's oldest home is now fully restored to its appearance when it served as the residence of Joel Lane, a prominent statesman and patriot.  Tours will be held from 1 PM – 4 PM from December 3-4 and are free.  (919) 833-3431.

Mordecai Historic Park Holiday Open House and Lantern Tours–Come see Mordecai ready for the holidays! The house and grounds will be trimmed in holiday décor and tours will be given during the day identifying different holiday customs and traditions of old Raleigh. The evening lantern tour will lead you through the Mordecai farm and village to see historical reenactments during the years of the Civil War. Re-enactors from the North Carolina 26th Regiment as well as the Soldier's Benevolent Society plus period musicians will make for a truly unique experience. House tours will be held December 3 from 1 PM – 5 PM, Lantern Tours, December 3, 5 PM – 9 PM. Admission $5 Adults, $3 Children. (919) 857 – 4364.

Mordecai Historic Park's Holiday Trolley Tours– Hop on the trolley for an educational and entertaining ride through downtown Raleigh with stops at the Joel Lane House, Haywood Hall, City Market, Glenwood South and the State Capitol. Tours run every Saturday March through December, leaving from Mordecai at 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM and 2 PM. (919) 857-4364.

Historic Oakview Christmas Open House & Self-guided Candlelight Tour – Just four miles east of downtown Raleigh, this antebellum farmstead is lit with luminaries for the holiday open-house.  On December 10, from 1PM – 5PM (candlelight tour will be from 5PM-7:30PM), guests can tour the 1855 Greek Revival house and visit with Santa in the living room, devour freshly baked cookies in the plank kitchen, and explore the cotton gin house museum, 1870s gazebo, and a Farm History Center.  Sleigh rides will be given around the pecan grove, snow or shine.  Admission is free.  (919) 250-1013.

Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour– The 34th annual tour of this 19th Century Victorian neighborhood provides a glimpse inside several 19th century private homes and inns, elegantly decorated for the holidays.  Tours will be held December 10-11, 1- 7 PM.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 the days of the tour. (919) 832-9712, www.historicoakwood.org

State Capitol Holiday Open House - Local performing groups will provide concerts of holiday music in the Rotunda during this annual open house. Visitors can walk through all three floors of the Capitol to view the holiday decorations, generously donated and arranged by sixty volunteers from the Raleigh Garden Club. Another highlight is the One Hundred County Tree, decorated with ornaments collected from each of North Carolina's 100 counties and decorated by the Junior Woman's Club. The open house is scheduled for December 8 – 11. Times TBA. (919) 733 – 4994 www.ncstatecapitol.com

State Capitol Tree Lighting, Open House and Holiday Festival - Festivities begin with the lighting of luminaries and musical performances on the State Capitol grounds. The Governor and First Lady will light the official state Christmas tree on the west grounds. After the tree lighting, the State Capitol will be open for viewing by candlelight. December 8,  5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. (919) 733 – 4994, www.ncstatecapitol.com

Hark the Herald Angels Sing:  Holiday Music and Dance

A Christmas Carol– Raleigh's Theatre in the Park presents the 31st annual production of the Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol," December 6-14 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.  This wildly popular production, starring Ira David Wood III, is updated each year to include crowd-pleasing humor without losing the spirit of the original play. Tickets range from $12-$60.  (919) 831-6058, www.theatreinthepark.com.

A Christmas Memory– Until he was 10 years old, Truman Capote lived with a family of distant and elderly cousins in a small town in rural Alabama.  A Christmas Memory is a frankly autobiographical story about those years and especially his relationship with one of the cousins, Miss Sook Faulk.  The faded photograph, on the stage during the production, is of the author and Miss Faulk, who died in 1938 while Capote was a student at a military academy in New York State. Theatre In The Park has presented this production, along with Ira David Wood III, for the last 25 years, with performances this year from December 16-18.  Tickets $10.  (919) 831-6058, www.theatreinthepark.com

The Nutcracker Ballet–Performed by the Carolina Ballet and N.C. Symphony, this holiday classic will transport the audience to a land of sweets, waltzing flowers, dancing snowflakes and sugar plum fairies through lavish sets, costumes and sound.  According to Francis Mason, WQXR, the radio station of The New York Times, "Robert Weiss has created an extraordinary new version of Nutcracker that uses even more children and casts its own spell…Weiss has made dances that magnify anew the power of a dream a little girl has under the Christmas tree."  Performances run from November 25-27, December 16-23, with tickets ranging from $10 - $100.  (919) 719-0900, http://www.carolinaballet.com/05-06-season/nutcracker.html

The Raleigh Ringers Holiday Concerts– Using only hand bells, this group holiday and classical favorites. Concerts are December 17 at 7:30PM and December 18 at 3PM Meymandi Concert Hall.  Ticket prices are yet to be determined.
(919) 847-7574, www.rr.org.

Holidays Around the World– Twenty Christmas trees and displays will showcase various holiday traditions from around the world at Historic Oak View County Park, from
December 7-12, Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.  This event is free.  (919) 250-1013.

Rhonda's Ragin' Christmas, featuring Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, with special guest Cherryholmes– On December 10, what better way to warm up the holiday season than to hear two of the hottest bluegrass bands on the circuit today--Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Cherryholmes--playing all of your Christmas favorites, plus originals, in the finest bluegrass tradition. When these two bands take the stage, expect a raging, full-throttle performance that will leave all other Christmas concerts in a blinding storm of split breaks, twin fiddlers, and roof-raising vocal harmonies. Concert: 8 PM, tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com or (919) 834 – 4000.

Holiday Gift Giving

A Carolina Christmas Show– More than 400 exhibitors descend upon the RBC Center providing entertainment, food, music, holiday and handcrafted items, Christmas giveaways, decorated trees, the latest in holiday home decor and Santa. November 7 – 9, RBC Center.
(828) 758 – 0877.

Scandinavian Christmas Fair– On December 3, the NC State Fairgrounds is host to this annual international event. This event features Scandinavian favorites like homemade foods, unique crafts and entertainment. There will be cultural exhibits and children's activities. Come and enjoy a traditional Scandinavian Christmas, certain to get you in the spirit. Entertainment includes folk dancing, folk music, and the popular Lucia-procession. Admission is $5 Adults, Free for Children. (919) 353 – 1995.

Hometown Christmas Parades

November 19, 9:30 AM: Raleigh Christmas Parade. For details, call (919)-420-0120.

December 3, 2 PM: The Knightdale Christmas Parade takes place in downtown Knightdale, featuring bands, floats, candy and Santa.  For details, call (919) 217-2230.

December 4, 5 PM: Apex Jaycees 48th Annual Christmas Parade. For details, call
(919) 990-1250

December 4, 3 PM: The Fuquay-Varina Hometown Christmas Parade celebrates the holiday season with floats, bands, queens, twirlers and Santa Claus.  For details, call (919) 552-4947.December 4, 2 PM: The Zebulon Christmas Parade sports Santa's arrival to the sound of bands, and supported by beauty queens, antique cars, and beautiful floats.  For details, call
(919) 269-6320.

December 11, 11 AM: Annual Holly Springs Happy Holly Days Parade is a traditional holiday parade with local and regional bands, and floats.  For details, call (919) 567-1796.

Holiday Home Away From Home

The Oakwood Inn B&B– Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 1871 Victorian home is nestled in the Historic Oakwood District within walking distance of downtown Raleigh.  The inn has six beautiful guest rooms; all decorated in period antiques with private baths and working fireplaces.  The Polk guest room even sports its own personal Christmas tree, and a private porch decorated with evergreen bows and colorful bows.  Rates range from $119 to $171 per night.  For details, call (919) 832-9712 or visit www.oakwoodinnbb.com

William Thomas House B&B– Built in 1881, the William Thomas House recaptures the warmth and spirit of Victorian times.  Raleigh's museums, shopping, restaurants, antique stores and the Governor's Mansion are a short walk away. The four well-appointed guestrooms, all with private baths, come with a full Southern breakfast and complimentary wine and cheese in the late afternoon. Rates start at $159.  For details, call (919) 755-9400 or visit www.williamthomashouse.com

The Greater Raleigh CVB is a non-profit agency that promotes Raleigh and Wake County for convention and visitor business to enhance the economic growth and development of the area.  For a free visitors guide or more promotional information, please call (800) 849-8499, check out www.visitraleigh.com or e-mail visit@visitraleigh.com