Holidays In NC

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Holiday Traditions In NC

North Carolina’s rich history inspires some of the most magical holiday events this season. These traditions, some dating back hundreds of years, provide you with a glimpse of the holidays of North Carolina’s past. Find your holiday cheer on a journey back in time, sure to delight young and old.



Holiday Season in Old Salem
11/7/09-1/2/10


Winston-Salem - Celebrate the holiday season by experiencing the traditions of the Moravians of Salem and those living across the early South. Hands-on activities, music programs, candlelight evening tours, puppet shows, and wonderful decorative tours of MESDA complete any visit. Old Salem is a preserved and restored Moravian settlement, where costumed tradesmen and women re-create life in the 1700s and 1800s by producing goods using traditional eighteenth and nineteenth century practices.



Christmas at Biltmore Estate
11/6/08-1/2/10


Asheville - Never have the holidays been so beautiful! Dazzling displays light up Biltmore House, which glistens with lavishly decorated trees, bejeweled wreaths, and garlands of sparkling lights. America’s largest home opened to friends of its owners, the Vanderbilts, on Christmas Eve 1895. This 250-room French Renaissance chateáu, surrounded by magnificent gardens and vineyards, remains America's largest privately owned home.



Centuries of Celebrations at Tryon Palace

11/27/09-12/31/09


New Bern - Daily tours and festivities are accented by holiday decorations in the Palace and four historic homes, including the Christmas Candlelight Tour, selected as a Top 20 Event for the month of December by The Southeast Tourism Society. Tryon Palace was the 18th-century residence of the governor of the colony and state of North Carolina. The site features 22 acres with 13 beautiful period gardens, the Palace and historic homes from the 18th and 19th centuries.



Edenton Christmas Candlelight Tour
12/11/09-12/12/09


The holiday spirit is felt by all who attend the Candlelight Tour in Historic Edenton. This self-guided tour of historic homes that are beautifully decorated for the season will take place between 4 pm and 8 pm. The homes are located within a few blocks of one another, making the walk most enjoyable and festive. On Friday evening, stop at the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse for a little caroling at 6 pm to increase your holiday cheer.



Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Season

11/26/09-12/24/09


NC Mountains - One of the most popular family holiday traditions in North Carolina is heading up to the mountains to select a live Christmas tree to take home. North Carolina produces more than 12 percent of the real Christmas trees in the United States. The North Carolina Fraser Fir has been judged the Nations Best by the National Christmas Tree Association, and has been chosen for the White House eight times (more than any other species).



National Gingerbread House Competition
11/16/09-1/03/10


Asheville - More than 300 uniquely designed gingerbread houses will be on display at the historic Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville. The competition begins Oct 15 and awards will be given Nov 16. Free and open to the public, visitors can view all of these amazing houses Nov 16 through Jan 3.

Candlelight Christmas Tour of Historic Murfreesboro
12/10/09-12/11/09

Murfreesboro - Each year, hundreds of visitors make the pilgrimage to this small Eastern NC town for this tour, which relives the small town holiday magic of Christmases past. Visitors stroll along the Historic District’s candlelight streets and walkways. They are invited to linger in a multitude of old homes and buildings and are welcomed graciously by their hosts. This year's tour includes a customary 12-stop progressive dinner, as well as horse-drawn carriage and tram rides to see the beautiful seasonal decorations that light up Murfreesboro's Historic District.

added: November 10, 2009

updated: November 13, 2009