Press Releases

Due to unforeseen circumstances Historic Bath’s “Walk Through Christmas’ Past” program has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The Christmas Open House Program will go on as scheduled on Saturday, Dec. 9.   

The winter of 1755 was harsh and unforgiving. Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will offer a glimpse into the daily lives of French and Indian War soldiers in the winter of 1755, Saturday, Dec. 9.   Historic interpreters representing the garrison of Fort Dobbs will present scheduled musket and cannon firing demonstrations as well as on-going displays of life in a winter military camp, including open fire cooking.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area will host a public meeting next week to discuss a no wake zone in the Holly Point area of the park. The meeting is in response to concerns submitted by boat ramp users who have experienced property damage and injury due to excessive wake while using the boat ramp at Holly Point.

Recapture the genuine joy and warmth of holidays past with a “Carolina Christmas” Friday, Dec. 8 through Sunday, Dec. 10. An escape to three colonial state historic sites will start your holiday season with reverie and delight. Enjoy festive decorations and caroling in Historic Edenton, harpsichord music and colonial crafts at Historic Bath and colonial dancing and fire-eating magic at Tryon Palace. You can enter to win this great escape at http://bit.ly/carolinachristmas. The deadline for entry is Dec. 1. 

With a nip in the air and the holiday spirit warming our hearts, join the Christmas Candlelight tours at the Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Thursday, Dec. 7. Tours will be given from 6:30 p.m. Admission will be $2 for ages 5 and up. Children ages 4 and under are free.

There’s a holiday happening to suit every taste at venues of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Fireworks over Tryon Palace, a “Christmas Flotilla” at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort, “Christmas by Candlelight” at a state historic site and “Holiday Pops” or other performances with the North Carolina Symphony at home or on tour, are a few of the unique holiday experiences awaiting families at modest or no cost.

Discover holiday traditions over time at Historic Stagville during the “Christmas at Stagville” holiday open house, Dec. 2, noon to 4 p.m. Help decorate the Bennehan house, learn about the West African Jonkonnu tradition, and experience an evening lantern tour after 5 p.m.

The soft contours of “Christmas by Candlelight” at Duke Homestead make the annual event a visitor favorite. The candlelight tours with costumed interpreters through the historic homestead Fridays, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, will showcase the house festooned with 19th century decorations. The tours run 6:45 to 9:15 p.m.

Teachers in North Carolina’s Title I schools have an opportunity to engage their students in ocean science programming, thanks to a new program offering privately-funded mini-grants. The Aquarium Scholars program will provide underserved students in Title I schools across the state access to ocean science and science, technology, engineering and math aquarium education opportunities.

Soldiers and Civilians tried to celebrate Christmas, even during the Civil War. Soldiers decorated their quarters with whatever they had and looked forward to receiving packages from home. Southern families endured the hardships of a naval blockade, food shortages and loved ones far away. Bennett Place State Historic Site will recall those times Saturday, Dec. 16, with a daytime and evening program.