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North Carolina’s Executive Mansion, the “people’s house,” will open its historic doors again for the beloved annual Holiday Open House Dec. 7-9.Visitors are invited to tour the home, take in the decorations, and enjoy seasonal musical entertainment by local performing groups. The mansion's first floor will be decorated with North Carolina-grown Christmas trees, floral and mixed evergreen arrangements, and ornate mantle displays.
Visit the State Capitol Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to make a rustic outdoor decoration to feed the birds and squirrels on Capitol Square. While the historic Capitol is closed for repairs, we’re bringing holiday cheer outside instead. Families, children, and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to make birdseed and critter-friendly ornaments to adorn the tree, provided by the N.C. Christmas Tree Association. The tree will stand on the east grounds through December.
An upcoming virtual Lunch & Learn program hosted by the State Archives will commemorate Pearl Harbor Day with “Remembering War in the Pacific: An Internment Camp Experience.”A panel discussion will include Nash County resident Chris Larsen, who survived a Japanese internment camp in the Philippines during his early childhood, along with Ashley Latta, Military Collection Archivist, and Charlie Knight, Museum of History Military Curator, who will provide an overview of the war in the Pacific Theater, including documents, photographs, and artifact collections.
Celebrate the holiday season at the Governor’s Western Residence Holiday Open House, Dec. 9-10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. each day. The residence is located at 45 Patton Mountain Rd, Asheville.Reservations are not needed to attend the open house. Guests are invited to tour the residence, which has been decorated for the season.
There’s a holiday happening to suit every taste at venues of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Holiday train rides at the N.C. Transportation Museum, 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.
Join Duke Homestead State Historic Site for one last day of baseball this season at the Durham Athletic Park. Two vintage baseball games will be played Nov. 11, beginning at 1 p.m.
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will honor North Carolina’s military history with a “Military Timeline,” Saturday, Nov. 11. Visitors will learn about the experiences of soldiers and support personnel from the past 450 years.“It’s important for us to remember the men and women who have sacrificed to make us who we are today as a country,” said Site Manager Scott Douglas. The educational program will offer a sample of soldier life through history.
The life and times of Gov. Richard Caswell will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Gov. Richard Caswell Memorial in Kinston, N.C.To highlight Caswell’s long service as a political and military leader of both the British colony and the fledgling state of North Carolina, a living history event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Members of the Dobbs County Militia and the 3rd North Carolina Continental Line reenactment groups will portray camp life and present musket and cannon firing demonstrations of the Revolutionary War period.
Take a wagon ride around the historic Harper farm at Bentonville Battlefield’s annual fall festival on Oct. 28. The program will include historic trades demonstrations, displays from community organizations, and an “old timey” festival atmosphere featuring wagon rides, kid’s games, an inflatable, food trucks, live music, and more!
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will begin hosting an artisan farmer’s market on the first and third Tuesday of each month beginning Oct. 17. Local farmers, crafters and artists, all with unique and delicious goods, will offer them for sale.Betty Williams, of Homespun by Betty, approached the site with the idea of a relaxed market away from the bustle of downtown. Vendors must pre-register and meet Department of Revenue qualifications for doing business.Event hours are 3-6 p.m., first and third Tuesday of each month.