1). The December Make-It-and-Take-It project at Port Discover, Elizabeth City is a free small evergreen tree creation, available during normal operating hours.

2). The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), Winston-Salem will hold "Sounds of the Season and Open House" on Saturday, December 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a walk-through of the museum's "Winter Pleasures: Yuletide, Festivity and Frivolity in the Early South" and the extra treat of music in the museum, plus appearances by perennially-popular Puddingstone in the MESDA Auditorium -- regular tour ticket or special event tickets available. Also, MESDA's monthly lunchtime Hidden Treasures lecture on Wednesday, December 5 at 12:30 p.m. will be Nancy Thomas on her book, "Moravian Christmas in the South."

3). The Duke Homestead State Historic Site (off Guess Road north of Durham) has set December 7 and 14 for "Christmas by Candlelight" tours from 7 to 9 p.m. each evening.

4). On the first two Thursdays in December, at 10 a.m., the N.C. Maritime Museum, Beaufort is offering a tour of the new shipwreck exhibit at the Gallants Channel annex for its Repository Tours program -- call 252-728-7317 by noon on Wednesday for reservations for the following day ($5 adults, $2 children). Also, the Carolina Maritime Model Society meeting on December 1 is open to the public (2-4 p.m.). An excursion for Waterfowl Watching and Wolf Howling is scheduled for December 8-9 - call for details.

5). The Country Doctor Museum, Bailey will host its third annual Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 1 - free. Demonstrations will be held during the event.

6). The Asheville Art Museum is offering a Holiday Art Camp for students in first through fourth grades from Wednesday, December 26 through Friday, December 28, in half-day or full-day sessions. Pre-registration is required; call Sharon McRorie at 828-253-3227, ext. 122 for details or registration.

7). The Hickory Museum of Art will open "The Art of Transformation: Bill Brown Sculpture" on Saturday, December 8 with a public reception (5:30-8 p.m.) -- free for HMA members, $5 for non-members. The HMA will also hold a Joint Opening Reception from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, December 14 for "I Got Stripes: Textiles by Lindsay Rogers" and "A Gift of Art: Holiday Show & Sale."

8). The Health Adventure, Asheville plans to kick off a year-long celebration of its 40th birthday with a family-friendly afternoon from 3-5 p.m. on December 31 -- free for members, $10 per family for non-members.

9). The Bellamy Mansion Museum, Wilmington has rescheduled its African-American History Day, originally set for December 6, to January 19, 2008, in order to hold its First Annual Jonkonnu Celebration, on Thursday, December 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jonkonnu celebrated with West African traditions between Christmas and New Year's, reaching its height in the years prior to the Civil War.

10). The N.C. Transportation Museum, Spencer will have the Santa Train on December 1-2, 8-9 and 15-16, plus Cookies & Cocoa with Santa on December 7-8 and 14-15, along with other activities. The Museum will be closed December 23-26, and offer Winter Fever Train Rides from December 27-30.

11). Exhibitry related to the Search for Blackbeard's Flagship is on view now through January 6th at the Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City.

12). Winter Jazz features Jack Krupicka & Julie Rehder on Friday, December 7, 6-8 p.m.; and the Family Science Saturday on December 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. is "All About Astronomy" at the Cape Fear Museum, Wilmington.

13). Bennett Place State Historic Site, Durham will hold its "A Civil War Christmas in the Carolinas" on December 15 and 16 during normal operating hours (free).

14). The Orange County Historical Museum, Hillsborough will hold its Candlelight Tour from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 2 (free).

15). The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh is hosting a new exhibit in the Nature Art Gallery by the N.C. Society of Goldsmiths, from now through December 30; and will hold a Children's Celebration/First Night event from 2-6 p.m. (free) and 6-10 p.m. (small fee) on Monday, December 31st.

16). Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem will host performances of Robin Voiers in Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory," at 8 p.m. on Friday, December 14, and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15 and 16. See website for ticket prices and details.

17). The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a full slate of activities for December, including special programs such as Breakfast with the Fishes (December 1 and 22), plus new programs Daddy and Me (December 1 and 22), Mommy and Me (December 4 and 18) and Dinner with the Fishes (December 2). A number of regular programs such as Behind the Scenes Tours and Ft. Fisher Hermit's School of Common Sense are also on the calendar. Check the website for schedules, fees (if any) and registration requirements.