NCMC Events From Around the State… November 29, 2010

1). Harmony Hall Harmony Hall Plantation presents Christmas Open House at 18th Century Harmony Hall at the site on December 11th from 3pm to 8pm. The program will feature Early American Christmas traditions, violin concerts, wagon rides, tea and refreshments and more!

2). Town Creek Indian Mound Visitors will enjoy stargazing at one of the last dark-sky locations in the Piedmont region at Astronomy Night at Town Creek Indian Mound in Mount Gilead on Dec. 4, from 6-10 p.m. The highlight of the night will be the Orion Nebula, found in the constellation Orion. Other heavenly features including clusters and galaxies will be examined as well. During this time of year, the Department of Cultural Resources encourages residents and visitors alike to get away from the bustle and take a moment to “Make History This Holiday” on a quiet night.

3). N.C. Historic Sites From plum pudding to collard greens, or cotton stalks and popcorn, there will be lots of activity at the free, family-friendly holiday open house programs at Bentonville Battlefield and Aycock Birthplace state historic sites, sharing good cheer and the theme “Make History This Holiday.” Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will hold its holiday celebration on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring furlough time with a Civil War soldier at Bentonville Battlefield circa 1863. The Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site holds open house on Dec. 7 and 9 from 6:30-9 p.m., recreating a celebration with the Aycock Family circa 1870.

4). Museum of the Albemarle Experience the sights and sounds of the holidays during the Museum of the Albemarle’s Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 4th from 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m. This year’s theme is A Star-Spangled Christmas and complements the Jaycees Christmas parade and the Lighted Boat Christmas Parade. Special Holiday songs will be performed by area musicians. A patriotic themed Christmas Village will greet you when you step into the lobby. Patriotic themed decorations will adorn the main lobby tree. This holiday program is a free family program.

5). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum invites visitors to celebrate the holidays with two great train rides. During Santa Train, Kris Cringle himself will be your fellow passenger as your roll down the tracks. On our Cookies and Cocoa with Santa rides, visitors can enjoy a nighttime train trip to visit the Jolly Old Elf in the Round-house. Santa Train takes place Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. Train rides take place every 45 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. each Saturday of the event. Rides take place every 45 minutes between 1:30 and 3:45 p.m. each Sunday of the event.

6). Historic Stagville The Christmas celebration at the Stagville Plantation traditionally meant fun for all, and visitors will enjoy the Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters program at Historic Stagville in Durham on Saturday, Dec. 4. Guests can make merry with drummers, storytellers and artisans at the pre-Civil War site. At this time of year, the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources encourages visitors and residents, young and old, to “Make History This Holiday” with a visit to State Historic Sites and museums.

7). Historic Halifax Colonial Christmas traditions, along with local art and handmade crafts, will delight young and old at Historic Halifax on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m.-4p.m. Costumed re-enactors of the 5th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line will bring a lively bang with firings of 18th-century muskets. The colonial celebration captures the State Historic Sites theme “Make History This Holiday.”

8). High Point Museum Just in time for the holiday season, High Point Museum will open a mini exhibit in the lobby. Merry Christmas, High Point! will feature Christmas themed objects and images from the Museum’s collection. Coinciding with this exhibit, beginning December 1, an historic Christmas postcard or greeting card will be unveiled daily on the Museum’s Facebook page. Become a fan of the High Point Museum to receive your daily Advent image. “Merry Christmas, High Point!” will be on display in the Museum lobby from December 1 through January 30.

9). N.C. State Capitol The spirit of the holidays will be present at State Capitol’s annual Open House on Thursday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec.12. The halls will be decked with seasonal decorations, and local groups will perform traditional and contemporary holiday music in the rotunda at various times of the day. A Civil War Christmas Encampment will take place on the Capitol grounds Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

10). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts The Hemlocks! The Hemlocks! Grief and Celebration by Lowell Hayes, will be featured in the Mayer Gallery and Gallery B. This series of paintings is a celebration of the life and beauty of the eastern hemlock, and of the rare Carolina Hemlock, which occurs only in the mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Also opening is, In the Void: Sculpture by David Meyer, - an artist whose work explores many aspects of the human condition and the physical world. Both of these exhibitions will be showing December 3, 2010 – March 19, 2011.