NCMC Events From Around the State…December 2, 2013

1). Bellamy Mansion invites you for a Christmas Stroll through the Past on Saturday, December 14th from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  The Burgwin-Wright House and Bellamy Mansion Museum host a festive holiday evening filled with music, dancing, costumes, refreshments and more! Go back in time for an old-fashioned Christmas on this magical night full of fun for the whole family. Both historic houses, decorated beautifully for the holidays, offer much, and enjoy a trolley ride or a candlelit stroll through downtown Wilmington as you go from one to the other. Tickets available at the Burgwin-Wright House, Bellamy Mansion Museum, local Harris Teeter stores, and online- $25 for Adults & $5 for Children (ages 5-12), free for Children under 5. For more information or tickets call 910.251.3700 (Bellamy) and 910.762.0570 (Burgwin-Wright).

2). Fort Fisher State Historic Site invites you to join them in celebrating the season as it holds its Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 10, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the visitor’s center. This event is free and open to the public. Enjoy seasonal refreshments, decorations, and entertainment throughout the day, including holiday musical selections by the Murray Middle School Jazz Band under the direction of David Tyson, followed by popular musician and storyteller John Golden.  For the history lovers on your shopping list, special discounts will be offered on all museum shop merchandise for this one day only, so you can stock up on everything from Battery Buchannan Blend coffee to unique Christmas tree ornaments to great books for the history enthusiast.

3). Joel Lane Museum House invites you to attend a Museum Shop Open House on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Enjoy hot wassail while you peruse the shop's many gift ideas. Admission is free.  At 5 p.m., author Nancy Rascoe of Hertford, NC will speak about and sign her book "The Sandy Banks Live On."  Ms. Rascoe wants to make sure that the history of Old Nags Head and other towns on the North Carolina Outer Banks lives on. These stories have been passed down from one generation to the next and tell about those who came to the Outer Banks to farm, to fish and even to help save those in distress. These pioneers shaped the island that is enjoyed by locals and thousands of visitors each year.

4). Historic Oak View County Park invites you to get in the holidays spirit with your family at Oak View’s “Sleigh Rides and Cider” on December 7th, from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.! Decorations and displays showing “Christmas at the Oak View Farm: How they celebrated from 1850 to 1950” will be on view in the Main House.Ride in a horse-drawn carriage through Oak View’s Pecan Grove, listen to holiday music and stories in the 1855 farmhouse, drink hot apple cider by the 1825 Plank Kitchen, buy handmade decorations and crafts, and, of course, visit with Old St. Nick! Donations of new clothing, toiletries, or canned goods may be placed under the Warming Tree (located in the Farm History Center) and are given to InterAct of Wake County.

5). Hands On! the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to Grown-up Science Night on Saturday, December 14^th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.!  Learn the science of wine making and chocolate! Join Hands On!, Falderal Winery, Kilwins, Fountainhead Bookstore, Sage Gourmet, and Dancing Bear Toys for a fun night of grown-up science & entertainment!  Participating partners will have goodies on hand for purchase and enter to win door prizes. $15 single ticket; $25 couple ticket. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Hands On! Limited spaces for this fun holiday event. Call 697-8333 to purchase your tickets.

6). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History invites you to their Annual Holiday Open House on December 7th from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Free Admission. Tour four floors of museum exhibits, view our themed Christmas trees, shop for holiday gifts, plus enjoy light refreshments and holiday music.  As an added bonus, maps - Mount Airy Professionals of Surry will be hosting "Cookies with Santa" from 1 to 5pm. Music by the Taylor Brothers 11 AM, Chester McMillan and students 1 PM, Zephyr Lightning Bolts 2 PM, Back Step 3PM. 

7). President James K. Polk State Historic Site invites you to “Christmas in Mecklenburg County with the Polks.” Come out December 14^th and learn about food and customs from Christmas in 1802! Buildings will be decorated in the 19th century style and a living history vignette will be on display in the main house. The Catawba Valley Cooking Guild will be on hand to present a festive feast for the holiday season. Historic holiday crafts will be available for children to create! Hours: 11:00am - 3:00pm. Admission: Free.

8). The Museum and Archives of Rockingham County, The MARC, will present the final event in its Dinner and History Series on Saturday, December 7 from 4-7pm titled “Remembering Pearl Harbor and Those That Serve” at the museum, located in the former Rockingham County Courthouse in Wentworth.  This program will feature a presentation by Marilyn Swinson, author of Scars of War, the story of the late Rockingham County veteran Bouse Williams, a Mayodan man who was on board the USS Pennsylvania at the time of the attack.  Other speakers will include Rep. Howard Coble, Rockingham County Commissioner Mark Richardson, Sheriff Sam Page and Glen Johnson, director of Disabled American Veterans. The McMichael High School Chorus will present the official songs of the branches of the U.S. Military. Tickets for the dinner and program are $15 for adults ($12 for senior citizens).  The Dinner and History Series has been very popular, and seating for the meal is limited, so tickets should be ordered early and no later than noon, December 5.  Tickets are also available for the program only, available in advance and at the door at a cost of $5 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens.  For the dinner, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.  Tickets may be purchased on line at the MARC website, www.themarconline.org, in person at the museum, or by telephone at 336-634-4949.

9). Museum of the Albemarle invites you to “Holiday Open House:  A Polar Express Adventure” on Saturday, December 7^th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The film The Polar Express will be shown at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. A visit from Santa will take place from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Experience the sights and sounds of the holidays at A Polar Express Adventure.  Delight in the Albemarle Railroad Club’s O-scale train display of the village in the feature film, Polar Express.   Junior Docents will help you make a special keepsake bell ornament. Bring your camera for a photo opportunity you don’t want to miss. Enjoy a jingle bell carriage ride ($5 per person, with Carolina Carriages) and pony rides ($3 per child, with Circle S Stables).  Santa will be present to hear your holiday wishes. Share a cup of hot chocolate and holiday cookies.  Shop the Museum Gift Shop for that special gift–many items will be at a 10 percent discount.  Jonkonnu will perform reenactments of an 1800s celebration when enslaved Africans living in eastern North Carolina celebrated Jonkonnu, a blending of African and English traditions that included costumed and masked musicians and dancers parading and soliciting coins. Jonkonnu will dance and sing in the annual Elizabeth City Jaycees Christmas Parade.  Performances are supported by the Judge Thomas Watts Memorial Endowment, administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation. 

10). Old Salem Museum and Gardens invites you to “19th Century Christmas by Candlelight Tours” on December 6, 7, 13, 19, 20 & 21. This special evening includes Candlelight tours, music and food! Tour times are 6:30, 7, 7:30, and 8 p.m. Tickets are $20/adults, $15/children ($18/$13 for Friends of Old Salem). Pre-registration required.*