The Department of Cultural Resources offers family fun for the holidays. From festive frolics at Historic Sites around the state to musical memories at museums, there is something for everyone, including gift shops at many locations. Most events are free. For more information about Cultural Resources, go to www.ncculture.com. These are just a sample of activities around the department.
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Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29, Tryon Palace, New Bern – Centuries of Celebrations
Come enjoy a special Christmas tour of the Palace, three historic houses and festooned gardens, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
Performances include:
•Simon Spalding will present a different themed one-man act each day that will be a mixture of character portrayal and music. Performances will take place in the Visitor Center Auditorium at noon and 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, and feature performances from the colonial (Friday), Civil War (Saturday), and Revolutionary War (Sunday) periods. Performances last approximately 45 minutes.
•Storyteller Terry Rollins will offer holiday stories in the Visitor Center Auditorium at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes.
•Musical group Thursday Morn’ will present two 45-minute colonial concerts between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Carriage Bay of the Stable Office.
Tuesday, Dec. 1; Thursday, Dec. 3, Aycock Birthplace, Fremont – Candlelight Tours
The Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace will be holding its annual Christmas Candlelight Tours program on Dec. 1 & Dec. 3 from 6:30-9 both nights. The Dec 1 program will feature the Primitive Baptist Singers, and the Dec. 3 program will feature a craft room for kids. On both nights, there will be a shadow play in the one-room school, costumed interpreters in the house telling visitors about 19th-century Christmas traditions, and a costumed interpreter demonstrating open-hearth cooking.
Tuesday, Dec. 1- Saturday, Dec. 12, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo – 12 Days of Christmas Sale
The Museum store is holding its seventh annual 12 Days of Christmas Sale, Tuesday, Dec. 1 through Saturday, Dec. 12. Each day there will be a new category added with some discounts up to 50% off. The discount will begin on specified date and remain until the last day of sale. Sale is not valid with other discounts. Call (252) 475-1500 for more information, ext. 252.
Friday, Dec. 4, RIFP – Santa at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum
The Oakwood Waits choral group will sing at the Museum from 7-9 p.m. Santa will be there too! Call (252) 475-1750 or go to www.roanokeisland.com.
Saturday, Dec. 5, Historic Stagville, Durham – “Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters”
Historic Stagville will present the free holiday program, “Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters” Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bluegrass and Appalachian music, African American drumming and storytelling, artisans, and Durham barbecue from Bullock’s, will offer a generous dose of unique history.
Guests can see and take part in traditions that were part of Christmas celebrations for both the planter family and the enslaved community. Kids can discover colonial games like hoops and chuck-farthing (coin throwing), and will be able to make and take home an ornament as well. Other demonstrations include blacksmithing, weaving, and wood turning. For more information call (919) 620-0120.
Saturday, Dec. 5 – Town of Manteo Christmas Parade
Santa will be at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum following the 10:30 a.m. parade down Budleigh Street in Manteo. (252) 473-1912
Saturday, Dec. 5, RIFP – Oakwood Waits in Concert
The talented group will feature a selection of holiday music in the film theater at 7 p.m. The choral group can also be seen and heard in the Town of Manteo Christmas Parade, also on Dec. 5. Admission $5. Children 5 and under free. Call (252) 475-1500 or go to www.roanokeisland.com.
Saturday, Dec. 5, Tryon Palace – “The Night Before Christmas”
“‘Twas the Night before Christmas” with Alma Gibbons will be presented at 1 p.m. in the Visitor Center Auditorium. The cost is $4 per adult, $2 per student; Included with regular admission. More holiday spirit is in store that day – make Victorian ornaments, warm up with cider and cookies, and sing festive holiday carols.
Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 5-20, Transportation Museum, Spencer – Santa Train
Santa Claus will park his sleigh each weekend before Christmas and instead ride the rails, during “Santa Train” at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer. Each Saturday and Sunday before Christmas, Santa Claus will arrive at the Barber Junction Visitor’s Center aboard an antique fire truck. Greeting children and parents alike, the man in the big red suit will board the train for a ride around the N.C. Transportation Museum’s 57 acre site.
During the ride, Santa and his helpers hand out oranges and candy canes, a Southern Railway tradition. It was during the Great Depression that children would gather alongside the railroad line as Southern Railway trains passed by. Engineers and employees of the Southern Railway would hand out treats for Christmas, and the Transportation Museum continues the tradition.
Santa Train rolls out Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20. Saturday train ride times are 10, 10:45 and 11:30 a.m.; and 1, 1:45, 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. Sunday train rides are at 1:30, 2:15, 3, and 3:45 p.m. Tickets are only available on the day of the event, so participants are urged to arrive early to get a seat. Tickets are $7 per person or $6 per person with the donation of an unwrapped gift for needy children. Children younger than three who can sit on a guardian’s lap for the length of the train ride do not need a ticket to ride the train.
For more information on “Santa Train,” and other holiday events at the Transportation Museum, including “Cookies and Cocoa with Santa,” and the “Jingle Bell Express,” call (704) 636-2889.
Sunday, Dec. 6, Somerset Place, Creswell – Down East Holiday Celebration
Somerset Place State Historic Site will host a free Down East holiday celebration Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1- 4 p.m. Here at what was once one of the upper South’s largest antebellum plantations, visitors can enjoy historic Christmas decorations, share a tasty meal of black-eyed peas and hearth cooked cornbread and finish off by sampling homemade desserts. In keeping with the site’s holiday theme of “Made off the Land,” Somerset Place is also sponsoring a homemade holiday decorations competition in partnership with local schools. Prizes will be awarded for the best submissions to participating elementary, middle, and high school departments for the best decorations created from natural materials.
Tuesday, Dec. 8, Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City – Junior Museum Explorers
What were the holidays like in the 1930s and 1940s? Junior Museum Explorers will find out by going on a specialized gallery tour and doing a hands-on activity, Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free for students ages 12 through 17. For more information call (252) 335-1453.
Friday, Dec. 11, RIFP – Violins & Voices - A Classical Christmas
Violins & Voices – a Classical Christmas will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11, in the RIFP Film Theater. Performers include: Angelo Sonnesso,Tenor; Lisa Martinez, Soprano; Christian Jackle, Soprano; Nick Hodsdon, Baritone; Sue Artz, Violin; and David Spangler, piano. Tickets are $10. The event is a benefit for GEM. Refreshments will be served following the performance. For more information call (252) 475-1500 or www.roanokeisland.com
Friday, Dec. 11, Duke Homestead, Durham – Christmas at the Homestead
Celebrate an 1870 Christmas during evening tours of the Homestead from 7-9 p.m. The free tours feature period decorations, caroling, hot apple cider and other goodies. For information, call (919) 477-5498.
Friday, Dec. 11, Historic Edenton - Caroling In the Courthouse
Community Christmas caroling will ring out at the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse, Friday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served after. For more information, call Keith Furlough at (252) 482-2637.
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 11-12, Historic Edenton – Iredell House Groaning Board
An 18-Century style Christmas decorations, music, and a holiday dessert groaning board, will be held, Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12, from 1-5 p.m. each day. Tables are so heavily laden with food visitors will almost hear the boards “groan.” Call (252) 482-2637 for more information.1-5 p.m.
Saturdays, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, Tryon Palace – Christmas Candlelight & Grand Illumination
Costumed guides will escort visitors through the first floor and cellar of the Palace and Kitchen Office from 5 to 9 p.m., which will be outfitted for the holidays and lit with candle globes and fire baskets to create an ambiance of times past. Tickets are $15 for adults and $6 for students.
Music and entertainment will take place throughout the Palace and gardens with costumed dancers, musicians, and dynamic performers giving shows of acrobatics, juggling, sword swallowing and more. There will be plenty of activity outside the Palace gates too, as the Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps parades from George Street to the Palace and the Jonkonnu troop performs their lively mix of songs and dances in an African American Christmas celebration from the 18th and 19th centuries. At the end of each evening, a Grand Illumination takes place on the south lawn.
Saturday, Dec. 12, Historic Halifax – “Christmas in Halifax” Program
The free program “Christmas in Halifax” will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The State Historic Site’s buildings will be open for guided and self-guided tours and will be festively decorated using natural materials. Learn about Christmas in colonial times. Enjoy living history demonstrations by the 5th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line as they demonstrate military camp life and fire a swivel-gun, a reproduction 18th-century artillery piece. Enjoy the spirit of a small town Christmas!
Saturday, Dec. 12, Museum of the Albemarle – Designer’s Workshop-Deck Those Halls
Workshop participants can design and make their own holiday decoration on Saturday Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All supplies and a catered lunch are included. Registration and fee required. For more information call (252) 335-1453.
Sunday, Dec. 13, Historic Bath – Christmas Open House
Join the staff at Historic Bath at a free Open House on Sunday, Dec. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. The 1751 Palmer-Marsh House will be resplendent in all its glory; the house will be decked with fruit and greenery, and the Ad Hoc Players (Lorrain Hale and Don Shiffler) will perform period music by voice and on an assortment of instruments. The 1830 Bonner House will also be adorned with natural decorations and is the location to see gingerbread being baked at the hearth and to watch apple juice being manually pressed from a machine. The 1790 Van Der Veer House and the Visitor Center, where a short orientation film can be viewed, will welcome guests to the site. The 1734 St. Thomas Episcopal Church will also be decorated in period fashion and open to visitors. Refreshments will be served.
Friday, Dec. 18, Museum of the Albemarle – Jingle Bell Workshops
The Museum of the Albemarle will host two workshops for children where they can learn about the history of gingerbread at Christmas, and decorate a gingerbread house. Pre-schoolers ages 3-5 meet from 10-11 a.m. Children in grades K-3 meet from 3:30-5 p.m. Registration and fee required for both programs. For more information call (252) 335-1453.
Saturday, Dec. 19, RIFP – “Elizabethan Christmas” Celebration
On Saturday, Dec. 19, Roanoke Island Festival Park will celebrate an Elizabethan Christmas from noon to 5 p.m. Visitors can get a taste of 16th century holiday traditions as they make decorations, learn special dances, sing songs, discover food and drink of the season, and indulge in merriment with members of the Guild of St. Andrew. Many events will be held inside and the celebration will go on, rain or shine. In the Settlement Site visitors can join with the interpreters as they “recreate” their celebration in the American wilderness, with simple decorations and a roast over the open fire. There may even be a few more surprises of the season. For more information call (252) 475-1500 or www.roanokeisland.com.
Sunday, Dec. 20, RIFP – 4th Sunday Program: Trio la Mer
The Trio La Mer is a chamber group of local musicians featuring John Buford, piano; Leslie Erickson, violin; and Sue Waters, viola. They perform music from the Baroque to the Contemporary periods, including some original arrangements, Sunday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. in the Film Theatre. Admission is included in the general admission ticket to the Park. For more information call (252) 475-1500 or visit www.roanokeisland.com.
Tuesday, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh – Time for Tots: Seasonal Symbols
From menorahs to Moravian stars, children ages 3-5, with an adult, can find out what different symbols of winter holidays mean, and can make their own stenciled place mat to take home. 10–10:45 a.m. To register, call (919) 807-7992.
Thursday, Dec. 3, N.C. MOH – History Corner: Christmas Trees
Growing trees for the holiday season is one of North Carolina’s biggest industries. On Thursday, Dec. 3, from 10-11 a.m., children ages 5-9, with an adult, can find out how trees became a holiday symbol and create their own decoration. The program is presented with Cameron Village Regional Library. To register, call (919) 807-7992.
Saturday, Dec. 5; Reed Gold Mine, Midland – “A Golden Christmas”
Reed Gold Mine will present “A Golden Christmas” Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special tours are given by costumed interpreters with the mine illuminated by lanterns and candlelight, much as it would have been when the mine was active. Tours focus on the miners who were working and how they would have celebrated the holidays, including the Germanic origins of many modern-day celebrations. Enjoy refreshments and cookies provided by the Cabarrus County Extension and Community Association. Local choirs will present their programs in the auditorium, while craftsmen display quilting, lace, toy making and other crafts. For more information, call (704) 721-4653, or e-mail johnreed1799@gmail.com.
Saturday, Dec. 5, Bentonville Battlefield, Four Oaks – Christmas Open House
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site’s will host a Christmas Open House Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can experience what holiday furlough was like during the Civil War, help decorate an 1860s-style Christmas tree, hear holiday music, and spend time with Confederate soldiers and civilians around the campfire. Small arms drills will be presented, along with musket demonstrations, uniform talks, mail call and discussion of everyday life for the soldiers. The 1855 Harper House will be set up as a Union field hospital and will have hourly tours of the festively decorated kitchen. For information, call (910) 594-0789.
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6, Governor’s Western Residence – Holiday Open House
The board of directors of the Governor’s Western Residence invites visitors to the Asheville home to view its holiday decorations Dec. 5-6. Dates and times are: Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, 1-6 p.m.
No advance reservation is necessary. The Governor’s Western Residence is located at 45 Patton Mountain Road. For questions regarding the Western Residence open house, visitors should contact Juleigh Sitton at (828)-430-0054.
Sunday, Dec. 6, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Sedalia – Christmas Open House
The museum and campus at Historic Palmer Memorial Institute will open their doors to celebrate the season Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1-5 p.m. Dr. Brown’s home, Canary Cottage, will be decorated as it would have been for Christmas in the 1940s. There will be music, crafts, fun and surprises for the whole family at this free event. The museum is located on Hwy. 70 in Sedalia, between Burlington and Greensboro, I-85/40 Exit 135 (follow the brown signs to the site). Call (336) 449-4846 for more information.
Sunday, Dec. 6, N.C. Museum of History - Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble
Get into a seasonal mood with some cool jazz. This group of talented young musicians from local high schools will perform a variety of holiday classics on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 3-4 p.m. For more information, call (919) 807-7900.
Wednesday, Dec. 9, N.C. Museum of History – History à la Carte: Christmas in the 1940s
During World War II, Christmas brought dreams of peace and wishes for normalcy in the midst of rationing and personal sacrifice. Sandy Webbere, Associate Curator at the Museum, will talk about this memorable period in North Carolina’s past as part of the “History a la Carte” from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. Free. Participants should bring their lunch, but beverages are provided. For information, call (919) 807-7900.
Thursday, Dec. 10, State Capitol – Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Gov. Bev Perdue and First Gentleman Bob Eaves will light the tree on the grounds of the State Capitol Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6:15 p.m. The celebration officially starts at 5 p.m. with luminaries being lit and holiday music by the Kernersville Glenn High School Chorus. Local performers, including the Raleigh Concert Band, will entertain guests on the Capitol grounds and Bicentennial Plaza after the tree lighting. The annual holiday open house will begin at 6:30 p.m. As it has for more than 30 years, the Raleigh Garden Club is decorating the historic Capitol. The General Assembly Chorus will perform in the Rotunda until 7:30 p.m. Visitors will find the Museum of History and gift shop open, and will enjoy the giant decorated tree in the lobby. Old fashioned toys and games, “make and take” paper tree ornaments, and exhibits add to the fun. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences also will be open, and will offer hands on activities and “meet the animals” for children. Both museums will close at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10. For information, call (919) 733-4994.
Before the Tree Lighting Ceremony that night, a chorus of Girl Scouts will be caroling for a cause. They are asking people to bring non-perishable food items that the Girl Scouts will donate to local food pantries. Troops from the Raleigh/Cary area will sing winter carols from 5:15-6 p.m. at the east entrance of the State Capitol. Visitors are encouraged to bring canned foods, rice, dried beans, peanut butter and soup for the collection bins. Girl Scout Troop 244 of Cary will deliver the donations to area food pantries.
Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 10-13, Executive Mansion, Raleigh – Holiday Open House
Governor Bev Perdue invites the public to visit the Executive Mansion – the People’s House – for a Holiday Open House Dec. 10-13. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the mansion’s beautiful decorations and enjoy holiday entertainment provided by musical and choral groups from across the state.
Executive Mansion Holiday Open House Dates and Times: Thursday, Dec. 10, Noon – 8 p.m. (Coinciding with the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting); Friday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 12 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 13, 1-4 p.m.
No advance reservation is necessary but due to the popularity of this event, visitors should try to arrive at least an hour prior to closing. The Executive Mansion is located at 200 N. Blount Street. For questions regarding the Executive Mansion open house, visitors should call Capitol Area Visitors Services at 919-807-7950 or toll-free at 866-724-8687.
Saturday, Dec. 12, Alamance Battleground, Burlington – A Scherenschnitte Christmas
Alamance Battleground State Historic Site, located in Burlington, will host the program “A Scherenschnitte Christmas” on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Scherenschnitte is a traditional art involving the cutting of paper into all kinds of beautiful designs. Visitors can cut out a Christmas design of their own and take it home for use as an ornament or a decoration. Light refreshments, including hot cider, will be available for visitors. Admission is free. Call (336) 227-4785 for additional information.
Saturday, Dec.12, House in the Horseshoe, Sanford – Christmas Open House
The House in the Horseshoe will celebrate a colonial Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The House, once site of a Revolutionary War skirmish, will be fully decorated for the holidays and open for visitors. Re-enactors will be on site demonstrating colonial skills and crafts including musket and cannon firings. Refreshments will be served. All buildings are handicap accessible. Admission is free. The House in the Horseshoe is located 16 miles west of Sanford off N.C. 42 and 10 miles north of Carthage on the Carbonton-Carthage Rd (S.R. 1006/1631). For more information call (910) 947-2051.
Saturday, Dec.12, President James K. Polk State Historic Site, Pineville – “Christmas in Mecklenburg County with the Polks”
The free program “Christmas in Mecklenburg County with the Polks” will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will see a living history vignette in the main house. Each building will be decorated in the 19th-century style! Come and learn about food and customs from Christmas in 1802. Hours: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. For information, call (704) 889-7145.
Saturday-Sunday, Dec.12-13, – Fort Dobbs, Statesville – Winter on the Western Frontier and Candlelight Tour Dec. 12
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will present “Wintering in Wartime” Saturday and Sunday, Dec.12-13, from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. A special candlelight tour of the site will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Dec. 12. See the face of history as it was 250 years ago as North Carolina Provincial soldiers at Fort Dobbs dealt with the harsh winter season and celebrated the Advent of Christmas. Living history demonstrations include on-going display of camp life, military drill, musket and cannon firings. Evening programs will feature a tour of the Provincial camp and fort site, rare night-time firing of the Fort’s artillery, and colonial caroling and music! Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the tastes of the 18th century at the Fort’s Visitor Center, where mulled cider and ginger snaps will be served. For information, call (704) 873-5882.
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 12-13, Bennett Place State Historic Site, Durham – Christmas in the Carolinas During the Civil War
Visitors to Bennett Place during the holiday season can see how Christmas was celebrated in the Piedmont Carolinas. The farm will be decorated in a typical Christmas fashion. On Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Historic Site will present music, caroling, and refreshments. For more information call (919) 383-4345.
Sunday, Dec. 13, N.C. Museum of History – Mappamundi Performance”
The band Mappamundi (“map of the world”) performs acoustic music from Europe, the British Isles, colonial America and Latin America. The talented group, which features strong harmony vocals and plays a wide range of instruments, will perform from 3-4 p.m. Songs include Hanukkah music. PineCone co-sponsors the performance. For information, call (919) 807-7900.
Sunday, December 13 – Vance Birthplace, Weaverville – Christmas Candlelight Tours
Candlelight tours of the Vance Home will be offered during the evening of December 13. Tours will be held from 4-7 p.m. For more information call (828) 645-6706.
Saturday, Dec.19 – Town Creek Indian Mound, Mt. Gilead – “Christmas for the Birds” Program
Town Creek Indian Mound will hold a “Christmas for the Birds” program on Saturday, Dec. 19, from Participants will create homemade pinecone bird feeders and help the staff decorate the trees along the entrance with these festive “ornaments.” Warm refreshments will be served in the museum gift shop. The event is free, but donations are welcome. Call (910) 439-6802 for workshop times.
Saturday, Dec. 19 – Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Asheville – “Christmas on the Mountain” program with Sheila Kay Adams
Noted balladeer and storyteller Sheila Kay Adams will present an evening of Southern Appalachian mountain Christmas stories, traditional ballads and music in two shows at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site in Asheville on Saturday, Dec. 19. “Christmas on the Mountain,” drawn from Adams’ own holiday childhood experiences growing up in Madison County, will be presented at 6 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission and are available at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial’s visitor center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Seating is limited. For more information call (828) 253-8304.
Thursday, Dec. 31, N.C. Museum of History – First Night Raleigh 2010
The Museum of History will be at the heart of the children’s celebration from 2-6 p.m., at this annual New Year’s Eve festival of the arts. Nighttime events will take place from 7-11 p.m. (First Night button required for entry). For information, call Artsplosure at (919) 990-1158 or visit www.artsplosure.org.
OTHER EVENTS
The North Carolina Symphony will hold its annual Holiday Pops concerts at venues around the state in November and December, culminating with a festive New Year’s Eve celebration in Raleigh’s Meymandi Hall. For more information, go to www.ncsymphony.org. The North Carolina Arts Council lists a number of holiday happenings in its events calendar, available at www.ncarts.org.
Authentic Artful and Well Crafted Gifts
Take time to find that special gift that’s not in the local discount store this holiday season. Plenty of unique and carefully crafted gifts are available at the museums and state historic sites of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
There are hand-crafted model boats at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort and duck decoys at the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City. There are period toys from the Thomas Wolfe Memorial in Asheville to Fort Fisher in Kure Beach. There are many locally made items at Roanoke Island Festival Park, and the park is offering a special 12 Days of Christmas Sale on other gifts from Dec. 1-12.
Each of the 27 state historic sites includes a shop with period appropriate toys and gifts. The N.C. Museum of History offers gift baskets, books and videos, prints, and pottery too. Many of the items are available through the museum’s online store. The N.C. Museum of Art is closed for remodeling through April 2010, but its online store offers art books, innovative design objects, signature N.C. Museum of Art products, and much more. All sales from museum shops support programming at the museums.
A good book is always a good gift, and the N.C. Historical Publications online shop has more than 60 titles in its holiday sale. Colonial history, African American history, pirates, and many other topics are well covered in its catalog.
The North Carolina Arts Council has a special Web site devoted to artful ways to experience holidays. The Arts Council’s Artful Holidays Guide makes it easy to connect with the artists, musicians, dancers, singers, authors, playwrights and other creative artisans living across our state.
The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.ncculture.com.