A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Tanglewood Festival of Lights   CLEMMONS • NOVEMEBER 21-JANUARY 3 Pile everyone into the backseat, blast the heat, and marvel at giant, twinkling light displays from the comfort of your

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Tanglewood Festival of Lights   CLEMMONS • NOVEMEBER 21-JANUARY 3 Pile everyone into the backseat, blast the heat, and marvel at giant, twinkling light displays from the comfort of your

Triad Holiday Handbook

greensboro skyline

Tanglewood Festival of Lights  

CLEMMONS • NOVEMEBER 21-JANUARY 3
Pile everyone into the backseat, blast the heat, and marvel at giant, twinkling light displays from the comfort of your own car. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be making appearances until December 23.

6-11 p.m. Tanglewood Park. Cars $15. forsyth.cc.

7th Annual Country Christmas Train

DENTON • NOVEMBER 27-29, DECEMBER 4-6, 11-13, 17-23, 26-27
Hop aboard a lit-up locomotive and ride along the Handy Dandy Railroad at Denton FarmPark, a historical park with 15 restored buildings, including a general store and blacksmith shop. Make time to meander; Santa’s cabin, the gingerbread house, and the doll museum are all worth exploring.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Denton FarmPark. Adults $12. Children 12 and younger $5. Children 4 and younger free. (336) 859-2755. dentonfarmpark.com.

Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity

GREENSBORO • NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 24
This original nativity play features an unlikely but welcome backdrop: the peaks and valleys of our Blue Ridge Mountains. The popular, long-running production features toe-tapping music and light-hearted fun the whole family will enjoy.

Triad Stage. Ticket prices vary. (336) 272-0160. triadstage.org.  

Linbrook Hall Christmas Tours

TRINITY • NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 31
There are lots of halls to deck with holly at Linbrook Heritage Estate, where one of the largest homes in the Southeast is located. Linbrook Hall might be big, but guests can enjoy the simple festive pleasures like crackling fires and cups of cider during their visit.

Tour reservations required. Admission $25. Linbrook Heritage Estate. (336) 861-6959. linbrookheritageestate.com.

Holiday Ornament Sale

STAR • DECEMBER 5
Peruse a selection of more than 2,000 hand-blown ornaments made right in the literal geographic heart of the state. This Christmas, adorn your Fraser fir with an extra bit of cheer and North Carolina pride.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. (910) 428-9001. starworksnc.org.

The Night Before Christmas at Körner’s Folly Puppet Show

KERNERSVILLE • DECEMBER 5, 11, & 12
Kernerville’s most spirited and imaginative house is even more so during the holidays, and children of all ages will enjoy a puppet-filled enactment of the Clement C. Moore classic, The Night Before Christmas. If during your visit there arises such a clatter, just know its probably Santa trying to navigate the house’s peculiar nooks and trapdoors.

Körner’s Folly. Tickets $5. (336) 996-7922. kornersfolly.org.

Holiday Magic: A Dickens Christmas

BURLINGTON • DECEMBER 11
As you revel in the merriment of the season, you’ll feel as if the streets of downtown Burlington have transformed into those of Victorian England. Enjoy carriage rides, caroling, and perhaps even a little (artificial) snowfall.

6-9 p.m. Free admission. Downtown. (336) 222-5030. btowneventsnc.com.

Anniversary Lovefeast at St. Philips African Moravian Church

WINSTON-SALEM • DECEMBER 12
Be a part of a traditional religious service that was first introduced to North Carolina by Moravians in 1753. Taking place in the oldest standing African-American church in North Carolina, this ceremony has plenty of Lovefeast buns, tea, and fellowship to go around.

11 a.m.-Noon. Free admission. St. Philips African Moravian Church. (336) 721-7399. oldsalem.org.

Muttcracker

GREENSBORO • DECEMBER 13
More than a dozen four-legged friends will make cameo appearances in a one-time performance of Muttcracker, which is part of the Carolina Theatre’s annual run of The Nutcracker, performed by the Greensboro Ballet. Applaud — or bark — if you please. Attendees are asked to bring donations of dog or cat food to benefit the Triad SPCA.

2 p.m. Tickets $15-35. Carolina Theatre. (336) 333-2605. greensboroballet.org.

Walkerdance Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker

ELON • DECEMBER 18, 19, 20
Long after dancers chassé off the stage following this charming and festive performance of The Nutcracker, visions of sugarplums will still be dancing in your head. Showcasing the skills of a talented rank of young ballet students, this Walkerdance Ballet Theatre production is a decades-long tradition in the Elon community.

Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees, 2 p.m. Adults $15. Children and students $12. McCrary Theatre at Elon University. thewalkerdance.com.

This story was published on Nov 17, 2015

Katie Quine

Quine is a digital marketing coordinator for the Grand Ole Opry and the former digital editor of Our State. She freelances from Nashville, Tennessee.