Related: Read more about Christmastime at Tryon Palace.
Every December, visitors come to Tryon Palace to see holiday grandeur and finery, but palace staff also want them to understand how modern amenities skew our idea of what the past was actually like. Each year during Candlelight Christmas, they tell stories of what was happening in the world during the late 1700s through decor, historical interpreters, performances, and more — and visitors absorb the sights and sounds of the colonial era at Christmastime.
In busy workshops and bright stores, our state’s toymakers and purveyors keep wonder alive. Dolls, trains, and games remind us: The joy of play never grows old.
Whether it’s secret Santa or the company cookie swap, sweet gatherings get everyone into the Christmas spirit.
Among dazzling lanterns, silk creatures, and twinkling lights at the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, one little boy leads his parents straight to the heart of the holidays.
Sparkling streets, local traditions, and the cozy charm of a city wrapped in holiday wonder — Asheville offers merriment for every age of visitor.
