The Holly Day Celebration on the Neuse tree lighting will be the catalyst that will set the downtown aglow on Tuesday night.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. when downtown shops will open their doors with festive offerings. Activities and shopping will end at 8:30 p.m.
The community Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on the steps of the Lenoir County Courthouse with Rick Vernon of Tutt Media Group as the emcee.
New City Councilman Wyn Whittington, returning City Councilman Robbie Swinson and Mayor B.J. Murphy have been invited to help light the tree.
The Kinston High School band, Lenoir County Boys and Girls Club chorus and Arendell Parrott Academy chorus will perform.
Other activities will include buggy rides, dining and a special visit from actors who will be representing Christmas past, present and future. New this year will be strolling minstrels.
“This year's Holly Days on the Neuse is the seventh annual version of the event,” said Adrian King, director of the Pride of Kinston. “The concept emerged from a group of downtown business owners and advocates convened by Pride in 2006 to discuss ways and means to create an event to bring extra attention to downtown in the Christmas season.”
The goals for downtown included heightening public awareness for Kinston's downtown as a place to celebrate the season and keep tax dollars in the city, showcasing area talent for downtown entertainment and fanning the flames of hope and opportunity which was beginning to be ignited by the establishment of the Chef and the Farmer restaurant.
Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Lee Sylvester said this year’s event is starting a half-hour earlier.
“We’re encouraging people to come early and stay late and have dinner,” she said. “It’s geared for grownups to have an evening of strolling the downtown, shopping and dining.”
The events will encompass the area of Herritage and Queen streets and the side streets in between.
Participating businesses will have paper luminaries on the sidewalk in front of their shops and restaurants.
Sylvester said Holly Days invited the Ronald McDonald House to bring luminaries to the event. People can purchase complete sets — which include a candle, sand and bag — to take home and use for holiday décor.
Ten complete kits cost $10, with the proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House.
“Ten dollars will put up a family for one evening at the Ronald McDonald House,” Sylvester said.
Holly Days started with a number of organizations having their own holiday reception, King said.
Pride joined with Lenoir County to purchase a community Christmas tree for the courthouse lawn in 2008.
“These celebrations around the tree, often covered by the Free Press and regional television for audiences far beyond Lenoir County, became favored attractions for residents throughout the community. It warmed the cockles of our hearts,” he said.
As the business community began to grow, it became an event with shops and restaurants opening for special hours and festive activities taking place.
The chamber’s involvement in the organization of the celebration is new this year.
“While Pride remains deeply involved in the signature tree lighting ceremony, the chamber has joined with many of the businesses to add even more spice to the event,” he said.
The celebration will be a precursor to Kinston’s annual Christmas parade to be held 10 a.m. on Dec. 14 in downtown.
“The importance of Holly Days is to have a festive event for the residents and is definitely an opportunity for our businesses to thrive during the holiday season,” Sylvester said.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
Breakout box:
The following are some of the Holly Day happenings at local businesses:
Queen Street
consignedDesigns — Christmas carolers, special discounts
Queen Street Deli — Find them also at the Farmer’s Market
Sarah House of Styles — Holiday festivities
Herritage Street
Adrianas — Gourmet food and hot cider samples, door prizes, treats, discounts
Barbaros — Coffee, soups, dips and other samples, discount
Designs by Shelia — Drawing for discounts
Mother Earth Brewing — $5 pours of Silent Night
Mother Earth Store — Merchandise on sale
Parrott’s General Store — Unique gift assortment
Salon Steven — Christmas music on the deck
Stitches & Stuff — Drawing for monogrammed tote bag and holiday scarf
The Overland Gallery — refreshments, artist demonstrations, discounts
The Red Room — Christmas carolers and drinks
The Right Angle — Have art and photos framed for Christmas
Weeping Willow Boutique — Pick a discount off a Christmas tree
Herritage/Gordon streets
Farmer’s Market — Vendors selling wreaths, roping, greenery, jams, jellies, hot chocolate, cookies, preserves, handmade products, gift baskets, pork skins, more; light pre-dinner snacks will be served
Living Well Down East — Mulled cider, discount with purchase
Massage Works of Kinston — Discount on gift certificates with purchase
Ronald McDonald House — Fundraising luminary sale
Restaurants
Chef and the Farmer — Wine shop discounts
Ginger 108 — Two-meal discount
Our Picnic Basket — Special menu, punch served
The Folded Napkin — Dine-in menu for Holly Day only
The Boiler Room — Discount on eggnog