Yule Love These Holiday Celebrations

Tis the season to overindulge, and that extends to the hundreds of holiday celebrations that will take place in North Carolina throughout December. We spend too much money and we eat too much food, so what's another excess or two?

One traditional favorite takes place Dec. 16 in Winston-Salem when historic Old Salem celebrates its 35th annual “Salem Christmas.” The holiday season is recognized and interpreted by costumed guides at Old Salem from Nov. 18 through New Year's Eve, but “Salem Christmas” is a concentrated afternoon and evening recreating a Moravian backcountry Christmas as it was lived out in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The living history town and museums are open as usual in the morning, but the focus of activity is early afternoon through early evening.

It also marks the only day of the year when, for a short spell between nightfall and 7 p.m., the historic buildings that date to 1769 are open to the public for candlelight tours. A Candlelight Carol Sing, complete with an explanation of Moravian holiday traditions, will begin at about 6:30 p.m. on Main Street between Salem Square and the Single Brothers' House. This event is open to everyone and is free of charge.

Included in the day's events are “Feasts and Festivity in the South” at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, where this unique museum's newest rooms are decorated for the Southern Christmas of that era (open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). MESDA is located near the south end of the historic district at 924 S. Main — in the same building as The Gallery at Old Salem and The Children's Museum at Old Salem.

Visitors can check at the Old Salem Visitor Center (Old Salem Road at Academy Street) for details, or call about purchasing advance tickets for the event. The day's ticket prices have not yet been set.

Information about Old Salem and “Salem Christmas” is available by calling Old Salem at 1-888-653-7253 or 336-721-7300, or visiting www.oldsalem.org.

Looking for more holiday fun? From the mountains to the coast, here are a handful of other events that we think would be worth your while:

Christmas By The Sea Festival in Southport, Dec. 4-18. This coastal celebration includes a lighted boat flotilla, band concerts, a tour of beach homes, and a tour of historic homes. Info: 800-457-6964.

The Nutcracker; Dec. 9-10 in Greensboro; Dec. 15-17 in Raleigh; Dec. 15-17, 21-24, 28-30 in Charlotte. Travel with the lovely young Clara on her magical adventure, performed by dancers and musicians from the respective cities putting on the shows. Info: 336-333-7480 (Greensboro); 919-733-2750 (Raleigh); and 704-372-1000 (Charlotte).

Christmas Town USA in McAdenville through Dec. 26. In a tradition that dates to 1956, this small textile town just off Interstate 85 between Charlotte and Gastonia is decorated with thousands of lights. Info: 704-824-3551.

A Grove Park Christmas in Asheville through Dec. 29. The legendary inn is filled with elaborate decorations and events, including festive trees, yards of garlands and dozens of gingerbread houses. Info: 800-438-0050, ext. 8045.

A Barn Broadway Christmas in Greensboro through Dec. 31. Experience the lights and dazzle of Broadway in a holiday revue song and dance. Featuring Broadway's best songs and traditional Christmas tunes. Info: 336-292-2211 or 800-668-1764.

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She appeared in 61 films in an acting career that spanned 44 years, and now Smithfield's most famous daughter has a permanent museum home. After several temporary locations, the Ava Gardner Museum is now housed at 325 E. Market Street in downtown.

The museum originally was established by Tom Banks, who, at the age of 12 in 1939, was kissed on the cheek by Gardner, then a young girl attending secretarial school in Wilson. In the early 1980s, Banks purchased the house where Gardner had lived from ages 2 to 13, and operated his own museum during summers until his death nine years later. The town had since operated the museum in temporary quarters while a permanent home was sought.

Gardner, whose most memorable films are “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “Mogambo” and “The Barefoot Contessa,” was married to Frank Sinatra. She made her last public appearance in North Carolina in 1978 at the Rock Ridge High School reunion with Gov. Jim Hunt, who is also a Rock Ridge High graduate. She died Jan. 25, 1990, at age 67, and is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and teen-agers, and $2 for children under 12. For more information, call 919-934-5830.