Special to Iredell Free News
Kick of the holiday season in Downtown Statesville with the lighting of the Christmas tree on Thursday, December 2. The following night will be filled with shopping, horse-drawn carriages, wonderful music, festive trolley rides, a few snowflakes, and Santa, of course!
Here’s a rundown of events planned for the month of December:
Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting
The official Cristmas Tree Lighting is set for Thursday, December 2, in front of the Old County Courthouse located at 200 South Center Street. Enjoy classic holiday songs performed by The Kincaids from 6 to 7 p.m. and watch in delight as Santa arrives in style, thanks to AP Vintage Motors. Mayor Costi Kutteh will light the tree around 6:45 p.m.
♦ Train Rides at the Statesville Civic Center: Train enthusiasts of all ages will love a ride on the Little Blue Choo, provided by the Statesville Civic Center. Adults and children alike are welcome to take a free ride and warm up with hot chocolate under the Civic Center bell tower from 6 to 9 p.m.
♦ Horse Drawn Carriage Rides sponsored by Griffin Insurance: The wonderful tradition of surrounding yourself with the sights and sounds of the holidays in a beautiful horse-drawn carriage ride through Downtown Statesville will continue this year. Carriage rides for December 2 are sold out.
Holiday Shop & Stroll Spectacular
On Friday, December 3, bring the whole family downtown for the Holiday Shop & Stroll Spectacular to experience the feeling of an old-fashioned, small town Christmas season with a dash of excitement and a sprinkle of magic!
Enjoy a fun evening of merchant open houses, many open until 8 p.m., stroll the sidewalks, listen to carolers, and enjoy the sparkle of holiday lights. Take a festive trolley ride, and experience a little snowfall magic!
Check the list below for details and join us to make lasting holiday memories with your loved ones.
♦ Visit Santa Central at City Hall: Santa Central will be filled with fun for the little ones! Visit with Santa Claus and his elves, write a letter and send it straight to the North Pole with the magic mailbox, and make a craft with Santa’s elves.There will even be popcorn and hot cocoa for warming up.
♦ Tours of City Hall sponsored by The Sharpe House Historic Players (from 6 to 8 p.m.): Take a tour of one of the architectural gems of Statesville decorated beautifully for the season! Learn about its history and reconstruction and enjoy visits from ghosts of its past.
♦ Holly Jolly Trolley Rides sponsored by Griffin Insurance (from 6 to 8 p.m.): Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of the holidays on an old-fashioned festive trolley ride through Downtown Statesville. Be entertained with magical holiday fun as you and your family see the beautifully decorated streets of Downtown Statesville aboard the festive Holly Jolly Trolley! The Holly Jolly Depot will be located at the Downtown Christmas Tree located at the Old County Courthouse at 200 South Center Street with stops at the Historic Sharpe House, the Holiday Selfie Station and Santa Central. You can jump on or off the trolley as it stops at each location on the loop every 20 minutes or so.
♦ Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides sponsored by R. Gregory Jewelers: R. Gregory Jewelers will be hosting carriage rides in front of the store each Friday in December until Christmas with donations accepted for Purple Heart Homes.
♦ Open House at the Historic Sharpe House (from 6 to 8:30 p.m.): Visit the home of Statesville’s first mayor beautifully decorated for the Holidays. Take a stroll down to The Sharpe House Historic Players’ Pasture Stage and see the festive light display.
♦ Downtown Shopping & Dining Downtown: Retailers are putting on their holiday best and opening their doors to shoppers. Stores will be decked out and stocked with this season’s best gifts for everyone on your list. Many of the shops will provide great deals and special in-store events. To go with the holiday shopping season, downtown restaurants are ready to treat you to the holiday feasting season. The menu choices are as delightful and enjoyable as the chefs who prepare them!
♦ Victorian Carolers and Music: There will be no shortage of holiday music during the Shop & Stroll! Victorian Carolers will be roaming the streets throughout the night to bring cheer to everyone around. There are also many other locations that will be hosting live music during the evening. Be sure to check the Downtown Statesville calendar (www.downtownstatesville.com) for details that night and throughout the year!
Additional December Events
♦ December 9 & 16 – Horse Drawn Carriage Rides: Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of the holidays in a beautiful horse drawn carriage ride through Downtown Statesville. Carriage rides for December 2 and 9 are sold out. You can purchase carriage rides on our website, www.downtownstatesville.com for Thursday, December 16 starting on December 6 at 11 a.m.
♦ December 9 – Holiday Pops with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra: Concert begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Statesville Civic Center
♦ December 10 & 17 – Holiday Shop & Stroll: Enjoy the feel of an old-fashioned, small town Christmas season in the streets of Downtown, while adding a dash of excitement and a sprinkle of magic! Shops will have extended shopping hours and many restaurants and establishments will have live music. The Holly Jolly Trolley, sponsored by Griffin Insurance, will be providing free festive trolley rides through downtown with entertainment provided by Center Stage Alliance every 15 minutes from 6pm – 8pm. R. Gregory Jewelers will be hosting Horse Drawn Carriage Rides at their location at 122 West Broad Street.
♦ December 12 – Statesville Christmas Parade: The parade starts at 3 p.m. It is sponsored by the 30th Masonic District of North Carolina
♦ Holiday Statesville Story Stroll (December 1-31): The Statesville Story Stroll begins at 220 Café and takes you through Downtown reading a story along the way. Statesville Story Stroll’s second book, “Santa’s Sleigh is on its Way to North Carolina,” written by Eric James and illustrated by Robert Dunn, will be on display December 1–30. This story is perfect for the holiday season as it whisks children away on a journey to follow Santa through North Carolina, visiting towns so close to home. Who knows when Santa could make a stop in Downtown Statesville! The Story Stroll is provided by The Iredell County Partnership for Young Children. For more details, visit www.downtownstatesville.com.
LEARN MORE
For a complete list of holiday events visit https://www.downtownstatesville.com or call Downtown Statesville at 704-878-3436.