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pirit kicks off Friday… a last minute Christmas Flotilla has signed up…. they depart the harbor at 4:30p, then parade by South Avenue and Lou Mac Park on the Neuse River about a half-hour later. There will be decorated boats docked throughout the harbor Friday night (and Saturday too).

Around 5p, look on the horizon of the harbor and you’ll see the lights of several decorated kayaks coming in to view. These lighted kayaks will paddle their way to the Town Dock.

The lighting of the Christmas Star is 5:30p at the Town Dock, accompanied by candlelight caroling from the Pamlico County High School choir.

Friday Dec 13 Spirit Schedule

Denton Pharmacy, 9a – 6p Stop in for Christmas Cookies. 807 Broad St.

Neuse River Winery, 11a – 6p Sweet Breads, hot spiced punch and wine tasting. 1413 Silverbrook Rd.

Nautical Wheelers, 2p – 4p Wine tasting & hors d’oeuvres. Glasshoppers will be in the yard making Italian Lamp Work Jewelry – see the artist’s flame shape glass into Jewelry. Betty Brown will be signing her new 2014 calendar and showing some of her other art, greeting cards and Dragon t-shirts on the Porch. Broad Street next to the bank.

The Bean – 2p 5th graders from Arapahoe Charter School will be singing Christmas carols out in front.

First Citizens Bank, 4p – 5p Refreshments on tap plus Mary Dunn on piano. Broad St.

Star Lighting & Caroling, 5:30p Gather by the Town Dock on Hodges St for the lighting of the Christmas Star. A candlelight ceremony will be led by the The Pamlico High School Choir.

River Neuse Suites, 5:30p – 7:30p Homemade seafood chowder, cookies, coffee & cider. 201 Mildred Street.

Oriental Methodist Church, 7p The Pamlico Chorale performs.

Saturday Dec 14 Spirit Schedule

Farmers’ Market, 8a – 1p Special extended hours for Spirit Of Christmas. Fresh baked goods, local produce, james, jellies, plants, fresh Christmas greenery, fine arts & crafts. Get some holiday shopping done with your local “farmers”. Hodges St.

Jingle Bell Run – 9a. Run through town – or walk if you prefer. Hot chocolate and treats afterward, from 10a – 1p at Village Health and Fitness, 1006 Broad Street.

Nautical Wheelers – 9a-6p. Open House with winter-warming Tea Forte and spiced cider all day. Also, cheeseball, NC chips/salsa, Stonewall Cranberry Dip. Wine samples from 2-4p. 411 Broad at Main.

Denton Pharmacy – 9a-1p. Open House. Stop by for some cookies. Next to the Post Office.

Heartworks – 10a-3p (or til it rains and/or the wind blows too hard.) Look for them at the corner of Hodges and South Water with hot chocolate, hot cider — and S’mores that you can make over the fire pit. Pull up a seat and melt that marshmallow. Ask them about their big fundraising drive to update the after-school haven for kids, in Bayboro.

Pigeon Holes – 10a-3p. They’re serving up holiday refreshments at their Open House. At the corner of Broad and Hodges.

Pamlico County Historical Association – 10a-3:30p. The Grantsboro museum is selling raffle tickets for a 1952 Farmall Cub Tractor in front of Village Hardware.

Red Rickshaw – 11a-2p. Mangia! They’re serving up Pasta Fagioli and cookies at the store just at the foot of the bridge, 518 Water Street.

Silver Hill Christian Church – 11a-3p. They will be at Nautical Wheelers selling butter braid pastries from 11a-3p. The church will also be selling kitchen knives, and flavorings, as it’s done for more than 30 years. (Proceeds go to the church’s HVAC fund.) 411 Broad Street.

Pamlico News – 11a-1p. Open House at its offices at the Old Town Hall (behind M&Ms) on New Street. Holiday treats served.

Village Hardware – 11a-2p. They’ll serve up their Chef’s Holiday Delight Stew. Across from the Post Office.

Neuse River Winery – 11a-6p/ Complimentary wine tasting along with sweet breads and hot spiced punch at the winery and vineyard, 1413 Silverbrook Road.

Town Hall – 11a-3p. PAWS carries on its Spirit of Christmas tradition, offering bowls of chili outside Town Hall on Broad Street. And has info on how to help pets in Pamlico County.

The Bean – Noon – 2-p. Kids can make their own ornaments from sea shells. Stop and spend a while to decorate the shells and bring one home. (Also, there’ll be a fireman’s boot out at The Bean if you’d like to donate to the Pamlico Fireman’s Association – for help in training the volunteer firemen throughout the county. Usually the boot is passed along the parade route, but just in case there’s no parade, the boot will be at The Bean, too.)

M&M’s Cafe will be giving samples of Dave’s soup on the porch from noon to 3p.

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish House – Noon-4p. Hot cider and cookies at its Parish House at 504 Broad Street.

West Marine – Noon-2p. Cider and chili — and water — at its store on upper Broad across from The Silos.

Oriental’s History Museum – 1-5p. Deck your halls and help the History Museum, which will be selling generous bunches of the Oriental-grown and harvested mistletoe. See the new display about Spirits of Christmas Past. The museum is near the Shanty Restaurant on Broad Street. Ben Gaskill performs from 2-4p.

Marsha’s Cottage – 1-3p. Chili Cookoff winner, Dr. Vieregge of Axelson Chiropractic will be serving “Spinetingling Chil” on the porch of the Cottage, 304 Wall Street. It’s a fundraiser for Heartworks. (Marsha’s is also running a 30% off everything-in-the-store sale.)

The Masters – 1-3p.The tradition of homemade gnocchi and marina sauce continues as Gary Mastrodonato of serves them up along with Italian wines and Zuppa cupcakes. 807 Broad Street.

Coldwell Banker Willis Smith – 1-3p.Serving some sliders along with all the trimmings for you to enjoy. Also, many, many treats and hot spiced cider. Under the building at Hodges and South Water.

Live Nativity – 2p presented by the Children’s Theater Workshop at Oriental United Methodist Church.

Inland Waterway Provision Company – 2p. A performance by a bell choir – the Jericho Ringers – out in front (if it’s not raining. If it is raining, look for them inside the store.) After the performance, enjoy some samples of Amron’s Epic Cakes and warm chai tea. On Hodges at South Water.

Oriental Marina – 2-6p. Pauline Smith on the stage of the Tiki Bar, performing songs of the season. There’ll be plenty of apple cider and other refreshments.

Meet the artists of the Village Gallery – 2-4p. The Pamlico Flutes will be there, playing classical music selections and there’ll be refreshments along with the 6 rooms of artswork now on display. (The gallery is open from 10a-5p.)

Nautical Wheelers – 2-4p. Sample some wine. 411 Broad Street.

Habitat for Humanity – 2-5p. Two locations: Habitat will serve hot chili in front of Village Hardware on Broad Street. Also, they’ll be offering clam chowder from 2-5p at Coldwell Banker at Hodges and South Water.

Now that your singing pipes are all warmed up, stop by Mariner Realty – 3:30p for a Christmas Carol Sing-a-long led by Joey Digeloromo of Catholic Charities. It goes on til the 4p parade. Apple cider and holiday desserts will be served until about a half our after the parade. Mariner is at 704 Broad Street.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… must be the Oriental Rotary – 3:30-6p. They will be giving away the roasted treats in front of Garland Fulcher Seafood – across from the Wits End – on Hodges.

Spirit of Christmas Parade starts at 4p. From its start at Broad at Ragan, it runs down Broad Street to Hodges then on to Lou Mac Park. This year’s theme is “White Christmas.” Look for Santa riding in the Coast Guard boat toward the end of the parade.

Oriental First Baptist Church – 5:30p. Annual Christmas Cantata “Bethlehem Morning” will be presented. On Broad Street across from Town Hall.

Harbor Sounds – 6-7:30p. In the back room at Brantley’s Restaurant. The local bluegrass-gospel-folk group continues its Spirit of Christmas tradition. Hot chocolate, cookies and coffee will be served.

Pamlico Chorale – 8p. The community choir performs its holiday concert at Oriental United Methodist Church at Church and Freemason.

Posted Friday December 13, 2013 by Keith N. Smith