home

S

pirit kicks off Friday December 12th. Lots of open houses at businesses in town and even as evening falls, there will be lots of light.

Head to the harbor to take it in. Carolers from Pamlico High School will lead the singing, starting around 5p and shortly afterward lighted canoes and kayaks will come into view, as paddlers bring their light to the Town Dock. The Oriental Star will be lit and you can also get a view of bigger lighted boats on their parade along the waterfront.

A bit later, and in the warmth of some buildings, Pamlico Chorale performs and there’s a Christmas-themed Friday Flick, Joyeux Noel at the Old Theater…..

You’ll find your way by way of the luminaria lighting up Oriental’s main streets on Friday night. You may even want to help light some…

Friday Dec 12 Spirit Schedule

Studio 55, 1-5p Hosting an open house, with refreshments.

Neuse River Winery – 2-6p Sweet breads, hot spiced punch (if cold) or cold punch (if it is warm outside.)

Nautical Wheelers > 2-4p Wine tasting & hors d’oeuvres. Broad Street next to the bank.

Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital, 2-4p Dr. Hicks and staff will hold an open house with refreshments by Word of Mouth catering.

Pamlico Animal Welfare Society > 2-4p PAWS will be serving hot dogs in front of Dr. Hicks’ Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital office.

Village Gallery will host a reception from 2-5p at the gallery at 300 Hodges street and will also be hosting a “Mashed Potato Bar” from 4-7p

Marsha’s Cottage > 3-5p Stop by for treats and refreshments.

First Citizens Bank > 4-5p Join Sally and staff for the “Best Refreshments Anywhere.” Donations for Toys for Tots and Fishes and Pamlico Fishes and Loaves are welcomed.

Axelson Chiropractic > 4:30-6:30p Join the staff on Hodges Street near the harbor for hot chocolate and spiced cider to help chase the chill away.

Candlelight Caroling, 5p Gather by the Town Dock on Hodges St for a candlelight ceremony will be led by the The Pamlico High School Choir. They’ll start singing around 5p and continue till 6p-ish.

Lighted Kayaks and Canoes > 5:15p-ish look for the lights low on the horizon as a group of paddlers make their motorless way toward the Town Dock in kayaks and canoes lighted up for the season.

Lighting of the Oriental Star > 5:30p. With a flip of a switch and the power of your caroling voice.

Floitlla of Lighted Boats > 5:30p The larger boats will be visible from the Lou Mac Pier and the Dinghy Dock on the harbor as the vessels motor toward the Oriental Bridge and then back along the South Avenue waterfront.

River Neuse Suites – 5-7p Stop by for some court cookies by the “Sweet Tooth Fairy” and other open house treats. 201 Mildred Street.

Pamlico Chorale performs at 7p at Oriental United Methodist Church.

“Joyeux Noel” at Oriental’s Old Theater > 7:30p – This “Friday Flick” is based on the true story of a temporary truce called on Christmas Eve 1914 on the front lines of WWI. Free popcorn with your $5.50 ticket.

And that was just Friday. Wait, there’s more, much more…

Saturday brings us the Spirit of Christmas Parade — at 1p this year — and the Live Nativity — at 3p this year. Lots of music as per our tradition — the Pamlico Chorale, Harbor Sounds, the Christmas Cantata. It’s all in the schedule…

Saturday Dec 13 Spirit Schedule

Village Health & Fitness > 8a-4p Open House all day. Christmas basket raffle.

Nautical Wheelers > 10a-4p Stop by for hot spiced cider and cookies. Stop by at 1p for Adirondack parade seating and fro 2:30-4p for music by Mac McWilliams on the porch. Meet local artist, “Wreaths by Betty” and local writer, Heather Cobham, author of “Hungry Mother Creek, as well as Rosalyn Kutchins of Grasshoppers Lamp Jewelry and personalized art from Chuck Hill of “You’ve Been Framed.”

Marsha’s Cottage – all day Come by Marsha’s and meet Karen Dodd, local author and “The Quilting Mandarin” who will be signing books between 11a and 1p for a Live Broadcast from Spirit of Christmas by WNCT 107FM.

Heartworks – 10a-5p has its fire going to warm you up at the corner of Hodges and South Water (across from the Provision Company). Fix yourself some Some-Mores over the fire and learn more about the county’s go-to place for many school kids.

Operation Veggie Box -10a-3p will be on the front lawn at Nautical Wheelers with info on their ministry to help feed the hungry in Pamlico County.

Silver Hill Christian Church 10a-3p will be selling butter braids in time for Christmas on the front lawn of Nautical Wheelers.

Village Hardware > 10:30a-1p Warm up with some of their WD-40 soup – Wonderfully Delicious. 40 ingredients.

Town Hall Porch > 10:30a – 1p The duo “Just The Two Of Us” will be providing Christmas music and jazz at the Gazebo corner of the porch, at Broad and Church Streets.

Habitat for Humanity > 11a – 3p will be selling hot chili and clam chowder in front of Village Hardware.

PAWS 11a-3p will serve hot chili on the porch of Town Hall.

Inland Waterway Provision Company – 11:30-12:15p open house with refreshments and Oriental’s ukulele group, The UHOO’s, performing. (At 3p Santa stops by for a photo op….)

Pamlico News > 11a-2p – Stop by for snacks at their new location, 800 Broad.

Oriental Rotary/HOPE Clinic/Pamlico County Fishes and Loaves > Noon-5p Look for the tent in front of Garland Fulcher Seafood plant next to the harbor on Hodges Streets. Roasted chestnuts and more.

M&M’s Cafe – Noon-3p Come by the porch for a sampling of Dave’s delicious soup and popcorn.

Rosebuds Massage and Aromatherapy – Noon-1p Refreshments at the Ol’ Hotel.

The Oriental Spirit of Christmas Parade – 1p. The parade is earlier than in past years — making for a warmer and brighter procession. Get yourself seated along Broad Street and Hodges for the parade, which sets out from Ragan and Broad and proceeds to Lou Mac Park.

The Bean – 2-4p Bring the kids by to decorate cookies with Santa’s Elves and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.

Oriental Dental – afternoon will have homemade candy cane ice cream in chocolate cups.

Neuse River Winery > 2-6p Enjoy sweet breads along with punch. (Punch will be hot if it’s cold outside, and cold if the weather is warm.)

Village Gallery > 2-5p Cookies and punch served and at 2:30p, a special performance by the Pamlico Flutes. The gallery of works by local artists is open all day.

Live Nativity – 3p – Front Lawn of Oriental United Methodist Church – The Christmas story enacted by a cast of young wisemen, and often restless sheep. A traditional part of the village’s Spirit of Christmas celebration.

Water Street Grill – 3p-5p > Oyster Stew samplers served up.

Oriental Harbor Marina – 3p-5p Donut holes on the deck.

Masters Wealth – 3-5p Gnocchi on the deck by the Masters Wealth offices at Oriental Harbor Marina.

Oriental First Baptist Church – 5p the choir will perform their annual Christmas Cantata — “Best Gift of All” at the church at 605 Broad Street.

Brantley’s Village Restaurant – Harbor Sounds – 6:30p – Enjoy dinner and Christmas and Bluegrass music.

Oriental Marina – Celebrate Spirit of Christmas at the Tiki Bar.

Pamlico Chorale at Oriental United Methodist Church – 8p A Spirit of Christmas tradition.

Posted Friday December 12, 2014 by Keith N. Smith