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olorful lights. Hot cider and cookies. Mermaids on paddleboards.

It’s the Spirit of Christmas. Oriental celebrates with open houses, lighted displays (on and off the water), and a parade.

This year Spirit of Christmas begins Thursday, with most of the events on Friday and Saturday, December 9 & 10.

Thursday, December 8

5:30p Lighting of the Tree of Names and Lights Members of the Pamlico Chorale provide the ambience as the Tree of Names and Lights is lit at Lou Mac Park. Hanging on the tree are the names of those honored and those lost. The tree remains up until New Year’s Eve.

Friday, December 9

9:30a-4:30p Studio 55 serves hot chocolate and cookies. 705 Broad Street.

Noon-4p Bow to Stern Open House Stop by Bow to Stern for home made chocolate chip cookies, see the boats, check out the sailing classes they offer, and register for a drawing for 50% off of a week of camp and ½ day rental on the 17’ Scout. 290 Blackwell Point Loop Rd.

Noon-7p Spirit Shack is a new business, in the Wit’s End building on Hodges St. The Grand Opening is March 2023, but “Spirit Shack” will be open as a “Pop-up” Dec 9 & 10. It is an Artisan Gallery & Art Studio, owned by Oriental residents Dr. George Elvin & Sev Tok. 310 Hodges Street.

1p Luminaria are set out along the streets of Oriental and halfway up the bridge. They burn throughout the Spirit of Christmas.

2-4p Pamlico Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) PAWS serves hot dogs, chips, and sodas in front of Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital. Courtesy of Dr. Sherri Hicks. 407 Broad Street.

2-4p Nautical Wheelers Hot Cider, wine and hors d’oeuvres. Local artist Betty Brown will be on the porch with her handmade ornaments. 411 Broad Street

2:30-4p Brant Island Strings play in the beer garden at New Village Brewery. 702 Broad Street.

2-7p Sailor’s Haven / Blinn Homes & Design Watch the Santa Clause Christmas Movie enter a raffle for gift baskets and a free night’s stay at Sailor’s Haven. Enjoy Popcorn, Christmas cookies, hot apple cider or cocoa, or eggnog. 301 Broad Street.

2-7p Art at the Old Jail Enjoy refreshments and art in the back yard of The Old Jail. 505 New Street.

4p Inland Waterway Provision Company The Provision Company hosts a beer tasting at 4p. All Day – Wear your ugliest holiday sweater for the Ugly Sweater Contest. Play Nautical Trivia for a discount on any purchases made that day. Search the store for the wooden tokens that give you 10% off your purchase. 305 Hodges Street

4-5p First Citizens Bank The First Citizens staff serve light refreshments while the Pamlico Flutes perform traditional favorites with a mix of gospel and jazz. 409 Broad Street.

4:30p The New Bern Yacht Club Lights up the Harbor The New Bern Yacht Club docks at Oriental Marina, decorating their vessels with lights for the Spirit of Christmas. Hodges Street at the harbor.

5p(ish) Lighted Kayak Parade & Star Lighting. A flotilla of lighted kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and unmotorized dinghies leave the Wildlife Ramp at 5p and paddle into Oriental Harbor. The Star of Oriental is lit at town dock #1 on Hodges Street directly after.

5:30p(ish) Light Up Oriental Contest Winners announced. Directly after the lighting of the star, stick around to find out the homes and businesses that won this year’s Light Up Oriental contest.

Dusk & the evening The Labyrinth Oriental United Church is lighting up The Labyrinth for evening walks and meditations. Walk the path with or without a written guided meditation. At Freemason St and South Ave, across from Lou Mac Park.

7p Holiday Lip Sync at The Silos Join the Pamlico County Arts Council at The Silos for an evening of holiday entertainment. Perform your holiday favorites or just sit back and watch. Refreshments available for purchase. 1111 Broad Street Extension.

7p Pamlico Chorale Performs at the Oriental United Methodist Church. Get in the spirit of the season with an hour of holiday favorites. 404 Freemason Street.

7:30p Miscreants’ Christmas live play at the Old Theater. Father Christmas is kidnapped a week before Christmas. Help the cast solve the mystery. $20 at the door. 609 Broad Street.

Saturday, December 10

8-11a Farmer’s Market Get your holiday shopping done early with local produce, freshly baked good, jams & jellies, fresh Christmas greenery, and fine arts & crafts. Along Hodges Street in front of Garland Fulcher Seafood. 301 Hodges Street.

8a-5p Spirit Shack is a new business, in the Wit’s End building on Hodges St. The Grand Opening is March 2023, but “Spirit Shack” will be open as a “Pop-up” Dec 9 & 10. It is an Artisan Gallery & Art Studio, owned by Oriental residents Dr. George Elvin & Sev Tok. 310 Hodges Street.

9a-noon Kids’ Gingerbread House Decorating Free event. Bring your kids to decorate pre-made gingerbread houses and sugar cookies in the back room of Brantley’s Restaurant. Adults drop off their gingerbread houses for the Adult Gingerbread House Contest. Entries must be received by 10:30a. Judging begins at 11a.

10a-4p Nautical Wheelers Hot Cider, wine and hors d’oeuvres. Local artist Betty Brown will be on the porch with her handmade ornaments. 411 Broad Street

10:30a-1p Village Hardware Get your cookies and ‘Holiday Punch’ from the men of Village Hardware. 804 Broad St across from the Post Office.

11a-3p Pamlico Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) PAWS is on the porch of Oriental Town Hall serving up Hot Chili. 507 Church St.

11a-1p Marsha’s Cottage Open House Enjoy the holiday specials and music with Allan Vick (of Beach, Boogie & Blues) on the porch. Find a great gift or get them a great gift certificate at Marsha’s. 204 Wall Street.

11:30-noon Kids Creation Ornaments Take your kids to The Bean to create their holiday ornament and enjoy a free cookie. 304 Hodges Street.

1p The Spirit of Christmas Parade Line up along Broad Street or Hodges Street to watch this year’s parade.

2-5p Music at the Village Gallery Marilyn Arnone and Sue DeCarlo play on the porch after the parade. Browse the gallery during the afternoon open house. 300 Hodges Street.

2-7p Sailor’s Haven / Blinn Homes & Design Watch the Santa Clause Christmas Movie enter a raffle for gift baskets and a free night’s stay at Sailor’s Haven. Enjoy Popcorn, Christmas cookies, hot apple cider or cocoa, or eggnog. 301 Broad Street.

2(ish) Meet Santa on the porch of Marsha’s Cottage. Get your picture taken with Santa and let him know what to bring you this year. 204 Wall Street.

2-5p Hoff’n‘Finch Holiday Sing Along and tunes you forgot happening in the beer garden at New Village Brewery. 702 Broad Street.

2-4p Pauline Smith plays on the deck of the Tiki Bar 101 Wall Street.

3:30p Live Nativity The Children’s Theater Workshop performs a Live Nativity outside Oriental United Methodist Church (weather permitting). 404 Freemason Street.

4p Inland Waterway Provision Company The Provision Company hosts a beer tasting at 4p. All Day – Wear your ugliest holiday sweater for the Ugly Sweater Contest. Play Nautical Trivia for a discount on any purchases made that day. Search the store for the wooden tokens that give you 10% off your purchase. 305 Hodges Street.

5p Christmas Cantata The Annual Cantata at Oriental First Baptist Church. 605 Broad Street.

5:30-7:30p Harbor Sounds @ Brantley’s Village Restaurant Enjoy Christmas songs in the back room at Brantley’s Village Restaurant. 900 Broad Street.

Dusk & the evening The Labyrinth Oriental United Church is lighting up The Labyrinth for evening walks and meditations. Walk the path with or without a written guided meditation. At Freemason St and South Ave, across from Lou Mac Park.

7:30p Miscreants’ Christmas live play at the Old Theater. Father Christmas is kidnapped a week before Christmas. Help the cast solve the mystery. $20 at the door. 609 Broad Street.

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It takes a lot to organize the events for Spirit of Christmas, and much of it is done through donations – both in time and money. If you would like to make a financial donation to The Spirit of Christmas (to help pay for items like luminaria candles and the tree for the Tree of Names and Lights), you can give your donation to the Head Elf herself, Marsha Paplham, at Marsha’s Cottage, 204 Wall St. Checks can be made out to The Spirit of Christmas.

Posted Tuesday December 6, 2022 by Allison DeWeese