High Country Holiday Checklist

Your Guide to the 2009 Holiday Season

Compiled by Anna Oakes

High Country Press brings you the final listing of local holiday events for 2009. From concerts to Santa sightings to religious services, we summarize it all for you in the High Country Holiday Checklist.

HOLIDAY SERVICES
Celebrate the reason for the season at one of these local holiday services.

Boone Unitarian Universalist Church—Thursday
This Thursday, December 24, The Boone Unitarian Universalist Church will hold “Winter’s Light: An Interfaith Celebration of Story and Song” at 7:00 p.m., and members of several faith traditions will share music, stories or poetry on the theme of light and darkness. The service includes the singing of familiar carols, as well as songs that represent the diversity of winter celebrations. Attendees are asked to bring cookies to share after the service. Rev. Melanie Childers, chaplain at Watauga Medical Center, and Connie Green will lead the service. The church is located at 381 East King Street in Boone. For more info, click to www.buuf.net or call 828-264-4456.

Holy Cross Episcopal Church—Thursday
Holy Cross Episcopal Church on Highway 194 in Valle Crucis will hold a Christmas Eve service at 5:00 p.m. for families with children, which includes a pageant, and another service with no pageant that begins at 8:00 p.m. preceded by a 7:30 p.m. choir concert that leads directly into the evening service. The church is located at 122 Skiles Way in Valle Crucis. For more info, call 828-963-4609.

First Baptist Church of Boone—Thursday
First Baptist Church of Boone, located at 375 West King Street, will hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service at 6:00 p.m. The church hosts a lunch open to anyone from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Day. For more info, call 828-264-2441.

Banner Elk Presbyterian Church—Thursday
Two candlelight Christmas Eve worship services will be held at the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church—the first at 5:00 p.m., the second at 7:00 p.m. The earlier service will include a children’s Christmas sermon; the second will offer communion. All visitors and members of the community are welcome and invited to attend. The church is located at 420 College Drive, across from the Lees-McRae College book store. The Rev. Joseph Washburn is the pastor. For more info, call 828-898-5406.

First Presbyterian Church of Boone—Thursday
First Presbyterian, located at 663 Howard Street in Boone, hosts its Christmas Eve candlelight service this Thursday, December 24, at 6:00 p.m. For more info, call 828-264-3906.

Grace Lutheran Church—Thursday
Grace Lutheran Church, located at 115 East King Street in Boone, will hold Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services at 4:00, 7:30 and 11:00 p.m. this Thursday, December 24. Prelude music will begin half an hour before each service. Instead of the usual 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services, one 10:00 a.m. service will be held this Sunday, December 27, with no children’s church or coffee hour. For more info, call 828-264-2206.

Boone United Methodist Church—Thursday
Boone United Methodist will hold Christmas Eve services featuring candlelight and communion this Thursday, December 24, at 6:00, 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. in Blackburn’s Chapel, located at 3986 Railroad Grade Road in Todd. For more info, call 828-264-6090.

Brookside Presbyterian Church—Thursday
For the 17th year in a row, Morris Hatton will be the special guest musician for the annual Service of Adoration, Communion and Candlelight at Brookside Presbyterian Church-ARP on Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. This nativity service of lessons and carols was inspired by and patterned after the famous service of “Lessons & Carols” held each Christmas Eve at the King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University in England. Brookside is located in Boone at 1122 Old Highway 421 South, off Highway 421 (turn at the Nissan dealership). All are welcome. For more info, call 828-262-5020.

FaithBridge United Methodist Church—Thursday
FaithBridge United Methodist Church will hold a Christmas Eve service at 7:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium on Sunset Drive. For more info, click to www.FaithBridgeUMC.org or call 828-295-8333.

High Country United Church of Christ—Thursday
On Thursday, December 24, at 6:00 p.m., High Country United Church of Christ will hold a Christmas Eve Service featuring carols, lessons and communion that is open to all. The church is located at 8233 Highway 421 North in Vilas. For more info, click to www.highcountryucc.org.

Mount Vernon Baptist Church—Thursday
Mount Vernon Baptist, located at 3505 Bamboo Road in Boone, will hold two Christmas Eve services, at 5:30 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m. Family and friends are welcome to attend either service. For more info, call 828-266-9700.

Rumple Presbyterian Church—Thursday
Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock holds three Christmas Eve services: at 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. All services are candlelit. The address is 1218 Main Street. For more info, call 828-295-7675.

St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church—Thursday
Located at 2085 Highway 105 in Linville, St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church will have a special music program at 4:00 p.m., service at 4:30 p.m. and midnight mass on Christmas Eve. For more info, call 828-733-2919.

St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church—Thursday
St. Mary of the Hills Church, at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets in Blowing Rock, has a 5:00 p.m. children’s mass and pageant on Christmas Eve. A choral offering takes place at 10:30 p.m. and midnight mass begins at 11:00 p.m. For more info, call 828-295-7323.

St. Elizabeth of the Hills Catholic Church—Thursday
St. Elizabeth of the Hills Catholic Church in Boone will hold Christmas Eve family mass at 4:00 p.m., a Spanish mass at 7:00 p.m. and an evening mass at 9:00 p.m. For more information, call the church at 828-264-8338.

St. Luke’s Episcopal—Thursday
The Christmas Eve service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church begins at 5:00 p.m., with a Festive Christmas Holy Eucharist: Rite II with the Family Choir, and the service includes building the crèche and a manger scene. Children should arrive at 4:30 p.m. to get dressed for the Christmas play. At 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, the Christmas Choral Concert takes place and the Festive Christmas Holy Eucharist: Rite II with the Christmas Choir will take place at 10:00 p.m. The church is located at 170 Councill Street in Boone. For more information, call 828-264-8943.

Holy Cross Episcopal Church—Friday
Holy Cross Episcopal Church on Highway 194 in Valle Crucis will hold a Christmas Day Service at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 25. The church is located at 122 Skiles Way in Valle Crucis. For more info, call 828-963-4609.

St. Elizabeth of the Hills Catholic Church—Friday
St. Elizabeth of the Hills Catholic Church in Boone will hold Christmas Day mass at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 25. For more info, call the church at 828-264-8338.

St. Luke’s Episcopal—Friday
At St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, an informal Holy Eucharist: Rite II will take place at 10:00 a.m. The church is located at 170 Councill Street in Boone. For more info, call 828-264-8943.

St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church—Friday
St. Mary of the Hills Church, at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets in Blowing Rock, will hold Christmas mass at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 25, and lessons and carols take place at 3:00 p.m. For more info, call 828-295-7323.

Boone Jewish Community—Friday
The Boone Jewish Community will hold its regular Friday night service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 25, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 170 Councill Street in Boone. For more info, click to www.templeofthehighcountry.org.

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES
Local artists present special performances of music, dance and theatre for the holidays. Get your tickets now because they’re likely to sell fast.

‘East of the Rocky Mountain High Evening’—Sunday
Guitarist Jess Smith will perform at an “East of the Rocky Mountain High Evening” at the Beech Tree Bar and Grill at Ski Beech on Sunday, December 27, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. No cover will be charged. For more info, call 828-387-9283.

HOLIDAY EVENTS
Christmas lights, art exhibits and other events take place to celebrate the holidays. Here’s a list of miscellaneous events happening in the High Country.

Yule Log Bonfire—Tuesday
The Buckeye Recreation Center in Beech Mountain will host a yule log bonfire on Tuesday, December 22, beginning at 7:00 p.m. A guitarist will perform. Call the recreation center in the event of inclement weather. For more info, call 828-387-3003.

Christmas Eve Outdoor Service—Thursday
On Thursday, December 24, a Christmas Eve Outdoor Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. by the ice skating rink at Ski Beech in Beech Mountain. For more info, call 828-387-9283.

Christmas Day Luncheon—Friday
For more than two decades, First Baptist Church of Boone has provided a Christmas Day Luncheon. The annual event is open to the entire community and feeds more than 400 people. The 24th annual First Baptist Church Christmas Day Luncheon will take place on Friday, December 25, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. No reservations are required, and the meal is open to all and is free of charge.
The meal includes a full traditional menu with many side dishes and desserts. If requested, meals are also delivered to those who are homebound and to those who have to work and who may not be able to come to the church. Also, transportation to the luncheon can be provided upon request. First Baptist Church of Boone is located at 375 West King Street in downtown Boone. For more info, to volunteer or to request meal delivery or transportation, call the church office at 828-264-2441.

Dinner and a Movie Nights—Saturday to December 30
From Saturday to Wednesday, December 26 to 30, Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock will host “Dinner and a Movie” nights from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., offering a complementary movie, cash bar and dinner for $10, which includes food and a soda. “Dinner and a Movie” nights will also take place on Friday and Saturday, January 1 and 2, 2010. Movie titles are currently being selected, and those interested should call the Meadowbrook Inn closer to the show dates. For more info, click to www.meadowbrook-inn.com or call 828-295-4300.

Bonfire and Hayrides—December 29
Enjoy a bonfire and hayrides with roasted marshmallows and hot cocoa in the field next to the Brick Oven Pizzeria in Beech Mountain on Tuesday, December 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free. For more info, call 828-387-9283.

Attendees to Chetola Resort’s Festival of Lights can have their picture taken with Santa Claus for $11.

Tree Fest—through December
The 10th annual Tree Fest exhibit presented by the Ashe County Arts Council at the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson will run through December. Each year, a local Christmas tree farm donates seven trees to the arts council, and the council selects six local artists or organizations to each decorate one tree. Local artists create ornaments from clay, paper, fibers, wood and stained glass for the arts council tree. The Ashe Arts Center is located at 303 School Avenue in West Jefferson. For more info, call 336-846-2787 or click to www.ashecountyarts.org.

Festival of Lights—through January
Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock hosts its annual Festival of Lights display now through January 31, 2010. This year, the display consists of 50,000 lights set up on the resort’s 87 acres of property. The public is invited to tour the display free of charge. For more info, call 828-295-5500 or click to www.chetola.com.   

SANTA SIGHTINGS
High Country Press has received reports that a man known as Santa Claus is going to be traveling through our area. Mr. Claus is described as an elderly male with a thick white beard, twinkling eyes and rosy cheeks, wearing a red jacket, pants and hat with white trim. Also goes by the aliases of Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and St. Nick. Responds well to hugs, cookies and milk. Could be traveling alone or with eight reindeer.

We’ve heard rumors that he’ll be appearing at the following locations throughout the High Country…

• Make your case to Santa at Boone Mall on Thursday, December 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  
• Jolly Old Saint Nick makes a final Christmas Eve stop at the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis on Thursday, December 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  
• Santa will be on skis at Sugar Mountain Resort to hit the slopes with all the good boys and girls through Thursday, December 24.

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