Say no to bah-humbug

Published 12:30 am Friday, December 2, 2011

Twenty-three shopping days ’til Christmas. Is your radio dial parked on the all-Christmas-all-the-time station? Does your home glisten and glow with garland and glimmering lights? Do you catch yourself walking around humming snatches of Christmas tunes?

If the answer is no to any of the above questions, you may need an infusion of Christmas spirit.

You won’t have to go far to get that spirit because this weekend the city of Washington has plenty to share. The “hometown holidays” extravaganza begins at noon today, as North Carolina craftsmen and artists take over the Civic Center and display their handmade wares for sale at the Holiday Arts and Crafts Show, which runs through Saturday evening. On the Turnage Theater marquee tonight is the River City Ringers’ 8 p.m. HeART of the City concert. Free tickets to this handbell concert are available at the Beaufort County Arts Council, a sponsor of the event.

Celebrate “Christmas in the Park,” on the Christmas Homes Tour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday. This annual Turnage Theaters Foundation fundraiser features seven Washington Park homes on the 2011 tour. The $20 tickets are available at the Turnage box office today, and at 411 River Road on Saturday.

If you’re looking for an early sighting of Santa Claus, he’ll be riding a float down Main Street, sans reindeer, at 11 a.m. Saturday morning during the hometown holidays Christmas parade. From noon until 2 p.m., the jolly St. Nick will be available for photographs at 123 N. Market St., next to Stewart’s Jewelry Store. On the steps of I Can’t Believe It’s a Book Store on Main Street, the Freewill Baptist Church Youth Choir will be caroling at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday night, there’s a choice of Christmas concerts: Celtic or brass. At 7 p.m., the First Presbyterian Church on Gladden Street hosts Market Street Brass, an accomplished brass quintet from Greensboro. In a second HeART of the City Christmas free concert, and at 8 p.m., Celtic folk singer Jennifer Licko and guests will take the Turnage stage for their Celtic Christmas performance. Tickets, $15 or $20 each, are on sale at the Turnage box office.

In the spirit yet? After this weekend’s “hometown holidays,” you should be.