Christmas Events on the Crystal Coast

November 30th, 2011

Santa by the Sea at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll ShoresChristmas is just a few weeks away. Start the celebration with these holly-jolly events around the Crystal Coast region. Who says we need snow to get into that festive holiday spirit?

Christmas at the Beach Shows
The Morehead Center is featuring Christmas at the Beach evening and matinee shows from Saturday, November 26 through December 18. Christmas at the Beach features songs, music, and dance of the season – all of your holiday favorites! Enjoy Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, great dancers, and timeless music.  Adult tickets are $15 and children 16 and under are $10. Find out more at www.themoreheadcenter.com or by calling 252-726-1501.

Downtown Morehead City ArtWalk
View, buy and even help make art – during the Downtown Morehead City Christmas ArtWalk on Friday, December 2 from 4 PM to 8 PM. Start the journey by picking up a map at the Train Station. Then, bid on Silent Night Silent Auction items, participate in the painting of a Living Art community mural, view art on exhibit, and listen to local entertainers. Guided tours are available. For more information, contact the Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association at 252-808-0440 or email dmcra2@embarqmail.com.

Holiday Flotilla
Nothing compares to the beauty of twinkling lights on the water. Come to the Holiday Flotilla on Saturday, December 3 and see decorated boats follow a course from the Morehead City waterfront to Beaufort. The parade launches in Morehead City at 5:30 PM and arrives in Beaufort around 6:15 PM. An awards ceremony follows in the NC Maritime Museum Auditorium. The NC Maritime Museum is located at 315 Front Street in Beaufort. For more information, call 252-728-7317.

“Musical Moods” – A Christmas Gala
The Friends of Atlantic House hosts “Musical Moods,” a Christmas gala and silent auction benefit, from 5:30 PM to 9 PM on Saturday, December 3 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. Tickets are $50 and include dinner, music, and a guest speaker. The Civic Center is located at 3505 Arendell Street. Call Glenda Self at 252-648-8505 or 515-4869 for more information on the event.

Santa by the Sea
Experience one of the highlights of the season at Santa by the Sea on Friday, December 9 at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, 6:30 PM to 9 PM. Let your children share their secret Christmas wish lists with old St. Nick! The Living Shipwreck is a perfect backdrop to snap your child’s photo with Santa – and each child under 12 receives a free 5″x7″ photo from FotoFX. The night also includes craft making, stories read by Ms. Claus, elves, and an appearance by Rudolph the Reindeer. Admission is $9 per person. Visit www.ncaquariums.com or call 252-247-4003 for more information.

Morehead City Christmas Parade
Food, floats, and fun – at the Morehead City Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 10! The parade starts at 11 AM. Get more information at www.downtownmoreheadcity.com or by calling 252-808-0440.

Historic Beaufort Candlelight Tour of Homes
See beautiful Beaufort homes dressed in their holiday best on the Candlelight Tour of Homes, 5 PM to 7 PM on Saturday, December 10. Stroll the streets of the delightful historic district and enjoy gorgeous decorations and sparkling lights. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 252-728-5225 or visit http://www.beauforthistoricsite.org.

There are so many holiday happenings, we can’t keep track of them all. So make sure to share your recommendations in the comments!

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Family-Friendly Summer Fun on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast

June 23rd, 2011

Summer Camp at the NC AquariumNow that summer is officially here, it’s prime time for coastal NC family vacations! For area residents and visiting tourists alike, the Crystal Coast offers lots of exciting summertime activities for families and kids. Here’s a look at some of the notable events going on around our region.

NC Aquarium Summer Camp
Summer camp programs at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher provide fun and safe learning opportunities with knowledgeable and competent leadership. Kids enjoy outdoor excursions, animal interactions and behind-the-scenes aquarium explorations. Camps run simultaneously for ages 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Learn more at the NC Aquariums website.


NC Maritime Museum Summer Science School
In partnership with the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, the North Carolina Maritime Museum sponsors a diverse range of fun educational programs for students from preschool to middle school. Registration is now open. Details on courses and schedules are available at the NC Maritime Museum website.

Friday Free Flicks at Emerald Isle
Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation presents its Friday Free Flick series on the second Friday of each month. Admission is free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Unless otherwise stated, movies are appropriate for all ages. For more information call 252.354.6350 or visit www.emeraldisle-nc.org.

Morehead City Marlins Baseball
Morehead City’s collegiate summer baseball team has its new season underway, playing home games at O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium. General admission tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children under 12. For schedule information and ticket purchases, visit the Morehead City Marlins website.

Fort Macon Civil War Reenactment
On the weekend of July 9-10 , this event at Fort Macon State Park on Bogue Banks features Civil War–period activities performed between 10 AM and 4 PM by members of the 1st N.C. Volunteers. Talks on flags, uniforms and Civil War dress are held, as well as musket firings and drills. Admission is free.

Fort Macon Concert Series
Also being featured at Fort Macon is The Concert in the Park Series presenting pop classics, orchestral groups, Cajun, bluegrass and Civil-war era music. Sit up on the ramparts or down in the main fort area, watch the sunset and listen to great music. Each concert begins at 7 PM and ends around 8 PM. Admission is free. Call the Park at 252-354-5259 for details about the concerts.

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Grand Opening of New Blackbeard Exhibit in Beaufort

June 14th, 2011

Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge exhibit at NC Maritime MuseumNational interest in the legend of Blackbeard is running high following the recent discovery of a 3,000-pound anchor in Beaufort Inlet, believed to be an artifact from the pirate’s wreck off the North Carolina coast nearly 300 years ago. Coincidentally, a new exhibit on Blackbeard and his famed sailing vessel is now opening at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

In 1718, the notorious pirate ran his flagship Queen Anne’s Revenge aground in Beaufort Inlet, roughly two miles from where the Museum stands today. On Saturday, June 11, the Museum opened the “Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge” exhibit, showcasing the artifacts and history of the wreckage.

“This is the most significant exhibition the Museum has undertaken in several decades,” said Museum Director Joseph Schwarzer. “It will be the most definitive and comprehensive display of Queen Anne’s Revenge material to date.”

The new exhibit illuminates the life of pirates aboard the ship from 1717 to 1718, with interactive features and newly released key artifacts including a whole wine bottle, sail cloth, glass beads, cannon tompions, clothing items, cask parts and French ceramics. Old favorites such as cannon and weapons from previous displays will be featured as well.

Call the NC Maritime Museum for more information, 252-728-7317 or visit ncmaritimemuseums.com.

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BLACKBEARD’S ANCHOR RECOVERED OFF N.C. COAST

June 2nd, 2011

An Associated Press story picked up by USA Today, archaeologists recovered the first anchor from what’s believed to be the wreck of the pirate Blackbeard’s flagship off the North Carolina coast last Friday, a move that might change plans about how to save the rest of the almost 300-year-old artifacts from the central part of the ship.  Divers had planned to recover the second-largest artifact on what’s believed to be the Queen Anne’s Revenge but discovered it was too well-attached to other items in the ballast pile, said project Mark Wilde-Ramsing.  Instead they pulled up another anchor that is the third-largest artifact and likely was the typical anchor for the ship. State officials hope the anchor and other artifacts will attract visitors. The largest exhibit of artifacts from the shipwreck, which was discovered in 1996, will be shown starting June 11 at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort.  Wilde-Ramsing has said the team hopes to recover all the artifacts by the end of 2013.

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Queen Anne’s Revenge Dive Set to Resume in Beaufort Inlet

May 26th, 2011

State underwater archaeology divers will begin a two-week dive expedition this week at the shipwreck in Beaufort Inlet presumed to be the Queen Anne’s Revenge, flagship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard.  One of the goals of the expedition is to
bring up a 13-foot by 8-foot wrought iron anchor, one of four large anchors remaining at the site.  A 5-foot grapnel anchor was retrieved from the site in 2009 and is undergoing conservation.  The dive expedition is one of many events leading up to the June 11 grand opening of the new Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge exhibit at the N.C. Maritime Museum.  The exhibit will
showcase the artifacts and history of the wreckage, and will fill about a third of the museum’s exhibit space.  To find out more, click here.

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