At home for the holidays

Published 12:44 am Saturday, November 26, 2011

Here’s a roundup of holiday events in Western Tidewater:

Tuesday, November 29
■ Santa will visit the Walter Cecil Rawls Library in Courtland from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Photos will be taken. Everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item for Franklin Cooperative Ministries.

Thursday, December 1
■ Santa will visit the Ruth Camp Campbell Memorial Library in Franklin from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Photos will be taken. Everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item for Franklin Cooperative Ministries.

Friday, December 2
■ The Boykin’s Tavern Advisory Committee will host its Christmas Historic Homes Tour, featuring seven homes in downtown Smithfield. Proceeds benefit the restoration on the Boykin’s Tavern Museum. For information, contact Pinky Hipp at 570-7911 or Edwin Little at 357-2451.
■ The Franklin Christmas Parade begins at 7 p.m. downtown. The Elf Parade will follow. Participants in the Elf Parade should fall in behind the last float of the Christmas parade or meet in the parking lot in front of the Train Depot/Visitors Center at 7:30. Then walk with Mrs. Claus and Santa’s Elves down Main Street to Barrett’s Landing for refreshments, Christmas carols and lighting of the community Christmas tree.

Saturday, December 3
■ The Boykin’s Tavern Advisory Committee will host its Christmas Historic Homes Tour, featuring seven homes in downtown Smithfield. Proceeds benefit the restoration on the Boykin’s Tavern Museum. For information, contact Pinky Hipp at 570-7911 or Edwin Little at 357-2451.
■ Breakfast with Santa will be held 8 to 10 a.m. at the library in Windsor. The $3 paid at the door includes pancakes, sausage, beverage, a photo with Santa and a book.
■ A holiday bazaar and yard sale will be held at 8 a.m. at Franklin High School to benefit the senior class.
■ A holiday bazaar will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department. For information, call 255-7303.
■ Murfreesboro’s annual Christmas Parade will be held on Main Street at 4 p.m. The Tree Lighting Ceremony and a visit from Santa will follow at 6:30 at the Roberts Vaughan House.
■ The second annual James L. Camp Jr. YMCA Christmas Party will be held 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Cypress Cove Country Club. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served and there will be a cash Bar. The $30 tickets are available at the Y’s front desk. Free childcare will be provided at the Y. Proceeds benefit the We Build People Campaign.
■ Wakefield Foundation will host lunch with Santa and Rudolph 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its building at 100 Wilson Ave. Tickets are $5. Anyone 2 and younger eats free. Tickets can be purchased at Drake Tire in Franklin and Peanut Patch in Courtland. For more information, call 899-2365 or 899-6005.
■ The Carrsville Ruritan Club will sponsor the annual parade at 2 p.m. After the Christmas parade, Santa will be at Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department. To participate, call Clay Bynum at 516-6798 or 334-2530.

Sunday, December 4
■ The Town of Boykins will hold its annual “Decorate the Christmas Tree” at 2 p.m. at the Buck Lassiter Mini Park. The event will include Christmas caroling, music and refreshments. Santa will be there. Bring an ornament to hang on the tree, which will be lit.
■ Ivor Christmas Parade lineup will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Pines of Ivor for the 3 p.m. parade. Entertainment and Brunswick stew will be served after the parade at Ivor Municipal Building. The lighting of the Cody Stallard Memorial Christmas Tree will follow. For information, call 859-6789.
■ The Chowan University Department of Music will present a free Christmas concert at 3:30 p.m. at Turner Auditorium. The concert features the Chowan Winds, Chowan Singers, Cantare and the Jazz Combo.
■ The Franklin Community Choir’s annual Christmas Concert will be 4 p.m. at Franklin Baptist Church. The free concert features a mix of sacred and secular pieces, and an audience singalong.
■ The seventh annual Capron Christmas Parade will be held on Main Street at 4 p.m. Parade lineup begins at 3. To participate, call Debbie Ricks at 658-4612 by Thursday, Dec. 1.

Monday, December 5
■ A free Christmas Choral Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium at Chowan University. The concert will feature the Chowan Chorus, Chowan Singers and Cantare.

Wednesday, December 7
■ A Christmas tree lighting will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Wakefield Foundation at 100 Wilson Ave. Santa will arrive at 6:30. The event is sponsored by the Town of Wakefield, Troxler Library and Wakefield Foundation.

Thursday, December 8
■ The International Paper Christmas steak dinner for retirees and their guests will begin with a hospitality hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 at the Bronco Club. To attend, call 653-7555 or 569-9756. Dec. 1 is the deadline to turn in money to W.L. Darden.

Saturday, December 10
■ The Virginia Harmonheirs will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Wakefield Foundation,100 Wilson Ave. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at Windsor Drugs, Drake Tire  in Franklin and The Peanut Patch in Courtland. For more information, call 899-2365 or 899-6005, or check www.wakefieldfoundation.org.
■ Boykin’s Tavern is hosting a holiday open house from 1 to 6 p.m. Visit with War of 1812 living historians on the tavern’s lawn before coming inside to see colonial and Victorian holiday decorations. A Victorian Santa will be on hand. Boykin’s Tavern is at 17130 Monument Circle in Isle of Wight.
■ An 18th Century Christmas will be held 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rochelle-Prince House on Main Street, Courtland. Those attending are asked to bring a canned good for Boykins Food Bank or a toy for the Southampton County Fraternal Order of Police. The house will be decorated and refreshments will be served.

Sunday, December 11
■ The Boykins Ladies Auxiliary will host a craft and vendor show from 2 to 5 p.m. at Boykins Firehouse. The fee for a booth is $25. Contact S. Peden @sppeden@yahoo.com or 757-654-9103 for more information.
■ Boykins 37th annual Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m. To participate, call 650-8134 or 743-8114.

Monday, December 12
■ The Isle of Wight County Museum at 6:30 p.m. will host America’s first documented English Christmas. Through Capt. John Smith’s journal of 1608, Winette Jeffery of the Hampton History Museum will share the story through this free lecture. For more information, contact the museum at 356-1223 or visit www.historicisleofwight.com.

Wednesday, December 14
■ The Isle of Wight Commission on Aging and Senior Services is sponsoring its annual Christmas program and luncheon 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Smithfield Center. Space is limited. Call Drucella Hicks at 357-3531 or Laurel Holland at 357-4050 to make a reservation by Friday, Dec. 2. There is a $2 donation for lunch.

Thursday, December 15
■ Southampton Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Class of 2012 will present Santa’s Workshop 5 to 7 p.m. in the auditorium at East Pavilion nursing home. There will be pictures with Santa, Christmas crafts, hotdogs, drinks, treats, a bake sale and raffles.

Friday, December 16
■ Partners Among Cats and Canines’  Tree Of Lights ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Fred’s Restaurant in downtown Franklin. Lights can be purchased in memory or honor of a person or animal. Visit www.pacconline.org for more information and to purchase lights.

Tuesday, December 20
■ Community Christmas night will begin with a hayride and carolers meeting at Newsoms Ruritan building parking lot at 6:30. The Community Sing with refreshments will follow at 7 at the firehouse.