From turkey trots to parades: 6 unique ways to spend Thanksgiving in eastern North Carolina
The celebration of Thanksgiving in North Carolina dates back to 1758 when Governor Arthur Dobbs called for the people of the North Carolina colony to observe June 7 of that year as a day of fasting and prayer.
The first official day of thanks was celebrated in the Tar Heel State in 1849 when Governor William A. Graham urged the legislature to set aside a day “for the forgiveness of injuries—for acts of good neighborhood and especially for the charitable remembrance of the poor.”
Since that time North Carolinians have found a number of ways to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday season, from traditional meals at home to the more recent focus on shopping and social festivities.
From turkey trots and live music, to holiday parades and tours of historic sites, here are six unique ways to spend the Thanksgiving holiday in the New Bern area and other sites across eastern North Carolina.
Twin Rivers YMCA Turkey Trot
The 15th annual Twin Rivers YMCA Turkey Trot will be held on November 24 at Taberna Golf and Country Club, located at 401 Taberna Way, New Bern. The Turkey Trot features a 5K perfect for families that will be open to timed and untimed runners and walkers. A 10K race is geared towards competitive runners and is open to timed participants only. There will also be a virtual option allowing participants to complete the 10k or 5K at any location between November 23rd and November 25th by running or jogging in their own neighborhood, nearby park or other location. Awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers for each race.
To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/NewBern/TwinRiversYMCATurkeyTrot.
Discover Tryon Palace: Life on the Lesser Stairs
On Thanksgiving Day from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Tryon Palace will honor the staff, both free and enslaved, who have often gone unrecognized in the palace’s history. The “Life on the Lesser Stairs” tour will shine a light on those who prepared the meals, tended to the horses, emptied the chamber pots and performed other tasks that allowed for a life of luxury. The tour will encompass the palace, stables, and kitchen office.
Space is limited on each tour and flash photography is prohibited. All visitors must wear face masks at all times within indoor settings. For more information, visit https://www.tryonpalace.org/.
Tap That! Black Friday Party
Need to recover from the Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shopping extravaganza? Relax after the buying blitz at Tap That! in New Bern with live music by the soulful rock and pop band Bridge Atlantic on Friday, November 25 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The following night, DJ K-Dash will light up the dance floor from 7:30-11 p.m. for holiday revelers looking to work off those turkey and stuffing Thanksgiving dinners.
Festival of Lights Hayride
Mike’s Farm of Beulaville will hold its popular Festival of Lights Hayride on Thanksgiving Day from 6-9 p.m. The 30 minute hayride through the woods features lighted holiday scenes, a live nativity and Christmas music along the way. No reservations are needed for the hayride, with tickets $12 for ages 5 and older. The farm’s shop, bakery, and NC Products Barn will also be open from 3-9 p.m. Thanksgiving day.
Emerald Isle Christmas Parade
Looking to get an early jump on the Christmas festivities while taking in a day at the beach? Emerald Isle will hold its annual Christmas parade on Saturday, November 26 at 2 p.m. on a route that will travel along N.C. 58 through the town. The parade will begin at the Emerald Isle government complex and end at Mangrove Drive, near CVS. The parade will feature holiday-themed floats, with Santa Clause scheduled to make an appearance at the end.
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
An annual celebration since 1983, Wilmington’s 2022 Holiday Flotilla will take place on November 26 at Wrightsville Beach and neighboring beaches beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s flotilla will feature more than two dozen boats, from personal watercraft to yachts, in a display of creativity and holiday spirit that will light up the night sky. In addition to the flotilla, the event includes an all-day festival and fireworks after the main event.
For more information, visit https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/event/nc-holiday-flotilla%3A-parade-%26-fireworks/5216/
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: How to spend Thanksgiving in New Bern, eastern North Carolina
