Morganton lights up downtown for the holidays

Staff reports

Published: November 20, 2009

Downtown lights up for the holidays
Morganton kicks off the holiday season from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday with the Festival of Lights downtown.
The blue spruce pine tree will be lit on the lawn for the Historic Courthosue Square at 5:30 p.m. The lights on the tree represent memories of and honors to loved ones.
The names of loved ones will be printed in a commemorative program and those who wish to attend the ceremony will have an opportunity just before the tree lighting to speak the names of those remembered.
The tree-lighting ceremony will conclude with the lighting of all downtown holiday lights.
Other events Saturday include train rides on Santa's Express, face painting, ice fishing, putt putt, Santa's post office, snowman toss and crafts. Santa will make an appearance and get an early start on children's wish lists.
A bonfire will be lit and hot chocolate served.
Other holiday events in Morganton include:
- Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. Dec. 1.
- "Nutcracker" with Charleston Ballet 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at CoMMA.
- "Moosletoe " a new "moosical" at 7 p.m. Dec. 17.
call 438-5252 or visit www.downtownmorganton.com and click on Festival of Lights.