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Old Fort holiday kicks into high gear

By Mike Conley | The McDowell News

Published: December 3, 2009

This weekend, folks can celebrate Christmas at the historic Carson House, meet some local writers at the Appalachian Authors Fair and enjoy the annual Christmas parade in Old Fort.

The historic Carson House on U.S. 70 in Pleasant Gardens is being decorated with native greenery for the holiday season. Those folks who are members of the Carson House Society can enjoy a candlelight Christmas evening at the historic site today from 5 to 7 p.m. Handmade gifts and decorations will be for sale at the Back Porch Gift Shop. All proceeds from this special event will benefit the Carson House.

Starting Saturday, the house will be open to the public for special holiday tours, which will also feature music, entertainment and Christmas shopping. The Carson House Community Christmas tours will be held at 6 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13. Admission for these tours is $5. You can also visit the Back Porch Gift Shop for unique items and decorations.

For more information, call the Carson House at 724-4948 or visit www.historiccarsonhouse.com.

For the literary minded, the Appalachian Author's Fair is set for Saturday as well. The Author's Fair will be held at the Old Fort Depot.

Starting at 11 a.m., Randell Jones, author and storyteller will present "In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone," the story of Boone's exploits in the mountains during the frontier era. His presentation is funded by the Roads Scholar program of the N.C. Humanities Council.

At 1 p.m., local writer Julia Nunnally Duncan will present selected readings from her latest publication, "When Day is Done." Both events will be at the Old Fort Depot and are free to the public.

Other authors scheduled for the fair include Michael Hardy and Rick Russell (who write about the War Between the States), Tim Pegram (who specializes in outdoors and nature writing); Ed Krause (historical fiction); Chrissy McVay (fantasy); Celia Miles and Nancy Dillingham (regional culture and fiction). Some of the newcomers for this year's event are David Biddix and Chris Hollifield, who have compiled a pictorial history of Spruce Pine, and Ronald Brauer, who specializes in spiritual works. Poet James Vance will also appear for the first time at the Author's Fair. These writers will be on hand to sell copies of their works and sign them.

There is no admission for the event, which is being sponsored by the Old Fort library. For more information, call (828) 442-7779.

The town of Old Fort will celebrate the Christmas season with the annual parade on Saturday.

Carolyn Slagle, who helps organize the parade, said it is not too late to take part in the procession, which starts at 4 p.m. The procession will feature the NJROTC cadets, fire trucks, floats, historical re-enactors and horseback riders but there's still room for more.

Folks can show up for the lineup starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, which will be in the parking lot of Old Fort Elementary School. The parade will travel the usual route, starting at the school and continuing up Catawba Avenue. The parade makes a right turn onto Main Street and continues down the street through downtown Old Fort. It will come to an end at Samir's Quick Stop No. 1.

Libby Norton, who's operated Family Pharmacy for many years, will be the parade's grand marshal. Of course, Santa Claus will be the guest of honor.

To enter floats and cars in the parade, call Pat Piercy at 668-4915 after 5 p.m. or Carolyn Slagle at 668-4564. You can also just show up during the lineup.