2nd annual Holly Day Celebration attracts large crowds

2008 Shopping Season Moves Into High Gear

The weather was just right. The community Christmas tree drew 'oohs' and 'aahs.' The crowds were in great spirits. And the decorations in stores and restaurants were magical wonders to behold.

Kinston's 2nd annual Holly Day Celebration sponsored Dec. 2, 2008 by a coalition of downtown organizations was a great success, surpassing the inaugural 2007 celebration in both crowds and active participants, according to the event's sponsors.

Launched by celebrity emcees Kara Coleman and Bobby Deskins, co-anchors of WCTI12 television early morning news show, the event began with a 5:00 pm ceremony to light the community Christmas tree on the Lenoir County Courthouse lawn. In dramatic fashion, lighting the courthouse tree triggered the illumination of all the holly trees which line Queen Street.

The crowd which came to witness the symbolic tree lighting sang carols led by Kinston television notable Rick Vernon, accompanied by the North Lenoir High School band, while being treated to a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and good natured bantering between Coleman and Deskins.

Local elected officials (city council members and county commissioners) were introduced by Mayor Buddy Ritch and new County Commission Chair George Graham.

And then to the strains of "We wish you a Merry Christmas" the trees were lit and the crowds headed off to the entertainment and refreshment centers participating in Holly Day Celebration 2008: Stores and restaurants along Herritage and North Streets, the Neuse Regional Library, the Community Council for the Arts, Queen Street Methodist Church, Pride of Kinston and the Kinston-Lenoir Chamber of Commerce building.

The Dec. 2 event was organized as a reminder that Christmas shopping in downtown Kinston is the way to go, and as prelude to the community's annual Christmas parade.

2008 Christmas Parade set for 10:00 AM Dec. 13

Kinston's annual Christmas parade continues to draw excited youngsters and their moms and dads looking for a jolly old man in red to bring holiday joy to town...and a generous spread of toys and other goodies under the family Christmas tree on December 25.

This year's parade will feature approximately 100 individual entries including three high school bands, one middle school ensemble, three motorcycle clubs, two dozen pageant winners, scouting troops, floats galore, local fire departments, and finally, the old man himself: Santa Claus.

Santa Claus makes his appearance to the delight of Kinston crowds at the 2007 Christmas parade.