christmas candlelight tour edenton nc

• Penelope Barker House Welcome Center
• Historic Edenton Trolley
• Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church
• Student Engagement
• Penelope Barker
• Charles Eden
• Joseph Hewes
• James Iredell, Sr.
• James Iredell, Jr.
• Samuel Johnston
• Hugh Williamson
• James Wilson
• 1782 Penelope Barker House
• Colonial Wharf
• Joseph Hewes Monument & 1778 Cannons
• Hugh Williamson Monument
• 1905 Edenton Teapot
• 1767 Chowan County Courthouse
• 1825 Chowan County Jail (Old Jail)
• 1898 Edenton Cotton Mill and Mill Village
• 1800/1827 James Iredell Homesite
• 1897 Kadesh A.M.E. Zion Church
• 1736 St. Paul’s Church
• 1758 Cupola House
• 1894 Josephine Leary Building
• 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse
• Edenton Bell Battery
• Other Regional Sites
• Architecture
• Barker House Exhibitions
• Historic Trades
• Get Involved
• Job and Volunteer Opportunities
• Commissioners
• 2023-2024 Sponsors
• Christmas Candlelight Tour Frequently Asked Questions
• Weddings & Special Events
• “Welcome Home” 2022
• Josephine Napoleon Leary Day
• The Lesser Known History of Edenton
• Oh, Penelope!
• PNC Bank Album of Historical Edenton Pictures
• Life in Historical Edenton (Videos)
• Pictures of Edenton
• Edenton Tea Party Trolley Tour
• Become a Member

Upcoming Events:

Click here to learn more about the year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Edenton Tea Party!

Ongoing Events:

The christmas candlelight tour.

Follow the link for more information about the next annual Christmas Candlelight Tour !

Past Events

Our observance of the first Josephine Napoleon Leary Day was a great success! Follow the link to learn more and to access a video recording on the event. 

Below are some picture galleries from past events. To begin a slideshow of all of the pictures on the page, just click on one of them and use the arrows on either side of the picture to navigate forward or backward:

“The Wedding Veil” Book Signing

Christmas Candlelight Tour 2021

Penelope’s Prohibition Party

Christmas Candlelight Tour 2020

Oh, Penelope! 2020

Masquerade Ball 2019

Barker House Nat’l Register Anniversary 2012

EHC 50th Anniversary Awards Gala 2011

Friends Thank You Party at Mulberry Hill 2011

Governor’s Day, 2013

Founding Gardeners Symposium 2013

Edenton home tour helps preserve town's history

Edenton's Christmas Candlelight Home Tour will be held Friday and Saturday and tickets are available in advance online.

More Videos

WRAL Late News

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in Fayetteville

J.D. Vance makes first speech since selection as Donald Trump's running mate

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Powerball Drawing

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

2024 Emmy Awards nominees announced

• Meetings & Events
• Interactive Map

Hayes Farm: Exciting Prospects for 2024!

If you were fortunate to attend Edenton’s Christmas Candlelight Tour this past December, then you enjoyed the privilege of touring the newly opened Hayes Farm, countryside estate of North Carolina’s fourth governor, Samuel Johnston. 

As we begin a new year, we are eager to share the exciting prospects that local residents and visitors will be able to experience with the renovations and preservation efforts at Hayes Farm in 2024! 

Built in the late 18th century on the shores of the Albemarle Sound, the current house was completed in 1817 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. It is considered “one of the South’s most accomplished examples of a five-part Palladian villa.” 

Until recently, this magnificent 194-acre estate was privately owned and managed by the Wood Family for over 150 years. 

Then, the State of North Carolina finalized the purchase of the estate in 2022 with the goal of preserving this important part of North Carolina’s history under the care of the local Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation with assistance from the Edenton Historical Commission and the Town of Edenton . 

Preserving our history for current and future generations has always been important in Edenton. We are proud of our heritage and strive to honor the stories and lives of those who built this town. 

Hayes Farm tells the story of both enslaved and free Edentonians. Working with the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation, Down East Preservation is hopeful that all of these stories will be preserved so that this place “will teach us about the past, providing us with perspective on today.”

The property includes 28 structures, including a carriage house that is currently being restored by Down East Preservation and six enslaved worker’s cottages. 

Down East Preservation is also working on saving 19th century carriages and stabilizing the Gin House, which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

It’s a work of love and stems from a passion for tangibly saving history. And it doesn’t happen overnight. 

This is a process and labor of love that will take some time, but the goal is to open a 180-acre North Carolina historic park that will preserve the history and natural beauty of Hayes Farm.

In addition, this historic park will offer residents and visitors unique access to the Albemarle Sound by providing public beach access. 

Anyone can follow updates on the Hayes Farm restoration on the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation’s social media accounts. 

Real-time updates, photos, and videos chronicle the progress as well as some exciting discoveries, such as the original fireplace and brick oven. 

You can also see pictures of not only the structures but also some truly special relics like the 19th century carriages.

We invite you to follow along with us as the restoration of Hayes Farm continues during 2024, and we also invite you to visit Edenton to see some of these newly preserved buildings for yourself!

While renovations are continuing, you can experience the tranquility and beauty of the wetlands and stunning views of the Albemarle Sound by walking part of the estate. 

Stop by the adjacent family cemetery that stands as a witness to prominent American Revolutionary leaders who played a role in shaping Edenton and our new nation after the Revolutionary War. 

Efforts are also underway to locate and commemorate the burial site of enslaved workers so that their stories can be properly preserved and honored. 

While access inside the buildings is currently restricted to aid the restoration efforts, we are hopeful that future events, such as the 2024 Christmas Candlelight Tour , will enable people to experience the grandeur and history at Hayes Farm during 2024.

You can check our Calendar of Events to help plan your visit. Check back often as additional events are added to the schedule monthly. 

We hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to visit Hayes Farm, and we can’t wait to see you soon in Edenton! 

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101 W. Water Street Edenton, NC 27932

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Edenton, NC, Events: Community

Edenton, NC, is a town filled with people who enjoy gathering together for any reason. The calendar of Edenton events that honor and support the town and our heritage are many. Plus, these events are just so much fun! Most days throughout the year, there are meetings, classes, lectures, celebrations, art experiences, sports and more for locals and visitors to take advantage of. Some of these Edenton, NC, events happen year after year – such as the Christmas Candlelight Tour or the Peanut Festival. A popular community event is the Armchair Traveler Series that brings the culture of other places right into Edenton, NC, without attendees having to buy a ticket and travel. Some of these community-focused Edenton events help educate school children on the area’s Colonial history or the English attempts at creating a permanent presence on the North Carolina coast more than 430 years ago. Other such events celebrate the local history of the Masons. Many people come together for cooking classes, to run or walk in races, for porch suppers and for sailing regattas. Kids showcase their art while other times adults gather to take an art class.

Venues for Community Edenton, NC, Events

The great outdoors is often the preferred venue for many of these Edenton events that draw the community together. That makes sense with a town that’s bordered by water and blessed by beautifully maintained public spaces. But many of the historic homes and buildings also play host to these events. What could be better (and more splendidly Southern) than supper on the porch and grounds of an actual historic cotton gin or a shrimp fest on the bay?

Event Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024

Event Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Event Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Event date: wednesday, july 31, 2024, event date: friday, august 2, 2024.

Event Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024

Event Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Event date: saturday, august 10, 2024, event date: wednesday, august 14, 2024, event date: saturday, august 17, 2024, event date: wednesday, august 21, 2024, event date: thursday, august 22, 2024.

Event Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024

Event date: wednesday, august 28, 2024, event date: saturday, august 31, 2024, event date: wednesday, september 4, 2024, event date: saturday, september 7, 2024.

View All Events!

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