Illustration by Jeff Winstead

Whether it’s festive foods, glittering decorations, or timeless carols, every city seems to have its own unique way of welcoming the season.  Here in Greensboro, seasonal spirit rings out in a number of vibrant and festive ways.  From tasty treats to shimmering scenes, here’s a look at a few things that make the holiday season especially bright in our hometown.

Find the perfect gift: Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic

“When you walk in the door, it just feels like Christmas.”

That’s how Anita Meyer, event promoter for the Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic, describes the annual Thanksgiving-weekend show. With more than 500 vendors selling everything from holiday crafts to whimsical ornaments, it’s no wonder the craft show has become one of our city’s most treasured traditions.

This year will mark the 35th anniversary of the Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic. The show’s longevity can be attributed directly to organizers Clyde and Tami Gilmore. Each year, the couple makes it a point to keep the event full of fresh ideas and new exhibits, while also bringing back familiar favorites.

Apart from its local popularity, the event has also gained some national acclaim. Sunshine Artist, a prestigious arts-and-crafts magazine, just named the event one of the top craft shows in the nation for 2008.

The hallmark of the show is the interaction shoppers get to have with the artists themselves. Every item being sold is the original work of the person who’s presenting it. This, in turn, creates an especially personal shopping experience.

So what kinds of items will you find at the Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic? “Jewelry, pottery, sign art, and plenty of holiday knickknacks,” Meyer says. “And that’s just for starters. We like to say there’s something for every style, every taste, and every budget here — and it’s absolutely true.”

The Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic is November 28–30 at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. The cost is $7 for adults and $1 for children ages 6 to 12 (under 6 are admitted free). For more information and a coupon off admission, go to http://www.craftsmensclassic.com.

Festival of Lights Shopping: Downtown Greensboro will shine especially bright December 5. From 6 to 9 p.m., the city will hold its Festival of Lights event on Elm Street. Aside from the popular tree-lighting ceremony, the event will feature extended shopping hours, lively window decorations, and fun-filled children’s activities.

Holiday Arts and Crafts at the Market: On December 14, shoppers at the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market (501 Yanceyville St.) will find a variety of holiday arts, crafts, and home decor from more than 80 local crafters. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and parking and admission are free.

Enjoy the Decorations: Candlefest at the Arboretum

What do you get when you place 4,000 luminaries in one of the city’s most scenic spots? A holiday tradition like no other.

Now in its 10th year, the Arboretum’s Candlefest allows guests to stroll the garden’s paved walkways in the soft glow of luminary light. “Candlefest is a great kickoff for the holiday season,” says Mebane Ham, event coordinator. “All we ask is for people to come out and have a good time.”

Aside from the trademark luminaries, the night will feature plenty in the way of seasonal sensibilities, including carriage rides, wandering carolers, hot chocolate, and brilliant decorations. In addition, Santa Claus himself is rumored to be making an appearance around 6 p.m. via horse-drawn carriage.

But the best part about the festivity? It’s 100 percent free, courtesy of local Girl Scout troops and the Parks and Recreation Department. The only thing requested of attendants is a canned-food donation for Greensboro Urban Ministries.“It’s a fun, entertaining, and free evening for families, friends, and couples,” Ham says. “I really couldn’t imagine a more wonderful event.”

Candlefest is December 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Greensboro Arboretum (401 Asheland Drive). Maps and schedules are provided at the garden’s entrances. Parking is available at the Lindley Park ball field off Starmount Drive. For more information, call 336-373-2199. 

Christmas at the Castle: Throughout December, Jamestown’s Castle McCulloch (3925 Kivett Dr.) is transformed into a virtual Winter Wonderland, with more than 15 acres of lights and decorations. For times and ticket information, call 336-887-5413 or go to http://www.castlemcculloch.com.

Christmas Balls in Sunset Hills: The skies above Sunset Hills are aglow around the holidays with hundreds of lighted Christmas balls — a creation combining strands of Christmas lights with chicken wire. The spectacle is centered around the Ridgeway Drive area, just east of Wendover Avenue.

See a Show: Beautiful Star at Triad Stage

Preston Lane, Artistic Director at Triad Stage, is a strong believer in simplicity when it comes to Christmas. That’s why the playwright went out of his way to ensure his holiday production, Beautiful Star, stayed refreshingly simple.“We like to think of the play as sort of the antidote to all the extravagance we see around the holidays,” Lane says.

The story centers around members of a small community church deep within the Appalachian Mountains. It’s Christmas Eve, and the church is busy putting on its annual Christmas nativity. As you’re introduced to members of the congregation, a distinctive retelling of the Christmas story begins to unfold.

The production got a huge boost from the musical creations of Laurelyn Dossett, a celebrated songwriter who’s collaborated with Lane on several other projects. Dossett’s music puts a backwoods twist on several holiday standards while introducing a few original tunes. During each show, the music is performed live by a three-piece bluegrass band.

“The music has such an incredibly warm feel to it,” Lane says. “It’s the thing that makes the play so special.”

With its down-home music and heartwarming message, the production has resonated with the surrounding community. And, after two seasons of record-breaking runs, it’s clear that Beautiful Star is growing into one of Greensboro’s most anticipated holiday attractions.

“We’re just thrilled to have found something that the community is responding to so strongly,” Lane says. “As long as they want to see it, we’ll keep doing it.”

Beautiful Star will run from November 28 through December 21. For specific times and ticket information, call the Triad Stage box office at 336-272-0160, or go to http://www.triadstage.com. The original soundtrack will also be for sale at the Triad Stage box office for $10.

How the Buckner Family Saved Christmas: Back by popular demand at the Barn Dinner Theater is this lively tale of a deranged department-store Santa. The show will run from December 7 to 31. For times and ticket information, go to http://www.barndinner.com.

Home for the Holidays: The Bel Canto Company, an innovative vocal ensemble, will perform its holiday concert December 5, 6, and 8 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church (2105 W. Market St.). For times and information, go to belcanto http://www.company.com.

Give Back: Volunteer

One of the greatest gifts you can give this holiday season isn’t really a present at all. Instead, it’s your time, generosity, and goodwill — a gift the Volunteer Center of Greensboro is happy to help facilitate.

“We’re so lucky to have a community that really loves to give back during the holiday season,” says Chelsea Hughes, volunteer specialist at the Volunteer Center.

To make the volunteering process easier this year, the Volunteer Center has put together an all-encompassing list of holiday opportunities that can be accessed by visiting the group’s Web site. Once there, users can browse volunteer opportunities from more than 150 nonprofit organizations.

“Volunteering lets people connect with those less fortunate than themselves,” Hughes says. “It gives you a chance to have a positive effect on causes you care about. More than that, it gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling that everyone loves to experience during the holidays.”

But before jumping head-first into volunteering, Hughes says there are a few things you need to ask yourself: “What causes do you care about? What causes do you want to learn more about? How much time will you devote to a cause?” she asks. “Once you narrow the scope of where you want to put your efforts, the Web site can help guide you to the right opportunity.”

The Volunteer Center’s Web site can be accessed by going to volunteergso.org. A page displaying holiday-related opportunities will be linked from the homepage. If you’d like to set up volunteer work by phone, contact Chelsea Hughes at 336-373-1633.

Organize a Donation Drive: Donation drives are an easy way to make a big difference in the community during the holidays. Whether it’s a food drive, toy drive, clothes drive, or any other operation, the Volunteer Center of Greensboro can help guide your mission.  http://www.volunteergso.org.

Be a Bell-Ringer: It’s one of the most wonderful sounds of the season: Salvation Army volunteers ringing their bells at one of the many Red Kettle stands throughout the city. For participation information, call the Salvation Army of Greensboro at 336-235-0349.

Sample the Season: Eggnog from Homeland Creamery

Love it or hate it, eggnog is one drink that’s defining Christmas cheer. For the best ’nog in town, look no further than Homeland Creamery — a family-owned dairy just south of Greensboro in Julian. Though the farm has been producing milk since the 1930s, its eggnog concoction has only been around a few years. Despite its novelty, the beverage has quickly grown into one of Guilford County’s favorite holiday treats.

“People just love the taste of it,” says Terry Bowman, who owns and operates the farm with her husband, David, his brother, Chris, and his wife, Jayne. “People taste it one time, and they’re hooked.”

Just like its other famed milk products, Homeland’s eggnog features an ultra-creamy texture that sets it apart from other shelf eggnogs. “It’s so thick,” Bowman explains, “that when you shake it, the eggnog barely moves.”

The rich texture is a result of the farm’s distinct pasteurization process, a method that favors a slow-and-steady approach over quick conventional tactics. But eggnog isn’t the only thing you’ll find at Homeland Creamery this time of year. During the holiday season, Santa himself will be at the farm serving cookies and greeting guests. “We get so many people that come out to the farm to get eggnog,” Bowman says. “We just thought by bringing Santa out here, it’d give them something else to enjoy.”

Homeland Creamery is at 6506 Bowman Dairy Rd. in Julian. The farm’s eggnog will be available at its onsite store, as well as grocery stores throughout the Triad. For information on Homeland’s products and where to find them, call 336-685-6455 or go to http://www.homelandcreamery.com.

Seasonal Lattes from The Green Bean: In the heart of downtown Greensboro, The Green Bean coffeehouse (341 S. Elm St.) offers a wide selection of seasonal drinks for the latte-lover, including gingerbread, cinnamon, pumpkin-spice, and even chocolate-peppermint. Call 336-691-9990 for information.

Eggnog Milkshakes from Cook Out: Cook Out, the Greensboro-based fast food chain, has quickly become legendary for its long list of milkshakes varieties. Around the holiday season, the eatery adds a delicious eggnog shake to the menu, allowing customers to get a little yuletide taste to go.