Winter Carnival and Memorial Tree Lighting

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Where: Courthouse Square

When: Saturday, November 23 5:00-8:00pm

Join downtown Morganton on the Saturday before Thanksgiving for a holiday celebration for the entire family! Come out to the Courthouse Square at 5:30pm for the Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony and then stick around until 8pm for the Winter Carnival. From 5-8pm the Courthouse Square will transform into the North Pole!

Activities like face painting, Snowman Bean Bag Toss, and Letters to Santa will be setup for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy a FREE relaxing Carriage Ride through town before heading to see SANTA! The jolly man will be hanging around waiting to hear what all of the GOOD little boys and girls are hoping for this holiday season. After seeing Santa, sit around the bonfire with your treats from Frosty's Diner!

The Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 5:30pm with music and to the delight of all, at 6:00pm, downtown Morganton will light up for the season.

Each year on the Historic Courthouse Lawn in downtown Morganton, a beautiful tree is lit for the holiday season. The lights on the tree represent memories of loved ones who are remembered at this time of year. The official lighting ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 23 at 5:30pm.

How to submit a name:

Beginning October 18, if you would like to remember or honor someone with a memorial light and add another twinkling star to the Memorial Tree, simply mail a $1.00 for each name to HMF/Christmas Cheer Fund, PO Box 1472, Morganton, NC 28680. Please indicate if your light should be in MEMORY of your loved one, or in HONOR of your loved one. You may also go to the City Hall Utility Payments window where they will record the name of your loved one and accept your payment in person. If you would like, you may also drop off your names at the payment drop-boxes located at Morganton City Hall (by the main entrance and near the driveway for the drive-through), available day and night. Checks should be made payable to HMF/Christmas Cheer Fund. All names must be submitted by NOON on Friday, November 15.

An online submission and payment can be made at http://morgantonfest.org/memorial-tree-lighting/

The names will be printed in a commemorative program and printed in the Morganton News Herald. Those who wish to attend the ceremony will also have an opportunity to speak the names of those remembered, just before the lighting of the tree. It will conclude with the lighting of the memorial tree and all the holiday lights in the downtown.

All proceeds from the memorial lights go to assist Christmas Cheer and the downtown Holiday Lights.

For more information about the Memorial Tree Lighting, call 438-5252

Stick around after the Memorial Tree Lighting for music, bonfire and hot cocoa. A variety of specialities will occur through 8:00pm including visits from Santa, face painting and los more!