Perry Como had it right: There really is no place like home for the holidays. Whether you’re a regular visitor to the town or a newcomer, time spent in Edenton during the holiday season brings a familiar sensation of coming home.
The historic waterfront downtown turns into a timeless display of Christmas beauty with wreaths adorning the wrought-iron street lamps and stately homes decked in holiday splendor. Take a stroll and let the window displays at boutiques, jewelers, vintage drugstores, old-fashioned hardware stores and galleries inspire your holiday shopping. Warm up with a peppermint mocha enjoyed by the glow of a Christmas tree – but in a coffee shop so cozy, you could easily mistake it for the home of a friend. Don’t stop there though – for a delicious meal that aligns with the experience of holiday feasting, check out Edenton’s restaurants, where top flavors of the region’s seasonal ingredients shine in delightful preparations of farm-fresh vegetables, local seafood and meat from nearby farms.
Edenton is a charming town to explore, shop and dine in any time of the year. However, the way the town comes alive with the Christmas spirit and beloved annual events in the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas inspires many visitors to plan their trips then. Some choose to stay in the boutique bed and breakfasts downtown, within walking distance from the shops, restaurants and events. Others opt for countryside accommodations that feel almost like something from a Currier and Ives scene. Plan to visit Edenton this holiday season, and mark your calendars now for these Christmas events, some of which have become traditions for residents and visitors alike.
Edenton with Holiday Festivities
The Albemarle Chorale Christmas Concert
Sunday, Dec. 1
Edenton Methodist Church
Christmas Tree Lighting and Flotilla
Friday, Dec. 6
S. Broad Street at Colonial Park
Christmas Candlelight Tour Weekend Events
Edenton Chowan Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 7
N. and S. Broad Street
Cupola House’s Open House
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13-14
Cupola House
Christmas Groaning Board at the James Iredell House
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13-14
Iredell House
Confection Perfection Sweets by the Sound
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13-14
Chowan Arts Council Gallery
38th Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour
Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 13-14
Penelope Barker House Welcome Center and various locations
About the Author Hannah Lee Leidy
Hannah Lee is a fiction and creative nonfiction writer living on the Outer Banks. She graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Traveling is her passion, but nowhere ever feels as much like home as the Outer Banks. When not planning her next trip or adventure, Hannah Lee loves aimless drives down the Beach Road, spending copious amounts of time in coffee shops and reading every short story collection she gets her hands on. 
