A Kinston Christmas will be held on December 6th & 7th.

Friday Evening 

CSS Neuse Interpretive Museum hosts A Walk Through Christmas Past, a ticketed event to experience Christmas in Lenoir County in 1861, 1862, 1864, and 1865 through a guided tour inside the museum.

Gordon Street Christian Church will have Chili, Concert, and Claus.  Buy a bowl of their famous chili and enjoy Christmas music from the pipe organ, and you may see Santa Claus, too.  

Saturday Morning

Merchants host their Christmas open house all day to celebrate the start of the Holiday season. 

Stroll past the Christmas window displays and participate in the Lenoir County Boys and Girls Club Christmas Cookie Crawl fundraiser by purchasing a Boys and Girls Club hand-painted and signed bag from Upstairs at the Market for $20. Then fill your bag with delicious cookies from participating merchants as you explore downtown with your family.

Gordon Street Christian Church will be broadcasting Christmas Carols until 2:00 PM over downtown from their carillon bells as well as some live pipe organ concerts; open to the public. 

Trains will be running on time in the basement of the Arts Council and big and little kids will enjoy building  

Ginger Bread Houses. 

Saturday Afternoon/Early Evening 

Neuse News will again broadcast our parade live on FB to the world.

The Kinston Christmas Parade, themed Light the Night, departs Grainger Stadium at 3:00 PM to Queen Street, turning on E Caswell to East, then back to the stadium.  

The review stand will be at the Kinston Enterprise Center, 327 N. Queen St.  Bleachers will be provided for reserved, prime viewing seats, as well. Register to be in the parade and reserve your seats ($10/person advance purchase, $20 cash day of with some heat and a restroom) at www.DowntownKinston.com. Seventy-five feet of red carpet will line Queen St for performers. A herd of red Ferrari beasts will transport City Council members while Slingshots vehicles will sport County Commissioners. Look for other new participants this year, too.  

Saturday Night

After the parade, at 6:00 PM, gather in Pearson Park to watch Santa and Mrs. Claus flip the switch for our second annual lighting ceremony, Turn on the Holidays.  Your magnificent Christmas tree will come to life along with other beautiful new additions in Pearson Park and Neuseway Nature Park followed with fireworks on the Neuse River. 

A few of the best-lighted floats will be invited and escorted by Police to Pearson Park as part of this ceremony. 

Ample free parking is available throughout downtown.

This is a family-friendly event hosted by Pride of Kinston Downtown Revitalization and  the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department.