Masquerade: A Candlelight Christmas Celebration

Make your holiday historic this year at Tryon Palace’s 38th annual “Candlelight Christmas Celebration.” Visit with historic characters in period clothing, witness holiday vignettes spanning two centuries, and experience black powder fireworks on the South Lawn. Explore the grounds and buildings of Tryon Palace to travel from 1771 through 1835, and see how New Bern residents from different times and upbringings celebrated the holidays.

Candlelight is a site wide event for Tryon Palace that includes tours of the Governor’s Palace, Stanly House, Dixon House, Commission House, and numerous activities on the grounds. Be sure to catch the entertaining circus acts, fire eating, sword swallowing, acrobatics, magic, Jonkonnu, and much more. Food will be available to purchase from food trucks located outside the Palace gates. You can then stop by The Plucked Peacock Tavern to grab a seat and enjoy beer, wine, and delicious baked goods in a festive holiday setting. Also, warm up with hot cider and cookies from Mack’s Cider House in the Trades Building. Then, end your enchanted evening with a show of black powder fireworks on the Tryon Palace South Lawn.

All activities take place from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Several performances and activities are scheduled at different times throughout the night. Attendees are encouraged to plan on spending at least three hours at Candlelight to experience all activities.

Candlelight is a rain or shine event, but fireworks may be cancelled during extreme weather conditions. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.