Light up your holiday season with a getaway to charming Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Experience more than 260 years of historic holiday traditions filled with the spirit of nostalgia, the twilight of candlelight tours, and excitement of holiday celebrations for the entire family.
Experience the Holiday Splendor of Yesteryear
Photograph by JSinclair.com
Discover 18th and 19th century Moravian traditions while strolling the cobblestone sidewalks in historic Old Salem Museums & Gardens and admire the glow of handcrafted Moravian stars illuminating Old Salem’s Heritage Bridge. Marvel at Roaring 20’s holiday décor while touring Reynolda House Museum of American Art, originally the historic 1917 home of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds and family. At neighboring Graylyn Estate—historic home-turned-85-room-hotel—each of the seven Christmas trees is decorated to reflect the sprawling home’s history. Enjoy the splendor of a Victorian Christmas at Körner’s Folly, an enchanted holiday excursion for more than a century. Built in 1880, this unique home features 22 whimsical rooms decorated with floor-to-ceiling garlands, glowing lights, and ornate Christmas trees. Find inspiration on a charming horse-drawn carriage ride under a million twinkling lights at Tanglewood Park’s Festival of Lights—the largest holiday light display in the Southeast.
Warm up With Traditional Holiday Treats
Photograph by Andrew Cebulka
Savor the warmth of hearth Moravian cooking this holiday season by indulging in a delicious stop or two along the famed Moravian Culinary Trail. Celebrate Winston-Salem’s culinary history with sweet and savory treats for you and your foodie friends. Grab an apron and help fire up an 18th century brick beehive oven on Saturdays for a hands-on baking experience at Old Salem’s Winkler Bakery. Moravian Chicken Pie from The Tavern in Old Salem and Moravian Sugar Cake from Dewey’s Bakery will surely spread good cheer—and fill bellies—during the most wonderful time of the year. With more than a million pounds baked here each year, Winston-Salem has been heralded as the epicenter of Moravian cookie production. Mrs. Claus’s cookies simply can’t compete with Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies. These whisper-thin, handmade delicacies (voted “Oprah’s favorite”) make for tasty stocking stuffers. Even local brewery, Foothills Brewing, taps into Winston-Salem’s Moravian heritage with their holiday release of People’s Moravian Porter.
A Holiday Shopping Trip Like No Other
A Winston-Salem holiday getaway wouldn’t be complete without selecting one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Kickstart your holiday shopping by experiencing a festive Winston-Salem tradition—the 56th Annual Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair, November 23–24. The Fair is a holiday shopper’s delight, filled with row upon row of unique home goods, jewelry, ceramics, glass, wearables, furniture, and decor handcrafted by more than 100 skilled artisans and artists from across the Southeast. View live demonstrations of various craft techniques, mix and mingle with talented makers, and browse displays of quality craftsmanship and fine design—all hallmarks of the Fair. The event takes place in the Benton Convention Center, steps away from more than 120 restaurants and shops conveniently located in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem. From December 7-22, Sawtooth School for Visual Art presents its 30th anniversary celebration of Deck the Halls—a seasonal shopping experience featuring a variety of creative work from more than 80 local and regional arts and craftsmen. Designed to please any budget, items range from holiday ornaments and cards to handcrafted pieces of furniture.
Marvel at Holiday Arts and Crafts
Photograph by Andrew Cebulka
After getting your shopping fix at the Fair and Deck the Halls, browse the handiwork of several local artisans and craftsmen housed in the Downtown Arts District. Eclectic “made in Winston-Salem” goods can be found at local merchants such as Camel City Goods, Design Archives, Sunnyside Mercantile, Twin City Hive, and Winston Junction Market. Prefer a DIY holiday gift? Local Winston-Salem makers have mastered the art of handmade holiday gift giving and now you can too with workshops that guide you from start to finish on the perfect holiday gift. Make a handblown ornament at the Olio; take a DIY class at MIXXER, AR Workshop Winston-Salem, or Sawtooth School for Visual Art; create your own wreath at Reynolda Gardens; or craft your own Old Salem-themed Christmas putz. The opportunities to make a mark on Winston-Salem’s history and take a piece of holiday cheer back home with you are endless.
Plan your holiday getaway at visitwinstonsalem.com/holiday.
