Enjoy a glimpse of how an eastern North Carolina Christmas was celebrated during the Civil War at the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Four Oaks. It will host a Holiday Open House Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Members of Co. D 27th NC Troops will demonstrate how Civil War-era North Carolina soldiers and civilians celebrated the holidays. Visitors can wander through a small military camp and vote on their favorite decorated tent. Children can participate in a scavenger hunt. If all items on the scavenger hunt are found, they can claim a small prize.
Guests will also enjoy seeing the festively decorated Harper House kitchen, where volunteers will serve hot cider and cookies. To get into the spirit of the season, you can help the costumed interpreters string popcorn and cranberries to decorate the Christmas tree.
The Harper House, which was used as a hospital during the Battle of Bentonville, will be open for hourly tours.
The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, involved 80,000 troops and was the last Confederate offensive against Union Gen. William T. Sherman. Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site interprets the battle and the hospital, where many Confederates were left in the aftermath.
The site is located at 5466 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, NC 27524, three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville.
For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/events/civil-war-christmas-bentonville-battlefield or call (910) 594-0789. Bentonville Battlefield is within the Division of State Historic Sites and part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.