Mid - Eastern Section

PETERSBURG– On select dates from Nov. 25, through Dec. 30, Answers in Genesis will once again host its spectacular annual Christmas programs at the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in northern Kentucky.

ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum and ChristmasTime at the Ark will display hundreds of thousands of dazzling lights. The museum will continue to feature a live nativity. At the Ark, its Answers Center will provide a warm place for guests to enjoy the stunning “Encounter the Wonder” animated show on a massive 70-foot LED screen, special concerts with Christmas carol sing-a-longs and live animal encounters—all free. New this year at the Ark is a free heated indoor children’s petting zoo at the Ararat Ridge Zoo.

Ken Ham, CEO and founder of the attractions, declared: “Every year, our guests love walking the grounds of both attractions as they view the thousands of stunning lights. At the Ark, visitors can watch the spectacular and constantly changing colorful lights that will illuminate the life-size 510-foot-long Ark. They’ll also enjoy the warmth of the Answers Center for Christmas music and other programs. At the Creation Museum, guests will experience our traditional live nativity and the stunning, colorful lights that surround our beautiful lake.”

Ham continued: “ChristmasTime and ChristmasTown are our gifts to the community during this special time of year. Not only will visitors have a wonderful time together, but their hearts and thoughts will be directed toward Jesus and the special gift he gives to us because of his birth, death and resurrection. Invite your friends to visit our world-renowned attractions.” More about the events can be found at the Ark and museum websites.

•The gorgeous Garden of Lights with large steel dinosaurs lit up — many guests say it’s one of the best Christmas light displays in the entire Midwest. •The traditional live nativity will present the true meaning of Christmas, depicting Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus. •Live animals at the Eden Animal Experience, on the beautifully lit museum grounds. •The free “Encounter the Wonder” 4D show inside the Special Effects Theater; at the high-tech planetarium, the stunning “The Christmas Star” program is shown (ticket purchase). •A vast sea of bright multi-colored lights on the Ark’s expansive grounds. •The Ark’s resident musicians, TrueSong, and other musical groups—as well as sing-a-longs to favorite Christmas carols and short dramas—will be held at 6 p.m. each night in the Answers Center. •Live-animal encounters, with animals from the Ark’s zoo, will be held on the Animal/Actor Stage at the zoo; guests can walk the grounds of the zoo and see live animals at no charge. •A Christmas dinner can be purchased at the Ark’s Emzara’s Restaurant during ChristmasTime.

As explained on the Ark and museum websites, most of the holiday activities are free. For residents of surrounding counties,* parking is also free.

From November 25 – December 13 at both locations, the Christmas events will run Wednesdays through Sundays, starting at 5 p.m. Then from December 14—30, the events will be held each evening beginning at 5 p.m. (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Continuing a 15-year tradition, ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum invites families to enjoy free activities. Parking is $15.

GOLDSBORO – Given the location, one might assume it’s a great spot for barbecue. Visitors find amazing barbecue and a full menu of other specialties, from the local farm or from around the world. Between Raleigh and the Atlantic coast, Goldsboro sits on the banks of the Neuse River and is the centerpiece of Wayne County.

Is there Eastern North Carolina barbecue? Of course, there is that. Many say the best of that, here in Wayne County. From legendary barbecue to Tex-Mex favorites to Asian-American cuisine with a Southern twist, Wayne County is home to some of the best food in North Carolina. It also boasts a surprising variety of cuisine, with options including Latin, Irish and Peruvian fusion. So how about trying something different for a Thanksgiving Extended Weekend Getaway?

For a classic meal, Wilber’s is a favorite. Here, whole hogs are smoked overnight on open pits filled with oak. Ordering pulled pork with a side of hush puppies is a tradition. Next comes homemade banana pudding for dessert.

For a full-blown barbecue tour, with refreshing brews, too, the local Brews & ‘Cue Trail maps out a course for delicious decadence. There’s a self-guided option and pre-scheduled guided tours are available, as well. The tour offers insight into the history of the most famous barbecue spots, tastes of the freshest craft brews and tales from the pit-masters themselves.

For a memorable alternative, Barrique offers a fine dining experience. Located in historic downtown, dinner at Barrique features fine wines and specialties with ingredients sourced locally from sustainable farms and straight from the ocean off the North Carolina coast. A stop at their 18th Amendment Lounge for a craft cocktail is an added treat.

Specializing in fresh ingredients and authentic Peruvian Fusion cuisine, Los Fogones offers a meal to remember. The bold flavors of Peruvian classics are favorites here along with rotisserie chicken, ribs, sausage and rib eyes. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, Los Fogones’ variety offers something for every appetite.

For those looking for memorable thirst quenchers, Goldsboro has some tasty options. At Goldsboro Brew Works, the taps are flowing with local craft beer and the atmosphere is fun and casual. Church Spirits & Cocktails serves the best in seasonal craft cocktails and prohibition-era favorites.

Holly Grove Farms, Mount Olive, with its nearly 1,000 dairy goats, is one of the largest farmstead and woman-owned goat dairies in the US. They raise milking goats and make cheese on the farm, managing every aspect of their outstanding cheeses.

Lane Family Farms Apiaries is a favorite for lovers of local honey and honey products. Their offerings range from raw honey to hand-crafted soaps and more.