Christmas at the Cupola House begins long before the lights come on. It begins with someone choosing a tree, unpacking decorations, baking a batch of cookies or setting aside an afternoon to welcome visitors.
This year, there are opportunities to help with all of those preparations as the Community Christmas Tree Program celebrates its 10th anniversary and the historic house prepares for its annual Wassail Bowl.
In her letter to participants, tree program coordinator Vonna O’Neill announced this year’s theme, “A Christmas Declaration,” celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday, the birth of Christ and a decade of community Christmas trees. The season also marks the 45th Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour.
Last year, a record 27 decorated trees filled the Cupola House garden. O’Neill is inviting participants to help create another memorable display, with donated trees, decorations and support for the lights that bring the garden to life.
Trees must arrive at the Water Street gate on the morning of Monday, Nov. 30. Town staff will place them in supplied stands and secure them with rebar. O’Neill coordinates deliveries with Kellogg’s and the Optimist Club for trees purchased through those sources and asks participants to identify their supplier on the registration form.
Decorating will take place Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 2–3, ahead of the community tree lighting on Dec. 4. Decorations must be removed Jan. 3–4, 2027.
O’Neill supplies tree stands and LED light strands and will have some extension cords available. Participants should label anything they want returned. She also asks anyone who took home program lights last year to return them and welcomes contributions toward replacing worn lights.
The display invites residents and visitors to linger among the trees and enjoy the garden during the holidays. O’Neill reminds decorators to take care around the flower beds: even when plants appear to be sleeping, they can be damaged underfoot.
For tree registration information or to help replenish the lights, contact O’Neill at 252-312-8100 or vonna.oneill@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, another kind of holiday helper is needed in the kitchen.
The Cupola House is recruiting “Cookie Elves” to bake four dozen cookies each for the annual Wassail Bowl. Bakers should deliver their contributions to the house’s back door on Thursday, Dec. 10, between 2 and 4 p.m. The cookies will help welcome guests during the Christmas Candlelight Tour weekend.
The Wassail Bowl will take place Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11–12, from 1 to 4 p.m. each day at the Cupola House, 408 S. Broad St. Visitors can enjoy a colonial Christmas setting and see the house’s continuing restoration. Admission during those hours is free, with docents available, although guided tours will not be offered.
Volunteers are also needed to greet visitors and keep an accurate attendance count using a handheld counter. Greeter shifts run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m. on both days, requiring a commitment of at least an hour and a half. Volunteer information and sign-ups are available at CupolaHouse.org.
Whether the contribution is a decorated tree, four dozen cookies or a welcoming smile at the door, each helping hand has a place in bringing Christmas to the Cupola House.
